Director, Bureau of Human Resources Management

The Director leads and coordinates the delivery of human resources management services across UNESCO, providing authoritative advice and support to senior management on HR matters. The role involves overseeing integrated HR services, promoting HR reform initiatives, and managing a team of HR professionals to support the Organization's mandate and workforce well-being.

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance and support to senior management on all human resources matters and emerging HR issues.
• Promote awareness of sound human resources management practices and support initiatives aimed at fostering a values-based workplace culture, supporting work-life balance and wellbeing initiatives, gender equality, nurturing staff development through targeted programmes and policies and leveraging diversity as an advantage to improve performance and innovation.
• Lead and coordinate the formulation, development, implementation and communication of UNESCO’s Human Resources Strategy, HR policies, programmes and initiatives, ensuring alignment with evolving organizational needs.
• Support organizational change and HR reform initiatives positioning HRM as a proactive enabler and trusted partner in achieving organizational transformation, efficiencies and innovation.
• Lead the design and implementation of an integrated talent management framework encompassing workforce planning, recruitment, learning and development, and performance management, aligning HR policies and processes to create synergies and efficiencies and embedding diversity targets into all stages of the employee lifecycle.
• Provide expert advice to senior managers on the implementation of HR policies and processes.
• Ensure the provision of critical business intelligence to senior management on workforce trends and emerging HR issues to enable data-driven decision-making and proactive workforce planning and resource allocation.
• Lead a team of HR professionals, setting clear objectives, monitoring performance and fostering collaboration that encourages innovation, service excellence, continuous learning and professional development.
• Manage the overall implementation of the approved work programme and budget for the Bureau, ensuring efficient work distribution and coordination of tasks, promotion of teamwork, communication and management information.
• Build and maintain productive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders including Permanent Delegations, academic institutes, professional networks and HR service providers.
• Represent the Organization in joint staff–management meetings as well as in the various United Nations forums including the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), the HR Network and, as appropriate, the High-Level Committee on Management (HLCM).
• Represent the Organization in governing body meetings as required.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in human resources, public or business administration or management, law, social or human sciences or other related fields.
• A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible professional experience at the national or international level in human resources, public or business administration, or a related field, of which a significant part at managerial level.
• Experience in leading change-related projects or programmes and/or implementing organizational transformation.
• Knowledge of, and commitment to, the Organization’s mandate, vision, strategic direction and priorities.
• High sense of professional integrity and political sensitivity; demonstrated ability to interact with a wide range of high-level partners.
• Strong managerial and leadership skills combined with demonstrated flexibility in leadership by performing and/or overseeing the analysis of complex human resources issues.
• Excellent judgment and decision-making abilities including strong analytical and negotiation skills.
• Thorough understanding and hands-on experience in human resources management and a sound knowledge of HR theory and general management concepts.
• Proven ability to motivate, administer and manage a large body of staff working in diverse human resources functions.
• Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to manage relationships at all levels of the Organization as well as demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment whilst maintaining a high sense of objectivity and impartiality as well as sensitivity and respect for gender equality and diversity issues.
• Excellent knowledge and drafting skills in one of the working languages (English or French) of the Organization and ability to work in the second language.
• Courses/degree/training in a management-related field or in disciplines relevant to the post (desirable).
• Senior-level assignments at the international level and/or within the United Nations system or similar international organizations (desirable).
• Knowledge of the United Nations Common System (desirable).
• Professional experience gained in multicultural working environments (desirable).
• Awareness and knowledge of UNESCO’s strategic objectives and of wider processes within the United Nations system (desirable).
• Proven ability to build collaborative partnerships and networks (desirable).
• Knowledge/understanding of UN HR Rules and Regulations (desirable).
• Knowledge of other official languages of UNESCO (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) (desirable).

Skills

• Human Resources Management
• Organizational Transformation
• Change Management
• Leadership Skills
• Strategic Human Resources Management
• HR Policy Implementation
• Staff Administration
• Negotiation Skills
• Analytical Skills
• Decision Making
• Multicultural Team Leadership
• Gender Equality Awareness
• Diversity Management
• HR Theory
• Public Administration
• Business Administration
• Law Knowledge
• Drafting Skills
• UN HR rules and regulations
• Collaborative Partnership Development

Languages

English, French