Chief of Human Resources at the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Chief of Human Resources

Job no: 556948
Location: Abuja
Contract type: Fixed Term Appointment
Duty Station: Abuja
Level: P-5
Location: Nigeria
Categories: Human Resources

How Can You Make a Difference? 

• In Nigeria, UNICEF works in a complex humanitarian and development setting to fulfill and protect children’s rights. UNICEF Nigeria is one of the largest UNICEF Country Offices globally. In partnership with government, civil society, children and families. 

Scope of Work

• Directly reporting to the Representative and member of the Senior Management Team (SMT), the Chief of Human Resources is accountable for leading and managing a team of HR professionals that implement HR services that enhance the capacity of their clients to deliver on their business goals and objectives.
• In doing so, the incumbent demonstrates the ability to create an environment where his/her staff anticipates HR-related needs and develops subsequent plans and solutions that align HR management with business objectives.
• In addition, this position serves as a key strategic advisor to the leadership of their office in helping spearhead UNICEFs global HR transformation.
• Promote management excellence in the office by ensuring accountability in all areas of HR and by demonstrating a high level of skills in the management of staff resources, including staff selection based on merit and the needs of the organization, staff aspiration and counseling, systematic and equitable performance management, and staff development and learning activities.
• Serve as a role model for transformation and capacity for acceptance of change.
• Use a solid knowledge of information technology to analyze and promote acceptance of new methods of work and effective communication skills to persuade and influence managers, supervisors, and staff to adopt change.
• Internally, provide expert advice to senior management on a range of HRM questions and have the authority to negotiate solutions to sensitive or complex HR problems with client managers and staff representatives.
• Create a culture within their team where HR professionals work with clients to help fulfill their goals through advising on how to attract, retain and motivate staff of the highest caliber.
• In collaboration with business owners, lead the design and delivery of learning solutions for staff to enhance their knowledge and build skills in new areas.
• Map competencies for all staff in the assigned client portfolio, developing a comprehensive framework in support of the development of the talent pipeline.

 To Qualify as an Advocate for Every Child you will Have

• An Advanced University Degree in Human Resource Management, Business Management, International Relations, Psychology, or another related field is required.
• Ten years of increasingly responsible professional experience in human resource management in an international organization and/or large corporation is required.
• Fluency in English is required.  Knowledge of another official UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.

Skills:

• The ability to empower others to translate vision into results
• Capacity to anticipate and resolve conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions, and demonstrate the courage to take unpopular stands.
• The ability to allocate appropriate time and resources for successful achievement of goals, foresee risks, and allow for contingencies when planning.
• Ability to develop clear goals consistent with agreed strategies, identify priority activities and assignments, and adjust priorities as required.
• Experience and ability to design and implement targeted and innovative human resources strategies to address clients’ people-related needs.
• Ability to deliver innovative HR programs within a fast-paced, evolving, and wide organizational setting.
• Demonstrated ability and experience advising and influencing executives, providing insights that lead to key decision-making within the business.
• Demonstrate strong business acumen, general management experience, and capabilities that effectively assess the internal business environment and deliver transformative change where necessary.
• Authoritative technical knowledge of the principles and concepts of human resources management.
• Capacity to adapt policies, approaches, and models to meet emerging needs.
• Ability to identify and analyse systemic issues, formulate opinions and make conclusions and recommendations to resolve the same.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in a diverse organization, tailoring language, tone, style, and format to match the audience; ability to present sometimes negative results in a considered and tactful manner to promote acceptance.
• Ability to empathize with client managers, supervisors, and staff while advocating for consistent and equitable applications of promulgated HR regulations and rules.

Application Closing Date
22nd November, 2022 (W. Central Africa Standard Time).

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note

• This position is classified as “rotational” which means the incumbent is expected to rotate to another duty station upon completion of their tour of duty.
• UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
• UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct 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 promoting 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.
• UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.