BATCH RECRUITMENT: Human Resources Assistant (2 Positions), GS-5, FT (People and Culture Centre) - Copenhagen, Denmark

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.

And we never give up.

 

For every child, an Education

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

 

Strategic office context:

UNICEF Supply Division (SD) works to ensure equitable and inclusive access to essential supplies and services for children and their families, in development, humanitarian and fragile contexts. These supplies are critical to saving lives, supporting children’s health and education, and protecting them from abuse, exploitation, and neglect. As the UN’s largest end to end supply chain entity, UNICEF leverages its global reach, market influence, supply chain expertise and partnerships with governments, civil society, private sector, industry, and other stakeholders to meet children’s needs and protect their rights around the world. 

SD focuses on three result areas to maximize impact, scale, and effectiveness: strategic procurement; supply preparedness and response in humanitarian and fragile contexts; and supply chain optimization. To facilitate and accelerate progress toward these results, SD employs three change strategies: financing for supply and services, supply chain digitalization and supply chain localization. 

This post is based at the People & Culture Centre. The incumbent of this post reports to the HR Officer (P-2) and supports areas of the Partnering Unit.

 

How can you make a difference? 

Under the close supervision and guidance of the HR Officer in the HR Partnering Unit, People & Culture Centre, the Human Resources Assistant serves as the Local Focal Point, providing procedural and operational support to ensure the effective implementation of a wide range of HR functions for all staff categories within the office. This role ensures accurate and timely service delivery in line with UNICEF HR rules and regulations. On a daily basis, the Human Resources Assistant acts as a key partner and point of contact for SD colleagues and Centre Chiefs on HR-related matters, supporting the full employee lifecycle and providing informed guidance and advice.

 

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

 

HR Business Partnering Support

• Assist in the implementation and oversight of HR policies and procedures.
• Monitor and support compliance with attendance and leave management, including advising on sick leave and other types of absences.
• Provide guidance to staff on HR policies, procedures, and entitlements.
• Maintain HR databases (org charts, monitoring matrix, job descriptions, dashboard, etc.), generate reports, consolidate data/inputs, and perform related administrative functions.
• Assist with HR-related queries from Centre Chiefs.
• Support P&C projects.

 

Administration of Staff Entitlements and Benefits

• Initiate and process personnel actions (e.g., contract renewals, promotions, reassignments) per UNICEF policies, ensuring complete and accurate documentation is forwarded to GSSC.
• Maintain up-to-date personnel records and files.
• Assist with separation processes and maintain related records.

 

Recruitment and Contract Management for Consultants

• Draft and send acknowledgment, offer, and regret letters.
• Track contract timelines and assist with extensions or closures.
• Maintain accurate consultant records and files.

 

GS Recruitment and Job Classification Administration

• Assist with recruitment documentation and SAP entries.
• Maintain and update job description databases and monitor classification requests.
• Provide applicants with information on recruitment policies and status updates.
• Respond to general HR inquiries related to job opportunities and employment conditions.

 

Onboarding, Orientation, Development and Induction Support

• Coordinate and monitor mandatory pre-arrival activities and training courses.
• Assist new GS staff with HR-related queries.
• Administer and maintain learning requests.

 

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  JD_HR Assistant (Multiple positions)_GS-5, FT.pdf

 

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

 

Education: Completion of secondary education, preferably supplemented by technical or university courses related to the field of work.

 

Experience:  A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible administrative or clerical work experience required.

*A bachelor’s degree from a recognized academic institution in a field relevant to the position may replace three years of related work experience. A master’s degree may replace an additional two years.

 

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN language or local language of the duty station is considered as an asset.    

 

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

 

Technical and Interpersonal competencies required for this post are …

• Good knowledge of HR principles, rules, regulations and procedures within the UN
• Computer literacy and the ability to effectively use standard office software tools as well as good knowledge and skill in using HR systems.
• Ability to extract and format data and to solve operational problems
• Ability to organize own work, set priorities and meet deadlines.
• Takes responsibility to respond to internal and external service needs promptly and proactively; takes initiative to ensure that deadlines, rules and regulations are met. Uses own discretion to address unforeseen situations.
• Demonstrates a high degree of confidentiality, initiative and good judgment.
• Demonstrates courtesy, tact, patience and ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds

 

The capabilities required for this post are…

Project Management: 

• Use project management tools to organize and track tasks within a project ​ 
• Schedule and prioritize tasks to meet deadlines 
• Provide project updates and report issues 

 

Collaboration:

• Use tact and discretion in sensitive situations ​ 
• Communicate thoughtfully and diplomatically considering how words may be perceived by others
• Write clearly and concisely in emails and reports, outlining brief summaries and suggested actions
• Communicate key points and recommendations verbally in a clear and direct manner ​ 
• Organize, visualize and present data, tailoring visuals to highlight key insights 

 

Problem Solving: 

• Compare different sets of information to identify correlations and differences ​ 
• Analyze information to identify the root cause of problems and possible risks ​ 
• Identify key data and patterns in reports and summaries ​ 
• Organize, visualize and present conclusions in a structured and logical way ​ 
• Consider and suggest possible solutions to resolve problems independently ​ 
• Consider available information when making decisions​ 

 

Digital Dexterity: 

• Use AI tools and digital platforms to collect information ​ 
• Assess AI generated tasks for accuracy and effectiveness ​ 
• Use key organizational business systems and digital platforms ​ 
• Manage and organize digital documents and files in alignment with digital workforce policies and culture ​ 
• Safeguard documents ensuring confidentiality and manage data risks ​ 

 

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

 

Remarks:

As per 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.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions 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. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.