Background

UNDP, as the main development agency of the United Nations, has a unique position to help implement the SDGs and articulate efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda. In Ecuador, it works with a comprehensive and multisectoral approach, supporting national processes that involve planning, coordination, legislation development, and monitoring. UNDP works with State institutions at the national and territorial level as well as with groups from civil society, academia, and the private sector, for the fulfillment of this global agenda.

UNDP Ecuador articulates six areas of work to bring the country closer to the fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development:

• Keep people out of Poverty
• Governance for peaceful 
• Socioeconomic equality and sustainable productive transformation
• Crisis prevention and increased Resilience.
• Environmental management and climate action.  Clean and affordable Energy.
• Gender Equality and empowerment of women.

UNDP, in addition to acting as a platform for the integration, application and monitoring of the SDGs, provides services and supports the implementation of projects that pave the way towards achieving sustainable development in Ecuador.

There are three catalysts — digitization, strategic innovation, and financing for development — to support countries move towards these objectives.

The Human Resources (HR) unit provides support to Country Office (CO) management in ensuring that the office is appropriately staffed with high quality and engaged personnel who receive the guidance, feedback, and development they need to fully contribute to the CO’s agenda and Sustainable Development Goals. The HR team applies strategic human resource management policies, procedures, programs and solutions – that leverage both technology and analytics – to promote a strong people management culture and high performing, diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace, aligned to UNDP´s People 2030 Strategy: People for 2030 | United Nations Development Programme.  

Position Purpose

Under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the Operations Manager, the HR Associate ensures execution of transparent and efficient HR services in the CO. The HR Associate provides leadership in execution of the full range of CO HR services ensuring their transparency and integrity and provides strategic advice to senior management on the range of HR-related matters, including attracting top talent, employee engagement, performance, wellness and developing capabilities of the team. The HR Associate promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach and promotes the maintenance of high staff morale.

The HR Associate supervises support staff in the HR Unit. The HR Associate works in close collaboration with the Programme, Operations, and project teams in the CO, UNDP HQ OHR Business Partners, and staff in GSSC and other UN Agencies to exchange information and resolve complex HR-related issues.

UNDP adopts a portfolio approach to accommodate changing business needs and leverage linkages across interventions to achieve its strategic goals. Therefore, UNDP personnel are expected to work across units, functions, teams, and projects in multidisciplinary teams in order to enhance and enable horizontal collaboration.

Duties and Responsibilities

Ensure effective administration and implementation of HR strategies and policies.

• Ensure full compliance of records and reports with UN rules, regulations, and UNDP policies, procedures, and strategies; effective implementation of internal controls; and proper functioning of the HR management system and practices.
• In consultation with the direct supervisor and office management, support CO HR business processes mapping, and provide input to content elaboration and update of internal HR Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) where needed in CO to supplement SOPs issued by GSSC/OHR. Adapt processes and procedures where necessary to meet the needs of CO. 
• Provide information to management and personnel on the implementation of HR policies, corporate strategies, rules and regulations, HR business processes, and proper use of contractual modalities. 
• Collect information and support UNDP’s participation in inter-agency exercises and surveys, such as comprehensive and interim local salary survey, hardship, and place-to-place surveys, in coordination with the direct supervisor. 
• Collect information on the risk management of Country Office HR activities to proactively manage and mitigate the risk. 

Provide HR services  to the UNDP CO and other UN agencies, including recruitment and staffing.

• Implement recruitment processes in coordination with GSSC and locally with Hiring Managers that include drafting job descriptions, providing input to job classification process, drafting vacancy announcements, screening candidates, participating in interview panels, providing support for the submission of compliance reviews as per the actions delegated to the CO. In coordination with Hiring Managers, submit requests and appropriate documentation to GSSC for non-delegated actions.
• Facilitate creation and update of positions in ERP (or create positions if delegated) and association and update of positions to chart fields, in coordination with budget owners.
• Follow up with Finance staff and GSSC on Global Payroll issues.
• Monitor and track all transactions related to positions, recruitment, benefits, earnings/deductions, retroactivities, recoveries, adjustments, and separations through ERP and other relevant corporate platforms.
• Process timely contract management actions, in close coordination with supervisors and senior management.
• Provide support to process benefits and entitlements delegated to the CO, as applicable and in coordination with the direct supervisor and management, such as medical evacuations, R&R, safety and security interventions.
• Maintain CO staffing table and local rosters where relevant.
• Validate cost-recovery charges in ERP for HR services provided by UNDP to other Agencies. 
• Provide assistance to the contract management, payroll, and separations in coordination with GSSC in accordance with the delegation of authority given to the CO.
• Provide HR support and services to the UN system, including provision of information on personnel benefits and entitlements to UN agencies in line with UNDP policies and in coordination with GSSC as applicable.
• Ensure circulation of vacant positions in relevant spaces to ensure that UNDP attracts top talent.
• Provide administrative support to retirees as applicable.

Ensure proper staff performance management, talent management and career development in CO.

• Provide background information and maintain related data acting as Secretary to formal CO management groups responsible for collectively reviewing and discussing CO staff performance, talent, and development needs.
• Provide assistance to Performance Management reporting and monitoring.
• Provide input to the CO-wide Learning and Engagement plan’s preparation in consultation with the Senior Management, HR Analyst, and Talent Development Manager.

Ensure facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO. 

• Organize training for the Operations and projects staff on HR issues.
• Assist in the creation and implementation of a local onboarding plan, leveraging corporate resources.
• Synthesize lessons learned and best practices in HR.
• Make sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice. 

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organization.

Competencies

CORE:

People Management (Insert below standard sentence if the position has direct reports.)

UNDP People Management Competencies can be found in the dedicated site. 

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies 

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Secondary education with specialized certification in HR is required 
• A university degree in Human Resource, Business Administration, Public Administration, or an equivalent field will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement

Experience:

• Minimum of 6 years (with high school diploma) or 3 years (with bachelor’s degree) of progressively responsible HR and/or administrative experience at the national or international level is required.          
• Experience in the use of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and advanced knowledge of web-based management systems such as ERP.
• Experience with the United Nations Common System or comparable international organization is considered an advantage. 
• Experience with service optimization, SOP development, and metrics/KPI management is desirable.
• Experience with coordination of multiple internal and external counterparts including employee relations and conflict management is desirable.
• Experience in strategic advice to senior management on HR-related matters is desirable.

Languages: 

• Fluency in Spanish and English is required.

All GS positions are subject to local recruitment.

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Probation

For all new UNDP fixed term appointments (FTA), including for staff members being transferred or seconded to UNDP under the Inter-Organization Agreement concerning Transfer, Secondment or Loan of Staff, on an appointment of more than one year, continuation of the appointment beyond the initial 12 months is contingent upon the successful completion of a probationary period.

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Scam alert

UNDP does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process. For further information, please see www.undp.org/scam-alert.