Job Highlight
This role offers a unique opportunity to significantly impact global talent acquisition within UNOPS by ensuring efficient recruitment processes and driving the adoption of a new talent management system. The incumbent will provide essential support and guidance to HR practitioners worldwide, contributing to a high-performing, people-centered organization and fostering professional growth in a dynamic, international environment.
About the Group
The People and Culture Group (PCG) positions UNOPS as a people-centered, high-performing organization by driving the development of HR policies, talent frameworks, and inclusive practices aligned with the strategic plan. Through the Integrated People Strategy, PCG empowers personnel, fosters an engaging and inclusive work culture, and enables the delivery of sustainable development solutions. Partnering closely with UNOPS leadership, PCG delivers on the organization’s People Goals—shaping culture, nurturing leaders, enabling flexibility and fairness, building future-ready teams, and setting people up for success. Core capabilities include strategic HR partnering, policy integration, and process simplification through digitization. PCG prioritizes leadership development, workforce diversity, personnel well-being, and innovation in HR practices. By focusing on culture transformation and talent excellence, PCG ensures that UNOPS remains agile, equitable, and capable of delivering results in complex operational environments.
Role Purpose
The HR Associate (Recruitment and System Support) is responsible for ensuring the effective and efficient execution of global recruitment processes, with a strong focus on providing operational and advisory support to HR practitioners worldwide.
Functions / Key Results Expected
1. Global Talent Acquisition Process Management
- Partner and collaborate in a client-oriented manner with HR practitioners and hiring managers globally to manage recruitment processes effectively and efficiently, ensuring adherence to organisational policy and best practice throughout the recruitment lifecycle.
- Facilitate, monitor, and drive ongoing recruitment processes globally, proactively identifying potential issues and moving stalled recruitment processes forward to ensure timely talent acquisition.
- Provide guidance on recruitment policy and best practices to ensure consistency and compliance across all regions.
- Support the mainstreaming of HR policy and process changes within the global HR practitioner community, ensuring effective communication and implementation.
2. Recruitment System Training and Support
- Provide first-level support and troubleshooting to global HR practitioners on the functionality and use of the new Talent+ recruitment and onboarding system.
- Offer hands-on guidance on navigating Talent+ and provide insights into its capabilities to ensure practitioners are fully leveraging the system.
- Proactively support the drive to Talent+ system use and adoption among global HR practitioners to ensure consistent application of processes.
- Organize, facilitate, and/or deliver hands-on training and guidance sessions for personnel on system functionalities and matters pertaining to HR processes.
- Support and maintain some centralised system features, such as tags and pipelines, to ensure system integrity and efficiency.
- Act as a resource for the talent acquisition process and system expertise for HR practitioners globally, answering queries and providing guidance on system best practices.
3. Operational Excellence and HR Initiative Support
- Provide hands-on operational support for critical recruitment activities, including the coordination and execution of candidate checks (e.g., background verification, reference checks).
- Contribute to the objective of accurate system data capture and analysis by monitoring system usage and promoting proper data entry methods across all global recruitment activities.
- Support the communication of HR policy changes and new HR initiatives to management and personnel, providing necessary guidance and clarification as needed.
- Support, guide, and build capacity with HR practitioners globally on efficient talent acquisition procedures and system utilisation.
Skills
Data Analysis, Human Resources Policies, Human Resources Information Systems, Human Resources Operations, Active collaboration, Effective communication
Competencies
Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organisational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.
Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.
Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).
Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.
Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.
Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem-solving.
Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.
Education Requirements
Required:
- Secondary school (or equivalent) with 6 years of relevant experience OR
- A Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 2 years of relevant experience is required.
Desired:
A globally or nationally recognised professional certificate in Human Resource Management (HRM) is desired
Experience Requirements
Required:
- Relevant experience is work in any area of Human Resource Management (HRM).
- Experience in the use of collaboration and productivity tools (e.g. MS Office, G-Suite, etc) and web-based management systems is required.
Desired:
- Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.
- Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.
- Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired.
Language Requirements
LanguageProficiency LevelRequirementEnglishFluentRequiredFrenchFluentDesirableSpanishFluentDesirable
Additional Information
- UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
- UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
- Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
- Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments.
- UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
- UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
- We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
- UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.
Terms and Conditions
- For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
- For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
- For more details about the contract types, please click here.
- All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
- It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.
