Head International Personnel Services Section, P4 At UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

Posting Title : Head International Personnel Services Section, P4
Job Code Title : HD International Personnel Services Sect
Department/ Office : UNRWA – Human Resources – Headquarters Amman
Location : HQ Amman
Posting Period : 26 March 2023-22 April 2023
Job Opening number : 23-HRE-UNRWA – Human Resources-205432-R-HQ
Amman (R)
Staffing Exercise : N/A
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
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 looking for a rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference for one of the
most vulnerable communities in the world, UNRWA would like to hear from you.
The Head, International Personnel Services Section is responsible for leading and managing
the administration of all international staff entitlements and payroll. He/she is also responsible
for the administration of staff entitlements and benefits, policy implementation, health
insurance and general advice regarding international staff Agency-wide and reports to the
Chief, Human Resources Operational Services Division.
Responsibilities
– Manages the IPS team ensuring timely responses to all requests of personnel issues,
provides coaching, mentoring and training to section staff members; plans, develops reviews
and implements internal management processes for the improvement of services provided;
– Leads and evaluates the implementation of all entitlements, allowances and benefits for
international staff; reviews, certifies and authorizes all entitlements and related actions
through REACH payroll module; supervises international staffing table through post
management of encumbered and vacant posts and advises the Chief, HROSD of any
implications of vacant post usage;
– Advises Chief, HR Services Division and senior management on the interpretation and
application of international staff policies; researches, drafts and implements changes to staff
regulations, rules and related issuances for international staff, in coordination with HRD
Policy Section; participates in policy reviews and formulation of procedures to improve
human resources services in the Area of Operations;
– Manages and monitors end to end administration of entitlements; , verifies and implements
the ICSC pay package in a timely and accurate manner;
– Serves as the Agency focal point for UNJSPF; administers the group medical and life
insurance plans in effect for international staff, including the resolution of all claims and
disputes with the insurance companies;
– Serves as the Agency focal point for Onboarding of international personnel, including
monitoring and process improvements;
– Accountable for digitalization and automation of HR processes within the section, including
training of team members and international personnel;
– Leads and oversees Performance Management System () for international staff, and
coordinates with responsible offices to ensure compliance with relevant policies and
guidelines;
– Participates in human resources projects, task forces, committees and meetings related to
international staff administration and provides advice and recommendations;
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. Default managerial competencies may apply.
– Creating and Maintaining Impact and Partnership
– Persuading and Influencing
– Planning and Organizing
– Analyzing
– Delivering results
– Creating and Innovating
For guidance on how to prepare for competency-based interviews: https://careers.un.
org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=AYI
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational
institution in public or business administration, human resources management, or a related
discipline.
Job Specific Qualifications
Work Experience
A minimum of eight years of progressively responsible and relevant experience in human
resources management is required.
At least three years or relevant experience at a supervisory level in a large international,
governmental or commercial organization, specifically in HR management involving benefits
and contract administration is required.
Unless already serving as an international staff member in the UN Common System, a
candidate for an international post must have at least two continuous years of relevant
international experience outside UNRWA, and outside the country(s) of which the candidate
is a national or holds citizenship, a passport, or a national identity number is required.
Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational
institution in public or business administration, human resources management, or a related
discipline is required.
Detailed knowledge of UN and UNRWA Regulations, Rules and Directives, and of the
sources from which they are compiled is desirable.
Working knowledge and experience of the Agency’s operations in the Middle East, and
knowledge of Middle Eastern culture is desirable.
Languages
Excellent command of written and spoken English is required.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be
followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
The incumbent may be required to travel to the Agency’s area of operations.
Applicants have to complete the Personal History Profile (PHP) in inspira in order to be
considered. The PHP should be completed with full relevant work experience as per the
requirements in the Job Opening, in order to be considered.
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.
Equivalency:
A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying
experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
NB: Work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not
considered an acceptable combination.
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.