Director of Human Resources

Org. Setting and Reporting

UNRWA, the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East with over 30,000 staff working across five areas of operation, is looking for highly committed personnel wishing to make a change. If you are passionate about leading the role and making a difference for Palestine refugees, then UNRWA would like to hear from you. As Director of Human Resources you will lead UNRWA's Human Resources (HR) function overseeing a workforce of over 30,000 Area staff and personnel across the Agency. Area staff are managed independently under Rules and Regulations specific to UNRWA, where DHR is responsible for the development and administration of HR policies and the administration of salaries and benefits. UNRWA operates from headquarters in Amman and Gaza, with five operational areas (Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, West Bank and Gaza), representative offices in New York, Washington, and Brussels and a liaison office in Cairo. UNRWA is the largest and most complex international employer in the Middle East, second only to host governments. UNRWA's complexities are amplified by the diverse compensation structures, currency fluctuations, security risks in conflict zones, intricate reporting requirements, rapid response needs during emergencies, and financial instability. The Director of Human Resources reports to the Deputy Commissioner-General - Operational Support.

Responsibilities

Defines the global vision and strategic direction of the organization’s human resource’s function, in alignment to the Agency’s mid-term strategy. Leads transformative change initiatives to achieve the defined vision, ensuring the sustainability of HR modernization efforts. Advises the Commissioner-General on Human Resources including staff relations matters, navigating its complex landscape and ramifications, salary setting, allowances and benefits for UNRWA 30,000 area staff. Is a member of the Commissioner-General's senior management team and guides the Agency executives on salary and allowances matters. Conceptualizes a human-centric and forward-looking vision for the organization’s human resources management to make UNRWA an employer of choice. Drives modernization and innovation in the HR function. Leads the development and implementation of a People Strategy supporting UNRWA’s current and future programme requirements and directions, managing the Agency’s organizational culture. Ensures that HR practices, policies, and initiatives reflect UNRWA's commitment to fairness, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Leads the establishment of corporate HR standards, ensuring alignment with organizational values and principles. Leads the execution of UNRWA's HR operations. Drives the workforce planning exercise, collaborating with internal departments and field offices to establish a well-structured workforce in alignment with educational and health standards, inter alia. Pioneers talent acquisition, talent development, and enhances the employee experience by simplifying and optimizing policies, procedures, and systems. Supports UNRWA’s mandate, goals, objectives, and direction through strategic discussion. In consultation with relevant Directors, determines the impact of political developments on human resources activities in UNRWA. Advises or takes necessary action as influenced by political change or disruptive circumstances. Guides the strategic development of the entire range of Area staff policies, its compensation packages including the complex array of allowances and benefits and oversees the payroll for a workforce of over 30,000 individuals, ensuring a workforce that is both aligned with the Agency's strategic objectives and deeply committed to its mission. Participates in Agency discussions with staff and in negotiations with staff unions, in close consultation with the Executive Office on staff union issues. Co-develops, implements, and evaluates policies, strategies and practices related to staff relations activities. Liaises with officials of the UN Secretariat, UNESCO, WHO and other organizations in the UN common system, and officials of governments, to present and discuss recurring or special matters relating to the full range of human resources functions. Represents the Agency in regular and special proceedings of the International Civil Service Commission, the Human Resources Network, the High-Level Committee on Management and other bodies. Contributes to UNRWA’s efforts to strive towards a healthier, safer, more respectful, and caring place to work for all employees. Promotes a systems approach to strengthen organizational zero tolerance for harassment, sexual harassment, and abuse of authority.

Competencies

UN Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity, and Core Competencies of Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results apply by default. Creating and Innovating Entrepreneurial Thinking Relating and Networking Formulating Strategies and Concepts Leading and Supervising Political Acumen. Empathy, and coaching skills. Thought leadership to support innovation, learning and knowledge sharing towards capacity development. For guidance on how to prepare for competency-based interviews: https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=AYI

Education

An advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in human resources management, public or business administration, law, or a related field.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

At least 15 years of progressively responsible and varied senior management experience at the international level including in managerial and leadership positions in the UN or large institutions in the public or private sector is required. At least eight years of professional work experience in human resources management is required. Experience in managing multi-cultural teams and staff in off-site locations is required. Unless already serving as an international staff member in the UN Common System, at least two continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA, and outside the country(s) of citizenship is required. Experience including knowledge of UN HR management; rules and regulations and practices, or similarly complex governance frameworks; experience with unions, staff negotiations and managing industrial relations, knowledge of Middle Eastern cultures and employment practices; and service in field operations is desirable. Proficiency in a second UN language, preferably Arabic is desirable. An advanced university degree (master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in human resources management, public or business administration, law, or a related field is required

Languages

Excellent command of written and spoken English is essential. Proficiency in a second UN language, preferably Arabic, is desirable.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Type of Contract and duration: 2 years, with the possibility of further extension. The incumbent will be required to travel frequently throughout the Agency's area of operations in the Middle East. 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. The Personal History Profile (PHP) should be completed with full work experience under the experience tabs as per the requirements in the Job Opening. A roster may be created from the selection exercise, and successful candidates may become eligible for an appointment to the same post or a similar post. UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities. Join our eco-friendly organization dedicated to environment sustainability and targeting to be plastic free by 2025. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business foundations and individual contributions. The mission of UNRWA is to help Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development under the difficult circumstances in which they live. For more details on UNRWA, please visit: https://www.unrwa.org/

United Nations Considerations

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Commissioner-General of UNRWA and to assignment by him or her. UNRWA is committed to achieving gender parity at all levels of staffing under the current UN-wide gender agenda and strongly encourages applications from qualified applicants from under-represented groups. At UNRWA, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. UNRWA is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. UNRWA Considerations UNRWA staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence, neutrality, impartiality and integrity. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. Candidates will not be considered for employment with UNRWA if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. The Agency may disqualify applicants who have separated for reason of misconduct, who left a UN Agency while misconduct processes were pending, or who appear on the UN Sanctions List. UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment. Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST (UNRWA) DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE OR REQUEST MONEY FROM CANDIDATES AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT AND ONBOARDING PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING, ONBOARDING). UNRWA DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.