Tiered Approach

In line with the commitment to safeguard capacity and support personnel already in the Organization, a majority of UNDP UNCDF/UNV vacancies are advertised using a tiered application process whereby:

Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV IP staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments, whose posts will be abolished, or contracts will be terminated or not renewed during 2026.
Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding permanent (PA) and fixed-term (FTA) appointments
Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff holding temporary appointments (TA), personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers
Tier 3 or no tier indicated: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, and other external candidates

Please make note of the Tier(s) indicated in the vacancy title, if any, and ensure that you satisfy the eligibility to apply.

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the knowledge frontier organization for sustainable development in the UN Development System and serves as the integrator for collective action to realize the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. The Fiji multi-country office covers ten countries including Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu as well as provides support to regional initiatives.

UNDP in the Pacific has developed its multi-country programme document (MCPD, 2023-2027) to guide its interventions in the next five years in full alignment and directly to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF, 2023–27). The Office covers 10 countries in the Pacific with an extensive portfolio which has grown over time. The UNSDCF and UNDP MCPD are designed in full alignment with the 2030 agenda, Samoa Pathway, and 2050 Blue Content Strategy, which is endorsed by the Pacific Island Countries (PICs) among others. The UNDP Pacific Office next five-year plan strategic priorities are encapsulated under three outcome areas: (i) Planet, (ii) Prosperity, and (iii) Peace. Following a strategic review process which was completed in June 2022, UNDP Pacific office structure is aligned to the emerging priorities of the office. In this regard, the programme portfolio will include mutually reinforcing work streams crafted around two clusters (i) Resilience and Climate Change; and ii) Inclusive growth and Effective governance, supported by a policy and innovation team, Operations team, Management and Oversight team that provides strategic guidance on results Management and compliance entrusted with the corporate alignment, programme finance management and quality assurance, and strategic communications team that provides knowledge management and communication support to all programme interventions.

Within the Pacific Office Multi-Country Office (MCO), the Operations Team provides programme with backbone support and services related to finance, procurement, human resources, digital services, travel, and logistics, as well as common services and CO transactions support. The team further provides demand driven Common services to the UN agencies (per agreed procedures). In addition, the team will provide administrative support to UNDP Staff including project personnel on areas such as protocol, visa facilitation, travel, and others.

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.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the HR Analyst, the HR Associate provides leadership in execution of the full range of CO HR services ensuring their transparency and integrity. The HR Associate promotes a collaborative, client-oriented approach and promotes the maintenance of high staff morale.

The HR Associate works in close collaboration with the Operations, Programme and project teams in the Country Office and UNDP Headquarters staff for resolving complex HR related issues and information delivery.

The Human Resource Associate will directly report to Human Analyst and will work with the other HR colleagues in the team.

Duties and Responsibilities

1) Ensures administration and implementation of HR strategies and policies, adapts processes and procedures focusing on achievement of the following results:

Full compliance of HR recording and reporting systems with UN rules and regulations, UNDP policies, procedures and strategies; effective implementation of the internal control framework, proper functioning of the HR management system;
Provision of advice and information on corporate strategies, changes in rules and regulations, implementation of personnel rules, strategic use of contractual modalities, application of entitlements, change management processes. CO HR business processes mapping and elaboration of the content of internal Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in HR management;
Provision of information to management and personnel on corporate strategies, especially the People for 2030 strategy, rules and regulations, policies and procedures.

2) Ensures effective administration of human resources focusing on achievement of the following results:

Organization of recruitment processes including drafting job description, provision of input to job classification process, vacancy announcement, screening of candidates, participation in interview panels;
Document Verifications (Position creation form/ TOR/ Recruitment Strategy/ Remuneration Tool/Organigramme);
Provision of advice on recruitment in UNDP projects. Creation/ update of positions in UNall, association of positions to chart fields (COAs), update of COA information, setting up vendor, performing the functions of Admin.HR, administration and leave management;
Coordinate with GSSC in the preparation and administration of contracts (FTA, TA, SC’s) and salary negotiations. Timely follow up with Finance staff on Global payroll issues;
Monitoring and tracking of all transactions related to positions, recruitment, benefits, earnings/deductions, retroactivity, recoveries, adjustments and separations through UNall;
Maintenance of the CO staffing table;
Preparation or review of submissions to the Compliance Review Panel (CRP)Administration of delegated international staff entitlements and position funding delegated to COs.
Creation and administration of the CO rosters including e-rosters;
Validation of cost recovery charges in Quantum for HR services provided by UNDP to other Agencies.

