Senior Human Resources Associate

Peace and Security Cluster

The United Nations Mine Action Service programme in Afghanistan (UNMAS Afghanistan) supports the Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan (MAPA) the United Nations Emergency Mine Action Coordination Center for Afghanistan (UN-EMACC) /the Directorate of Mine Action Coordination (DMAC)  to protect the civilian population from the threat of explosive ordnance and contributes to peacemaking and the protection of civilians in hard-to-reach areas through political and humanitarian dialogue, and to coordinate the Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan (MAPA). UNMAS Afghanistan is a programme under the overall direction and oversight of UNMAS New York and implemented by UNOPS under the Financial Regulations and Rules of UNOPS.

The DMAC has assumed coordination responsibility for the mine action sector since June 2018, when the ownership for mine action completed its transition from UNMAS to Afghanistan’s national mine action authority.  In the event that the DMAC will not be able to continue carrying out its functions in light of the recent governmental changes in September 2021, UNMAS will coordinate to establish a UN-EMACCA — an emergency stand-in for the DMAC during the months of transition while the international community observes how the new Government will be structured and managed, and gives approval to continue the financial support to a mine action coordination mechanism under the management of the new Government. 

As of July 2021, there are 1,528 communities located in 263 districts that are affected by the threat of landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW). The ongoing conflict further contaminates communities in Afghanistan with ERW and anti-personnel mines of an improvised nature (APM/IN). Currently, the civilian casualty rate from mines, ERW and especially APM/IN (also referred as victim-operated improvised explosive devices) is critically high. The recent political and security situation has opened up access to areas which are contaminated and urgently require release so that humanitarian actors, local communities and IDPs can move safely. UNMAS Afghanistan supports the efforts of the UN-EMACCA/DMAC to mitigate the threat that these devices pose to the lives and livelihoods of Afghan civilians. UNMAS seeks to bring civilians together across political and conflict ideologies to make progress on humanitarian and positive communal pursuits, the potential for peace and other collaborative measures is realized.

1. Support to policy development and implementation
2. Advisory Services
3. Talent Acquisition and Administration
4. Team Management
5. Knowledge Building and Knowledge Sharing    
6. Travel Management

1.Support to policy development and implementation

• Contribute to HR policy development and corporate HR initiatives by assisting to maintain data on trends, risks and opportunities and sharing local HR best practices.
• Provide substantive HR expertise to assist in projects in support of HR initiatives for attainment of business objectives in line with the corporate HR strategy. 
• Assist to generate strategic and operational workforce data for planning, including related statistical summaries and movements of UNOPS Office/Projects Centre personnel.
• Support the communication on HR policy changes and new HR initiatives to management and personnel, providing guidance as needed.

2.Advisory Services

• Provide contribution to the elaboration of internal Standard Operating procedure
• Provide guidance on HR related systems and processes including but not limited to Recruitment, Contracts, Position Management, Performance Management, Benefits and Entitlements consistent with UNOPS rules and procedures.
• Provide advice and guidance to personnel on administrative and Travel   procedures, processes and practices.
• Monitoring and tracking of status of requests, initiating follow up action to ensure selection review submission is timely accurate and contains complete documentation
• Act as liaison between unit and internal and external clients and provide proactive customer service to expedite completion of projects, and provide information
• Ensure that new hires' first impressions are high and that they have all in-processing information completed.
• Advise hiring management on: recruitment processes, UNOPS performance management cycle, development initiatives, and learning plans.
• Advise hiring management and guide personnel on UNOPS recruitment and performance management processes, and learning and development initiatives, resources, and plans.
• Provide advice to supervisors on good practices, policies and procedures in performance management, including managing of underperformance.
• Support the implementation of institutional gender and diversity initiatives, providing education and advice on issues related to equity, compliance, inclusion, and diversity.

3.Talent Acquisition and Administration    

• Provide client advice and submit transactional HR service data (normally within the ERP system).
• Recruitment and Selection: such as requisition initiation, short listing, statutory body approvals, selection reports, offers and rejections.
• Position related actions (coordinate position classification and reclassification actions);
• Contracts (initial, extensions, separations, status change actions);
• Calculation of fees for ICA personnel
• Inform and advise UNOPS personnel, consultants, partners and project personnel on their conditions of service and entitlements according to their contract modality, expediting actions to facilitate their efficient, timely, and client-focused onboarding.
• Manage recruitment processes ensuring best practices are used for effective and efficient talent acquisition in line with UNOPS policy.  Utilize and maintain recruitment plans, tools and policy guidance to efficiently and effectively recruit and retain a diverse workforce to meet the needs of the business objectives. Maintain personnel rosters.
• Liaise with UNOPS’ HR related groups such as BSSC on personnel administration matters.
• Research precedents and present recommendations to the supervisor , taking into account institutionalized exceptions.
• Establish and maintain monitoring systems, advising the supervisor on the status of pending requests and approaching deadlines. Follow up on team work processes to ensure clearance, approvals and timely workflows
• Monitor status of HR actions to facilitate timely action by supervisor/ line management and personnel.
• Serve as one of the program focal points for HR related matters between PSC and field office if required.    
• Assist in consulting to staff (in the Regional Office and in projects) on HR related issues

4. Team Management

• Facilitate the engagement and provision of high-quality results and services of the team supervised through effective work planning, performance management, coaching, and promotion of learning and development.
• Provide oversight, ensuring compliance by team members with existing policies and best practices.

5. Knowledge building and knowledge sharing

• Organize, facilitate and/or deliver training and learning initiatives for personnel on HR-related topics.
• Provide sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice by synthesizing of lessons learnt and dissemination of best practices in human resources.
• Collect feedback, ideas, and internal knowledge about processes and best practices and utilize productively.
• Undertake research on a range of HR related issues and contribute data as well as draft notes/reports.
• Liaise with relevant HQ and UN system units to exchange information and follow up on pending issues.

6.Travel Management

• Coordinate and provide Afghan visa and accommodation booking support to international colleagues/visitors
• Facilitate and assist colleagues with visa guidance, travel authorizations, DSAs, tickets and other travel related benefits in accordance with UNOPS travel management SOPs
• Coordinate and prepare quarterly travel plan in consultation with Chief of Mine Action Programme
• Update travel records, accommodations, and visa statuses 

• High School Diploma (or equivalent) with seven years of relevant experience is required OR
• First-level University degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) with three years of relevant experience is required OR 
• Advance degree (Master or Ph.D equivalent) with one year of experience is required. 

b)      Work Experience   

• Relevant experience is defined as experience in HR advisory, recruitment, and/or HR-generalist or relevant field
• Experience in supporting travel administration or coordination is desired

• Intermediate English is required (speaking, reading and writing)

• Only Afghanistan citizens are considered 
• 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 staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• 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.

Contract type: Local Individual Contract Agreement (LICA)
Contract level: LICA-07
Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance

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.