Human Resources Specialist, Kathmandu

Closing Date: Tuesday, 18 August 2009

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HUMAN RESOURCES SPECIALIST
Location : Kathmandu, NEPAL
Application Deadline : 18-Aug-09
Type of Contract : FTA International
Post Level : P-3 (Fixed Term Appointment)
Languages Required : English
Starting Date :(date when the selected canditate is expected to start) 01-Oct-2009
Duration of Initial Contract : One year
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Background
UNDP Nepal Country office Human Resources Unit (HR Unit) is composed of five national staff members, at the general service level (GS4 - GS7).

The Unit provides a wide range of HR service to multiple clients including UNDP country office, UN sister agencies and to government executed projects.

In total the Unit serves over 500 staff and project personnel. Over the past 2 years the Unit has been facing a number of challenges including:

1.An increase in volume of work and demand for HR services:

With the rapid expansion of the Programme and in particular of UNDP executed projects, and the increase in demand from resident and non resident UN agencies the number of long term recruitments, for instance, has increased by more than 50% compared to 2007 and with an irregular pattern of recruitment requests.

2.Changes in policy and procedures:

With the continuous corporate changes in policies, both the Unit and its clients need to understand and adapt to the new requirements and other similar rapid changes and challenges in policies including the effective implementation of the Nepal Country office revised Gender and social inclusion policy.

3.Increased emphasis on staff and career development, on professionalization of staff and succession planning for the Country Office staff.

Overall the HR Unit needs to rethink it's business, reorganize itself and it's processes, and further build it's capacity to fully and effectively incorporate and respond to all these new challenges, while offering timely people-centered and client- oriented services and managing a work-life balance.


Duties and Responsibilities

Functions / Key Results Expected

1.Strategic Assessment of existing capacities, practices and systems

He/she assesses existing HR Unit capacities, current practices, processes and systems and proposes appropriate strategic vision and design an action plan to establish state of the art human resources management Unit focusing on the following:

Review and analysis of the current HR management practices, procedures, processes and systems; identifying bottlenecks, problems and opportunities for streamlining and simplification;
Producing a diagnostic study with recommended strategy and plan of action for the reorganization of the HR Unit to enable it meet corporate and local requirements and challenges,
Prepare a long term learning plan for the HR team

2.Ensures implementation of HR strategies and policies focusing on achievement of the following results:

Implementation of the HR strategy in the CO;
Effective implementation of internal controls; proper design and functioning of the HR management system.

compliance of HR activities with UN rules and regulations, UNDP policies, procedures and strategies. Interpretation of HR policies and regulations and advice to senior managers on their applications, taking into account their particular needs.

Continuous analysis of corporate HR strategy and policies, assessing the impact of changes and making recommendations on their implementation in the CO.

Continuous research of the matters related to conditions of service, salaries, allowances and other HR policy matters.

Elaboration and introduction of measurement indicators, monitoring and reporting on achievement of results.
Advice to Senior Management on HR new practices and their implementation (succession planning, career development and transition), strategic recruitment, advice on contract modalities, learning plan and performance evaluation).

CO HR business processes mapping and elaboration/establishment of internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in HR management, control of the workflows in the HR Unit

Leads the advocacy for the implementation, monitoring and compliance of the HR policies including gender and harassment, career development and knowledge management.

Full compliance and completion by CO s/m of the Harassment course.
Development of procedures and practices that contribute to enhanced and improved HR management.

Undertakes analyses of the implications and associated risks of new Staff Rules and the new contractual modalities and recommends practical HR solutions

3. Ensures effective human resources management focusing on achievement of the following results:

Management of transparent and competitive recruitment and selection processes including updated job descriptions, proper job classification, vacancy announcement, screening of candidates, organization and chairing of interview panels, making recommendations on recruitment. Oversight of recruitment under UNDP projects. Development and maintenance of data base of job applications.

Advice to office management on s/m competencies. Advice on s/m career development and training needs through the RCA.

Advice to project managers on transparent and competitive process for project recruitment, adequate TOR describing terms of payment based on results, standard matrix of recruitment processes and request for contracts.

Continuous monitoring of the entire UNDP project recruitment process.
Full compliance of the guidelines of the Appointment and Promotion Panel.
Advice to the CO management in contracts guidelines pertaining to staffing compliance. Monitoring and tracking of all transactions related to positions, recruitment, HR data, benefits, earnings/deductions, retroactivity, recoveries, adjustments and separations through Atlas.
Performs HR Manager Functions in Atlas. Leads corporate surveys as the Salary Survey, Global Staff Survey and other request from HQ's and the CO Resident Representative.

Management of the International staff entitlements and position funding delegated to the HR Unit.

Close communication with local Government institutions to solve international staff-related issues.
Close communication with HQ's focal points pertaining to the correct administration of s/m entitlements and benefits.
Ensures that costs for HR services provided by UNDP to other agencies. are recovered in a timely manner.
Effective use of sourcing, networking and marketing to generate slates of qualified short-listed candidates for positions
4.Ensures proper staff performance management and career development focusing on achievement of the following results:
Elaboration and implementation of the protocol for performance appraisal process, facilitation of the process, elaboration of performance evaluation indicators in consultation with the Senior Management.
Implementation of effective systems for the performance evaluation, including training to supervisor for an effective use of the tool leading to career development. Advice on work plan, monitoring and performance team evaluation.
Effective learning management including the development of the Whole Office Learning strategy and? a plan of action.
Implementation of the Whole Office Learning strategy.
Provision of effective counseling to staff on career advancement, development needs, learning possibilities.
5.Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO focusing on achievement of the following results:
Design and implementation of training for operations/ programme staff on HR issues.
Synthesis of lessons learned and best practices in HR.
Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice.
Serve as the CO Learning Manager and provide support to effective learning management.
Co-ordination of learning activities and staff development and promote a learning culture in the workplace.
Act as secretary to the Office Learning/Knowledge Committee.
Provide on the job training to the staff of the HR unit and foster strategic, people centered and client oriented HR management practices
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN's values and ethical standards
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
Treats all people fairly without favoritism
Functional Competencies:
Knowledge Management and Learning
Shares knowledge and experience and contributes to UNDP practice areas
Encourages office staff to share knowledge and contribute to UNDP Practice Areas
Develops deep understanding in one or more Practice Areas
Promotes a learning environment in the office
Demonstrates strong coaching/mentoring skills, regularly providing helpful feedback and advice to others in the office
Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice areas, acts on learning plan and applies newly acquired skills
Development and Operational Effectiveness
Ability to lead strategic planning, results-based management and reporting
Ability to lead recruitment, contracts management, performance appraisal, career development management, build teams, maintain high staff morale
Excellent knowledge of UNDP HR strategy and policies
Strong IT skills
Ability to implement new systems (business side) and affect staff behavioral/ attitudinal change
Management and Leadership
Focuses on impact and result for the client
Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills
Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills
Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors
Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities
UNDP HR Certification programme
Required Skills and Experience
Recruitment Qualifications
Education:

Master's Degree or equivalent in HR, Business Administration, Public Administration or related field.

Experience:

Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience at the national or international level in providing HR advisory services and/or managing staff and operational systems.

Eperience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc) and experience in handling of web based management systems.

Language Requirements:
Fluency in spoken and written in English language.