HR Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The UNOPS Africa Regional Office, established to oversee the delivery of over 250 projects across 40 countries, focuses on fragile and conflict-affected settings. With more than 1,000 personnel across five multi-country offices in North, West, Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa, the office aims to advance national priorities through strategic initiatives in various sectors including Climate Action, Health, Infrastructure, Peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Security, and more. The office promotes excellence in project delivery and contributes to sustainable infrastructure and better quality of life for communities across the continent.

Job Overview:
The HR Specialist serves as the Office’s HR Lead, ensuring the consistent application of UNOPS HR policies, rules, and procedures across assigned countries/geographic areas of operation. This role is pivotal in supporting the effective management, implementation, and oversight of key HR service lines such as recruitment, contract administration, policy interpretation, learning, and personnel realignment. The HR Specialist will work closely with stakeholders in the Regional Office and HQ, aligning HR strategies with client needs and organizational goals. The position requires a proactive approach to HR management, ensuring that the office's HR operations run smoothly and efficiently, while also providing strategic guidance on HR policies and practices.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Policy Development and Implementation Support: Contribute to HR policy development and corporate initiatives by providing data-driven insights on workforce trends, risks, and opportunities. Lead the implementation of corporate HR strategies and initiatives in consultation with management. Design and lead HR projects that align with corporate HR strategy. Communicate changes in HR policies and new initiatives to management and personnel, offering guidance as needed. Maintain HR analytics to support informed decision-making.
• HR Advice: Provide strategic guidance on HR policies in people management, proactively assessing HR needs. Design and deliver HR services that enhance the experience of personnel and UNOPS partners. Collaborate with corporate HR teams to mediate on sensitive issues, including grievances and workplace disputes. Promote line management accountability in HR policy implementation and provide coaching to strengthen supervisory capabilities.
• Talent Acquisition and Management: Oversee talent acquisition and management policies, including recruitment, onboarding, and performance management. Coordinate the administration of various contractual modalities and lead personnel realignment exercises. Identify critical talent needs and develop plans to attract and retain key talent.
• Team Management: Oversee the Office’s HR team to ensure effective delivery of HR services across assigned areas of operation.
• Knowledge Building and Sharing: Support training and learning sessions on HR topics and participate in knowledge-sharing initiatives, contributing insights from HR project implementation.

Required Qualifications:

• Required: Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 7 years of relevant experience OR Master’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 5 years of relevant experience.
• Desired: A globally or nationally recognized professional certificate in Human Resource Management (HRM) is desired.
• Relevant experience in recruitment, HR contract administration, employee relations, organization design and development, or related areas is required. Experience in collaboration and productivity tools (e.g., MS Office, G-Suite) is also required. Experience in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.

Educational Background:
The position requires a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in any discipline, with a preference for candidates holding a Master’s degree or equivalent. A professional certificate in Human Resource Management is also desired, indicating a commitment to the field and ongoing professional development.

Experience:
Candidates should have relevant experience in recruitment, HR contract administration, employee relations, organization design and development, or related areas. Experience in using collaboration and productivity tools is essential, and experience in multicultural environments or UN system organizations is highly desirable. Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is also preferred, indicating an understanding of the unique challenges faced in these settings.

Languages:
Fluency in English and French is required for this position, as both languages are essential for effective communication within the organization and with stakeholders. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, enhancing the candidate's ability to engage with diverse populations.

Additional Notes:
The position is classified at a mid-level seniority (ICS 10) and is offered under an Individual Contractor Agreement (ICA) with a regular contract type. The contract is ongoing, and applications must be submitted before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date. UNOPS emphasizes diversity and equal employment opportunities, encouraging applications from underrepresented groups. Background checks are conducted for all final candidates to ensure compliance with UNOPS standards.