Posting Title: Senior Human Resources Officer (Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategic Lead), P5
Job Code Title: SENIOR HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER
Department/Office: Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance Office of Human Resources
Duty Station: NEW YORK
Posting Period: 24 May 2023 – 25 August 2023
Job Opening Number: 23-Human Resources-DMSPC OHR-208207-R-New York (G)
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Organisational Setting and ReportingThis position is located in the Global Strategy and Policy Division (GSPD), within the Office of Human Resources (OHR) in the Department of Management Strategy, Policy, and Compliance (DMSPC). The Senior Human Resources Officer reports to the Director or GSPD, with a functional reporting relationship to the Assistant Secretary-General (ASG), OHR. Launched by the Secretary-General in October 2018, the UN System Workplace Mental Health and Well-being Strategy aimed to increase the effectiveness of the UN system by optimizing the psychological health of UN staff. The strategy is for all personnel, across diverse roles, contexts, and environments, from field missions to Headquarters. The strategy aims to promote a psychologically healthy and safe workplace that promotes positive culture and staff well-being, prevents stigma and discrimination, and contributes to a productive and positive working environment. A variety of organization-specific and inter-agency efforts have been made to address psychosocial well-being and mental health in the United Nations workplace. The first strategy will conclude at the end of 2023, with the second strategy for 2024 and beyond currently being developed. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) recently released guidelines for workplace mental health that will inform the second strategy. This common approach will allow UN organizations to share good practices and use economies of scale for products and services. The Senior Human Resources Officer post will play a critical role in the implementation of the next iteration of the UN System Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being Strategy.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Senior Human Resources Officer will be responsible for the following duties: Provide overall strategic leadership and policy guidance
- Leads, including reviewing and revising, its strategic direction, in consultation with stakeholders, as needed.
- Provide strategic policy and technical guidance to UN Secretariat entities, UN common system partners and stakeholders; taking lead in implementation of specific actions;
- Oversee and manage first reports that provide direct practical and technical support to implementation processes in the UN Secretariat while also liaising with partners in the UN common system. Leads overall implementation programme and specific project management processes, monitoring reporting and evaluation
- Implement the necessary management structure to plan, coordinate, and project manage the implementation programme in collaboration with partners and stakeholders.
- Ensure collaborative, multidisciplinary/multi-stakeholder co-design focus groups are established for priority actions and supported to achieve clear targets, to meet implementation timelines.
- Prepare monitoring reports to senior management, ensuring KPIs are met, and reporting is delivered by partners and UN Secretariat entities.
- Lead, coach, manage, and Support UN Staff and those employed/seconded or commissioned to directly work on implementation of the strategy.
- Lead projects, regular monitoring processes, periodic external evaluations, and the development of new tools and learning resources.
- Oversee projects, including communication and knowledge sharing initiatives (newsletter, social media presence, digital content development, case study development, etc.). Facilitate timely communication, engagement, advocacy and key global partnerships within the context of the programme
- Maintain strategic partnerships within the UN Secretariat to strengthen implementation, particularly with the Department of Operational Support (DOS), the Department of Safety and Security (DSS), UN common system partners, Staff Associations, Staff representatives and unions.
- Advocate for and engage the necessary leadership support, champions, and partners to sustain momentum for successful MHS implementation, including the needed resources to alleviate constraints faced during the implementation of the programme.
- Mainstream mental health and wellbeing as part of workforce planning across all UN mandates and operations.
- Advocate for Secretariat-wide efforts relating to mental health promotion, stigma reduction and prevention. UN common system/General
- Supports the ASG of OHR with the coordination of the Mental Health Implementation Board meetings and follow-up actions.
- Performs other related duties as required as they related to UN common system activities.
CompetenciesProfessionalism: Knowledge of human resources policies, practices and procedures and ability to apply them in an organizational setting. Ability to identify issues, analyze and formulate opinions, make conclusions and recommendations on complex human resources policy and development issues. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others. Places team agenda before personal agenda. Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position. Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary. Uses time efficiently. Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow. Empowers others to translate vision into results. Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives. Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support. Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions. Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo. Shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing. Judgement/Decision making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.
EducationAdvanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in a healthcare discipline relevant to mental health services (medicine, nursing, psychology or allied health (therapies, public administration, public health / health care (preferably mental health), / occupational health, human resources, relevant management or business administration, or related area is required. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work ExperienceA minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in programme management at the Governmental or Inter-Governmental level is required. A minimum of five (5) years of demonstrated experience in project management and leadership of system change/improvement programs is required. Five or more years of management and leadership experience with responsibilities of comparable size and complexity is desirable. Practical experience working on workplace and/or population psychosocial and mental health issues is desirable. Experience in the multilateral sector and/or Peacekeeping, Humanitarian Relief/ Development is desirable.
LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.
AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special NoticeAt the United Nations, 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. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover letter. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 April 2023, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu. Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.
United Nations ConsiderationsAccording to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations 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. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General. 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 FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.
