Human Resources Senior Assistant

The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners' peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world.  UNOPS supports partners to build a better future by providing services that increase the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of peace building, humanitarian and development projects.  Mandated as a central resource of the United Nations, UNOPS provides sustainable project management, procurement and infrastructure services to a wide range of governments, donors and United Nations organizations. 

Kenya Multi-Country Office (KEMC) and Zambia Country Office

Located in Nairobi, Kenya, the Kenya Multi Country Office manages a growing portfolio of engagements, including associated strategic and operational risks. The KEMC/East and Southern Africa sub-region currently consists of an established Operation Centre in Nairobi/Kenya which manages a portfolio of engagements in multiple countries in East and Southern Africa. This includes transactional projects in partnership with the Nairobi based UN Agencies, UN-Habitat and UNEP, and multiple ‘operational’ projects in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and several island states.

In 2020 KEMC established an Office in Lusaka, Zambia. The Government of Zambia (GoZ) has prepared the Irrigation Development Support Project (IDSP, P102459, IDA Credit #48740) in the amount of SDR74.70 million (US$115 million), approved in April 2011 by the World Bank. The Project’s original objective was to increase yields per hectare and value of diverse products marketed by smallholders benefitting from investments in irrigation in selected sites served by the project.” Originally the project had four components (i) Irrigated Agriculture Support Services, (ii) Public Infrastructure; (iii) Private and Cooperative Investment; and (iv) Management and Coordination. 

In March 2020, the government requested Additional Funding of US$ 30 million and a time extension of 24 months to allow: (i) the completion of the ongoing works under IDSP and cost replenishment (US$ 14 million); (ii) the implementation of Phase 2 of the remedial works for ten dams (US$ 15 million) and (iii) Drought Emergency Response (USD 1 million). 

Ten dams have been built on selected rivers in Zambia as a part of the Zambia Water Resources Development Project (WRDP). These are all earth fill dams, with walls varying in height from 8 m and 10.7 m. Four of the dams were pre-existing and were rehabilitated while the remainder were new dams. Most of the construction was completed between 2016 and 2018. In late 2018, work was stopped due to persistently poor performance by the contractors. A performance review of dam safety and safeguard concerns, including a review of all safeguard instruments, was undertaken for each dam site to guide the requirements for completion of remedial work under the Additional Financing. 

The dams now present risks to the local communities and the Government and the World Bank (“Funder”) want to have these dams secured and retrofitted. The remediation works will be financed by the WB through the IDSP. IDSP engaged UNOPS as implementing partner in a Phase 1 to provide services including  planning (support of surveillance and emergency preparedness) for 10 dams and design, updating of environmental and social safeguards documentation to comply with WB social and environmental policies for 10 dams and tendering of the works for 10 dams. 

In Phase 2, UNOPS role will be implementing the identified solutions and lead on the remedial and rehabilitation works on the 10 dams.

1. Support to policy development and implementation 

2. Advisory Services

3. Talent Acquisition and Administration

4. Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing

• Completion of Secondary education is required. 
• First University Degree in Human Resources Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, or equivalent disciplines is desirable. 
• Knowledge of  UN policies, procedures and practices highly desirable

• Minimum of five years of relevant experience in an international and/or national organization in providing HR advisory, recruitment, and/or HR-generalist service is required. 
• Some experience in UN system organizations is desirable.
• Minimum of one year experience in handling of web-based management systems is required.
• Knowledge of Google Suite is an added advantage.
• Experience in use of HR information systems, Enterprise systems including OneUNOPS is desirable.

• Fluency in oral and written English  is required
• Knowledge of another official UNOPS language is an asset.

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns.
Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.

• This is a local post. As such, it is only open to Zambian Nationals or persons with valid residence permits
• This position is based in a family duty station

Contract type: ICA

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.