HR Senior Assistant

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 a workforce of 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 support for Middle-Income Countries and Small Island Developing States. The office is committed to promoting excellence in project delivery, fostering knowledge sharing, and driving continuous improvement to contribute to sustainable infrastructure and better quality of life for communities across the continent.

Job Overview:
The HR Senior Assistant plays a crucial role in supporting the Human Resources Manager by providing technical and administrative support for the timely processing, recording, monitoring, and maintenance of HR transactions. This position is essential in ensuring alignment with UNOPS rules, regulations, and policies. The HR Senior Assistant serves as the primary point of contact for both internal and external clients, addressing inquiries regarding routine processes and providing guidance on various HR initiatives and services. The role encompasses a wide range of HR functions, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and employee relations, all aimed at enhancing the overall efficiency and effectiveness of HR services within the organization.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• HR Advice: Provide guidance to personnel on administrative procedures, processes, and practices related to HR services. Assist the HR Lead in engaging with clients, addressing inquiries, and escalating complex issues. Support the onboarding process by ensuring timely processing of new hire documentation and orientation tasks. Advise personnel on recruitment, performance management, and learning and development processes in accordance with UNOPS policies.
• Talent Acquisition and Administration: Support the end-to-end recruitment process, including preparing offers and rejections, data entry in the HR information system (HRIS), and coordinating reference checks. Assist in longlisting, testing, and interviewing stages, including calculating applicable fees and documenting recruitment proceedings. Finalize selection and other required process approvals. Inform and advise personnel on standard conditions of service and entitlements based on contract modality. Follow up with supervisors to ensure timely completion of HR processes such as absence requests and performance evaluations in HRIS. Support payroll verification processes and maintain accurate HR records.
• Knowledge Building and Sharing: Provide planning, logistical, and administrative support for HR-related training sessions and learning initiatives. Participate in knowledge-sharing activities to build HR capacity within the organization.

Required Qualifications:

• Required: Secondary school (or equivalent) with 5 years of relevant experience OR a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 1 year of relevant experience.
• Desired: A globally or nationally recognized professional certificate in Human Resource Management (HRM) is preferred, indicating a commitment to professional development and expertise in the field of HR.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess either a secondary school diploma with significant relevant experience or a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline, complemented by at least one year of relevant experience. A professional certification in Human Resource Management is highly desirable, showcasing a deeper understanding of HR principles and practices.

Experience:
The position requires relevant experience in recruitment and HR generalist services. Candidates should have experience using collaboration and productivity tools, such as MS Office and G-Suite, as well as familiarity with web-based management systems. Experience working in multicultural environments or within UN system organizations in developing countries is preferred, as is experience in development or humanitarian contexts.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, as it is the primary language of communication within the organization. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, enhancing the ability to communicate with diverse stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as entry-level and falls under the ICA - LICA - Support - Regular contract type. The contract duration is open-ended, subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds, and satisfactory performance. UNOPS emphasizes diversity and equal employment opportunity, encouraging applications from a wide range of candidates, including women and individuals from underrepresented groups. The organization maintains a zero-tolerance policy for sexual exploitation and abuse, and background checks are conducted for all final candidates.