HR Senior Assistant (Recruitment Support Services)

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.

1. Administrative support to talent acquisition and recruitment administration
2. Support process improvements and HR knowledge-building initiatives

• Provide support to the HR Associates handling recruitments at various stages of the selection process. This includes administrative support to recruitments and selections, e.g. 

  • create vacancy announcements in UNOPS’ online recruitment system

  • support with office-wide email circulations for internal positions

  • coordinate with local job website(s) for outreach activities for internal positions

  • coordinate the scheduling of interviews and written tests, as appropriate, on behalf of the hiring office

  • support with plagiarism and AI checks for the written tests

  • conduct background checks

  • initiate fee-setting exercises

  • take minutes during interviews and finalize the overall selection minutes with active input from panel members 

• Build and maintain a fluid relationship with clients through constant communication.

• Support the completion of recruitment processes including offers and rejections, and updating the status of recruitment cases in the on-line information system in line with UNOPS policy. 

• Prepare recruitment files and other process approvals. 

• Support efficient, timely, and client-focused selections of new personnel. 

• Liaise with relevant HQ and UN system units to exchange information and follow up on pending issues.

• Input and update accurate data and information to institutionalize and disseminate knowledge using technology, electronic systems and tools to initiate work and share information with colleagues. 

• Assist with projects in support of recruitment-related initiatives for attainment of business objectives according to corporate HR strategy.

• Contribute to corporate HR initiatives and knowledge networks by assisting with the collection of data on trends, risks and opportunities and by providing collaborative synthesis of lessons learnt and dissemination of best recruitment practices. 

• Support the delivery of training and learning initiatives for personnel on recruitment-related topics.

• Completion of Secondary education is required.
• Bachelor Degree in Human Resources Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, or equivalent disciplines with 1 year experience may substitute required years of work experience.

• Minimum of five years of progressive experience in an international and/or national organization in providing support to recruitments and/or HR generalist services is required.
• One year experience in computers and office software packages, and experience in handling of web-based management systems is required.

• Full knowledge of English is required. 
• Knowledge of French is highly desirable.

• Within the required working hours, some flexibility to accommodate recruitments occurring outside the Nairobi time zone (GMT+3) is expected.

Contract type: Local Individual Contractor Agreement (LICA)
Contract level: LICA-5
Contract duration: Open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and satisfactory performance.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

• This position us based in Nairobi, Kenya, which is a family duty station.

Terms and Conditions 

• 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 ( they take around 4 hours to complete)  in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.