Human Resources Officer Full-Time

About  WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) WFP is recognized as the leading solution provider and partner in the struggle to end hunger and malnutrition and particularly for its efforts to reach those furthest behind first.

Being the frontline agency of the United Nations system that delivers innovative hunger solutions to 81 countries each day worldwide; WFP’s 14,800+ strong staff share a vision and commitment to end hunger by 2030.  Tackling the causes — not just the symptoms – and operating in the remotest corners of the world, with all logistical means necessary, WFP’s results-focussed team provides nutritious and life-saving food and cash assistance when necessary. Bringing unrivalled experience and operating in the world’s most high profile, difficult environments, WFP upholds the humanitarian principles of humanity, integrity impartiality and neutrality.

In successfully achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 2 (SDG 2) i.e Zero Hunger by 2030, the WFP team actively fosters partnerships with governments, communities, local authorities, civil societies, other UN agencies and the private sector.

For more on WFP and what we do, please go to http://www.wfp.org/videos/zero-hunger.

WFP’s People Vision

WFP’s greatest strength is its 14,000 dedicated people working tirelessly around the world to reduce hunger, often under difficult conditions where security threats and risks to personal safety are considerable. The global context in which WFP operates is rapidly changing which means the need for effective people management is becoming more important than ever before. In this context, WFP launched its People Strategy in November 2014. It articulates key strategic focus to build an engaged workforce, with the right skills, in the right roles enabling WFP to continue fulfilling its humanitarian response role while simultaneously building its capabilities to address the long-term goals of Zero Hunger.

To support the People Strategy delivery, WFP is committed to transforming its Human Resources function into a strategic business partnering function. Human Resources Officers will be the “account managers” for delivering HR services in all units of WFP.  Services will be adapted to serve each unit in line with the People Strategy, HR programs and best practices.

Job purpose

Under the supervision of the Country Director, the HR Officer will be accountable for the following duties:

Key accountabilities (not all-inclusive)

• Contribute towards the development of strategic country specific plans and processes, and deliver HR operational activities or projects, following standard processes and ensuring alignment with wider WFP policies;
• Provide advice to managers and employees, understanding their needs and ensuring policies, procedures, processes, systems and tools are available and correctly applied to support them;
• Provide effective management of the employment relationship between WFP and its staff, by administering conditions of service, contracts and appropriate entitlements, and resolving employee relations issues;
• Contribute to staff capability building, working with managers to understand individual skills and business requirements, and organizing/delivering development solutions which equip people with the skills and knowledge required to meet current and future challenges;
• Deliver onboarding activities which ensure new employees have a positive experience of WFP, and are successfully integrated into their new role and the organization;
• Contribute to building and managing talent within WFP, partnering with managers to understand their needs and delivering solutions to recruit, retain, manage and develop a high caliber workforce to deliver business objectives;
• Support organizational design activities that enable senior management to define and organize structures and jobs, and allocate people to the right places in order to improve efficiency;
• Guide and supervise the HR unit, acting as a point of referral and supporting them with analysis and queries;
• Collate and analyse data for the preparation of accurate and timely reporting, supporting a WFP wide view of HR activities that enables informed decision-making and consistent information for stakeholders;
• Contribute to continuous improvement by implementing new/updated HR policies, procedures and systems and recommending improvements to ways of working;
• Other duties as required

4Ps Core organizational capabilities

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Understands WFP’s Strategic Objectives and the link to own work objectives;
•  Be a force for positive change: Flexibly adapts individual contributions to accommodate changes in direction from supervisors and internal/external changes (such as evolving needs of beneficiaries, new requirements of partners);
•  Make the mission inspiring to our team: Recognizes and shares with team members the ways in which individual contributions relate to WFP’s mission;
•  Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Sets own goals in alignment with WFP’s overall operations, and is able to communicate this link to others.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people’s skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses to increase self-awareness, and includes these in conversations on own developmental needs;
•  Create an inclusive culture: Participates in open dialogue, and values the diverse opinion of others, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment;
•  Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Proactively seeks feedback and coaching to build confidence, and develop and improve individual skills;
•  Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Participates in accomplishing team activities and goals in the face of challenging circumstances.

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Shows willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work;
•  Focus on getting results: Consistently delivers results within individual scope of work on time, on budget and without errors;
•  Make commitments and make good on commitments: Commits to upholding individual accountabilities and responsibilities in the face of ever-changing country or functional priorities;
•  Be Decisive: Makes rational decisions about individual activities when faced with uncertain circumstances, including in times of ambiguity regarding information or manager direction.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Seeks to understand and adapt to internal or cross-unit teams’ priorities and preferred working styles;
•  Build strong external partnerships: Demonstrates ability to understand and appropriately respond to and/or escalate needs of external partners;
•  Be politically agile & adaptable: Portrays an informed and professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders;
•  Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Provides operational support on analyses and assessments that quantifies and demonstrates WFP’s unique value as a partner.

Standard minimum qualifications

• Advanced university degree in Human Resource Management, Public or Business
  Administration, Industrial Psychology or other relevant field, or First University degree with additional years of related work experience or trainings/courses.

Desired experiences for entry into the role

Experience

Three or more years of postgraduate professional experience in Human Resources with an interest in international humanitarian development.

Knowledge and Skills

• Broad knowledge of HR best practices, techniques and processes, with some understanding of the basic theoretical background;
• Specialized knowledge in talent development and performance management;
• Ability to supervise and support more junior and/or less experienced members of the team;
• Ability to work with minimal supervision;
• Ability to analyze data, draw conclusions and recommend a course of action;
• Good communication skills required to give and receive information and work with a variety of individuals;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with clients and provide client oriented service. Ability to identify client’s needs and match them to appropriate solutions;
• Knowledge of, or the ability to quickly assimilate, UN/WFP specific processes and systems

Language

Fluency (level C) in English language and Portuguese.