UNICEF, guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, works together with partners in 190 countries and territories to promote and advocate for the protection of the rights of every child.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, a childhood

The creation of a HR Associate GS6 position is based on the need to strengthen the local team's technical and analytical capacity, in response to the requirements of the new organizational model focused on efficiency, operational flexibility, and strategic talent management. This new role, with higher technical complexity and autonomy, will be key to supporting the effective implementation of unified regional policies, leading specific initiatives in coordination with the Southern Cone offices, and ensuring an agile response to local operational challenges. Moreover, this position will actively contribute to enhancing staff experience through an integrated focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, thereby strengthening performance and organizational engagement under the vision of the new People and Culture model.

How can you make a difference? 

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

• Support to business partnering
• Support in processing of entitlements and benefits of local staff
• Support in recruitment and placement
• Support in organization design and job classification
• Support in learning and capacity development
• General office support

Support to business partnering

• Support the business partners in developing initiatives to encourage employee well-being and employee recognition schemes

• Support the management of change processes by advising clientele on changes to HR processes under the guidance of HR Business Partner

• Support the business partners in assisting clientele in using HR systems such as talent management, agora and achieve.

Support in processing of entitlement and benefits

• In consultation with supervisor, analyze, research, verify, and compile data and information on cases that do not conform to UN or UNICEF’s HR Rules & Regulations, to support consistent and equitable application of decisions and implementation of agreed upon action.

• In consultation with supervisor, analyze, research and verify information for the purpose of responding to staff queries on areas related to benefits and entitlements

• Initiates the processing of a wide range of personnel actions in accordance with UNICEF rules and regulations, by ensuring all relevant forms and actions are completed by staff and forwarded to the GSSC.

• Maintains and prepares all personnel-related records and files, ensuring all information on each staff member is up-to-date and accurate.

Support in recruitment and placement

• Prepares and circulates internal and external advertisements.

• Liaises with candidates in the various stages of the recruitment process.

• Prepares formal acknowledgement, offer and regret letters.

• Initiates and follows up on reference checks and academic verifications, and ensuring the completion of other background checks.

• Monitors life-cycle of recruitment process to update supervisor as necessary.

Support in organization design and job classification

• Participates in the review of GS positions specific JDs, ensuring effective application of ICSC methodology.

• Drafts and edits job descriptions to be submitted for classification for review by supervisor.

• Follows up and liaises with HQ and RO over status of requests to ensure timely completion.

• Prepares documents to be submitted for classification to RO and NYHQ, ensuring completeness of documentation

• Monitors life-cycle of all job classification requests to facilitate recruitment and organization planning.

• Compiles and analyses information and statistics related to posts and staff for
reports on staffing trends.

• Analyze, research, verify, and compile data which facilitates preparation of workforce planning reports for supervisor to review against benchmarks i.e. Gender and geographical balance and other recruitment related key performance indicators.

Support in learning & capacity development

• In consultation with supervisor, researches and analyses data and information to help identify training needs within his/her office for the development of learning plans and other targeted training interventions.

• In consultation with supervisor, researches, analyzes, verifies, and compiles information on external training courses available and educational institutions to help supervisor decide on learning programmes that address learning gaps in his/her country office.

• Assists team in organizing and conducting courses, workshops and events by participating in exercises which aim to build capacity of stakeholders.

• Develops and processes contracts for institutions providing training and courses, ensuring compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations.

• Assists team in organizing and conducting courses, workshops and events by preparing and organizing distribution of materials for participants, ensuring availability of training venues and required equipment and supplies, while providing logistical and secretarial support at workshops and events as necessary.

• Tracks the performance management cycle processes, ensuring the timely distribution and enhancing the timely completion and return of appraisals.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Education: 

  Completion of secondary education is required.

  Preferably supplemented by technical or university-level courses in areas relevant to the scope of work, such as Human Resources, Organizational Management, Business Administration, Labor Law, or related fields. While these additional studies are not mandatory, they are considered a significant asset, as they enhance the incumbent’s ability to navigate the technical, regulatory, and strategic dimensions of UNICEF’s People and Culture function.

• Work Experience:

  A minimum of six (6) years of progressively responsible administrative or clerical work experience is required. This means that the candidate must demonstrate a professional trajectory marked by increasing responsibility, autonomy, technical complexity, and problem-solving ability in administrative roles.

  Experience must be relevant to the duties of the position, and may include:

  • Personnel action processing and maintenance of HR records;

  • Recruitment and onboarding support;

  • Benefits and entitlements management;

  • Learning, training, or organizational development support;

  • Use of HR information systems, ideally in international or complex institutional settings;

  • Coordination of administrative and logistical tasks related to workforce management.

  The level and relevance of prior experience are key to ensuring that the incumbent can perform independently, proactively, and with the precision and confidentiality required by the position.

  • A bachelor’s degree from a recognized academic institution in a field relevant to the position may be considered to compensate for three (3) years of experience in case the candidate lacks the required experience.
    
    
  • A master’s degree from a recognized academic institution in a field relevant to the position may be considered to compensate for an additional two (2) years (in addition to the three years from above, totaling 5 years).
    
    
• Skills: 

  Technical:
  
  Extensive knowledge of HR principles, rules, regulations and procedures within the UN

  Computer literacy and the ability to effectively use standard office software tools as well as good knowledge and skill in using HR systems.

  Ability to extract and format data and to solve operational problems

  Ability to organize own work, set priorities and meet deadlines.

  Interpersonal and communication:

  Takes responsibility to respond to internal and external service needs promptly and proactively; takes initiative to ensure that deadlines, rules and regulations are met. Uses own discretion to address unforeseen situations.

  Demonstrates a high degree of confidentiality, initiative and good judgment.

  Demonstrates courtesy, tact, patience and ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

• Language Requirements:

  Fluency in Spanish and English is required.

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency. [Please do not remove this desirable; it should be present in all advertisements]

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about children’s rights and making a lasting difference on children’s lives, one of the global leading entities on children’s rights would like to hear from you.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, Sustainability (CRITAS), and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. 

UNICEF is also proud of a diverse workforce who are profoundly committed to supporting the full realization of children’s rights, and in uplifting a rights-based approach in all that we do.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable diversity profiles are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.