Manager, Payroll and Analytics

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East, established to provide assistance and protection to Palestine refugees. With over 25,000 staff and complementary personnel across five areas of operation, UNRWA is dedicated to helping Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development under challenging circumstances. The agency is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business foundations, and individual contributions. UNRWA's mission is to provide education, health care, social services, and emergency assistance to Palestine refugees, ensuring their rights and dignity are upheld. For more information, visit https://www.unrwa.org/

Job Overview:
The Manager of Payroll and Analytics at UNRWA is responsible for providing leadership and oversight of the Agency-wide payroll and posting operations. This role ensures the accuracy, timeliness, and compliance of payroll operations with Agency policies and statutory requirements. The incumbent will lead the monitoring and annual distribution of Provident Fund accounts, implement robust internal controls, and oversee continuous improvements to payroll systems and processes. Additionally, the Manager will provide authoritative advice and guidance to HQ and field teams on system use, compliance standards, and risk mitigation, ensuring the integrity and reliability of all payroll-related activities. The position also involves leading the organization's people analytics function, delivering strategic, data-driven intelligence to HR leadership, and overseeing compliance monitoring. The Manager will coordinate responses to external and internal auditors and manage HR digitization and automation initiatives to optimize service delivery and operational efficiency across HRD. This role champions continuous process enhancement and innovation, and leads HR communication and partnership initiatives to strengthen collaboration between HQ departments and field offices. The Manager will also coordinate the implementation of the Agency's Gender and Disability initiatives, maintaining the Gender Parity Dashboard and reporting tools to monitor progress toward 2028 targets, and advising senior management on HR system enhancement, data analytics, and automation policy integration.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership and oversight of payroll and posting operations to ensure accuracy and compliance with policies and regulations.
• Monitor and distribute Provident Fund accounts annually, implementing internal controls.
• Oversee continuous improvements to payroll systems and processes.
• Advise HQ and field teams on compliance standards and risk mitigation.
• Lead the people analytics function, delivering data-driven intelligence to HR leadership.
• Oversee compliance monitoring and develop dashboards for HR insights.
• Provide evidence-based recommendations and statistical models for policy formulation.
• Manage HR digitization and automation initiatives to enhance service delivery.
• Coordinate responses to external and internal audits. 1
• Organize and deliver training for HR business partners. 1
• Facilitate feedback and service improvement through consultations and discussions. 1
• Coordinate the implementation of Gender and Disability initiatives and monitor progress. 1
• Advise on HR system enhancements and data analytics integration. 1
• Contribute to policy development and change management frameworks.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in public or business administration, human resources management, or a related discipline.
• Professional project management certification is required.
• Detailed knowledge of UN and/or UNRWA Regulations, Rules, and Directives is desirable.
• Working knowledge and experience in the Middle East, with knowledge of Middle Eastern culture is desirable.
• Experience with statistical software such as R, SPSS, or SAS is desirable.
• Monitoring & Evaluation certification is desirable.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in public or business administration, human resources management, or a related discipline. A professional project management certification is also required.

Experience:
Candidates must have at least seven years of progressively responsible relevant experience in human resources management. This includes three years of relevant experience at a supervisory level in a large international, governmental, or commercial organization, specifically in HR management involving Payroll and HR automation and innovation initiatives. Candidates must also have at least two continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA and outside their country of nationality or citizenship, unless they are already serving as an international staff member in the UN Common System.

Languages:
English is required for this position, with a minimum proficiency level of UN Level III in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. French is also a working language of the United Nations Secretariat, but English is the mandatory language for this job opening.

Additional Notes:
The contract duration is for one year, with the possibility of further extension. Only applications that have been fully completed in UNRWA's online e-recruitment system, Inspira, will be considered, and no late applications will be accepted. Candidates must provide complete and accurate information regarding their personal profile and qualifications. UNRWA has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNRWA, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, and discrimination. Background checks will be conducted for all recommended candidates, and selected candidates will be expected to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professionalism. UNRWA encourages applications from qualified candidates with disabilities and is committed to achieving gender balance in its workforce.