3) Ensures proper staff performance management and career development focusing on achievement of the following results:

Facilitation of the performance appraisal process and maintenance of the related data acting as Secretary of Talent Management Review Group Participation in preparation of the Whole Office Learning plan and individual learning plans in consultation with the Senior Management, HR Analyst and Learning Manager.

4) Ensure conduct of Salary and other surveys focusing on achievement of the following results:

Collection of information and preparation of reports for comprehensive and interim local salary, hardships and place to place surveys;
Participation in the work of Local Salary Survey Committee (LSSC)

5) Ensures facilitation of knowledge building and knowledge sharing in the CO focusing on achievement of the following results:

Organization of training for the operations/ projects staff on HR issues;
Synthesis of lessons learnt and best practices in HR;
Sound contributions to knowledge networks and communities of practice;
Conducting orientation of new DIM and CO staff.

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

Competencies

Core competencies:

Achieve Results: LEVEL 1: Demonstrate focus on achieving quality results and impact
Think Innovatively: LEVEL 1: Open to creative ideas/known risks, is pragmatic problem solver, makes improvements
Learn Continuously: LEVEL 1: Open minded and curious, shares knowledge, learns from mistakes, asks for feedback
Adapt with Agility: LEVEL 1: Adapts to change, constructively handles ambiguity/uncertainty, is flexible
Act with Determination: LEVEL 1: Shows drive and motivation, able to deliver calmly in face of adversity, confident
Engage and Partner: LEVEL 1: Demonstrates compassion/understanding towards others, forms positive relationships
Enable Diversity and Inclusion: LEVEL 1: Appreciate/respect differences, aware of unconscious bias, confront discrimination

Cross-Functional & Technical competencies:

Business Management

Customer Satisfaction/Client Management: Ability to respond timely and appropriately with a sense of urgency, provide consistent solutions, and deliver timely and quality results and/or solutions to fulfil and understand the real customers' needs. Provide inputs to the development of customer service strategy.
Look for ways to add value beyond clients' immediate requests.
Ability to anticipate client's upcoming needs and concerns.
Working with Evidence and Data: Ability to inspect, cleanse, transform and model data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions and supporting decision-making

HR – Recruitment

Recruitment design and management: Knowledge of, ability to design and manage end-to-end recruitment processes
Assessment and selection: Knowledge and ability to apply various candidate assessment and selection methodologies, tools, and platforms; ability to effectively align them with specific recruitment needs

HR - Learning and development

L&D planning: Ability to identify organizational learning priorities aligned with the business strategy using key stakeholder involvement to ensure appropriate learning and optimal return-on-investment

HR - Compensation/remuneration

Payroll management: Knowledge of and ability to apply mechanisms and tools to collect payroll data, process payroll, and manage payroll reports

HR- Talent management

Performance management: Knowledge of and ability to guide the application of performance management theory, systems, and tools, incl. articulation of expectations

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Secondary Education is required.
University Degree (bachelor´s degree) in HR, Business, or Public Administration will be given due consideration, but it is not a requirement.

Experience:

Minimum 7 years (with Secondary Education) or 4 years (with bachelor´s degree) of progressively responsible HR and/or administrative experience is required at the national or international level).

Required skills:

Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, etc.) and experience in handling web-based management systems);
Experience with recruitment processes;
Experience with administration of HR processes such as performance management, learning and development, salaries and benefits.

Desired Skills:

Experience in UN or UNDP’s HR rules, policies and procedures;
Experience with managing Recruitments at National & International level;
Experience with informing and advising on integrity and ethics.

Required Language(s):

Fluency in English is required.
Working knowledge of local languages Fiji Hindi or iTaukei will be considered as desired.

Professional Certificates:

Professional HR certification(s) is an advantage.

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.

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.

Use of AI by candidates

Applicants are invited to read UNDP’s guidance for candidates on using AI responsibly in UNDP recruitment and selection

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.

HR Associate [Open to internal and external applicants]