The Position:
The position supports the Supply Chain Management Unit (SCMU), headquartered in Copenhagen with staff outposted across Regional and select Country Offices. Reporting directly to the designated HR Business Partner in the Division of Human Resources, with a dotted reporting line to the Chief, SCMU, the role provides strategic HR advisory services directly to SCMU leadership, particularly the Chief SCMU. The Specialist ensures alignment and effective implementation of the SCMU Strategy 2025–2029 and its associated Strategic Implementation Plan.
How you can make a difference:
UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.
In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.
Job Purpose:
The HR Specialist, Client Services serves as a key advisor and facilitator, working closely with the Senior HR Business Partner to deliver strategic HR services and operational support tailored specifically to SCMU staff. The Specialist manages critical HR processes, including strategic workforce planning, talent acquisition, onboarding, mobility, performance management, staff development, and HR analytics. Additionally, the role proactively contributes to HR policy development and resolves complex, non-routine HR matters, ensuring continuous alignment with organizational strategies.
You would be responsible for:
A. Delivering comprehensive HR Services
- Develop a deep understanding of HR policies, ensuring clear interpretation and consistent application to SCMU staff and management;
- Collaborate closely with the Sr. HRBP and relevant DHR program owners to deliver comprehensive HR services throughout the employment lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, mobility, contract management, and performance/talent management, aligned closely with SCMU's strategic workforce planning and staff development priorities;
- Lead and coordinate the implementation of strategic HR initiatives supporting the SCMU Strategy 2025–2029, notably the competency assessment and targeted capacity-building initiatives to build a high-performing workforce;
- Design, implement, and monitor a comprehensive Learning and Development Plan to address identified competency gaps and align staff capabilities with the SCMU strategic objectives;
- Drive change management efforts that foster leadership accountability, ownership, cross-functional collaboration, reduce silos, and embed an integrated, end-to-end supply chain mindset;
- Use agreed metrics to measure the effectiveness of HR services, prepare monitoring reports, and recommend adjustments to improve service delivery aligned with SCMU strategic goals;
- Prepare strategic briefs, analytical reports, and presentations for SCMU leadership and internal teams as required;
- Coordinate with the Senior HRBP at HQ and the Analytics Unit to analyze and report workforce trends, HR metrics, and custom analytics to strategically inform SCMU HR decisions.
B. Partnership and coordination
- Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ensure adherence to compliance, ethics standards, duty of care, and Programme Delivery Excellence in SCMU;
- In collaboration with relevant Headquarters Business Unit, actively participate in planning and implementation of SCMU-related realignment processes;
- Liaise proactively with UNDP-BES to ensure timely resolution of benefits and entitlements issues for SCMU staff;
- Maintain and manage the master schedule for HR-related events in SCMU, ensuring consistent implementation of corporate initiatives and alignment with the SCMU Strategy 2025–2029 objectives;
- Work with other SCMU leadership to track and manage SCMU HR budgets and expenditures, ensuring fiscal accuracy and accountability aligned with strategic HR investments.
C. Knowledge development and sharing
- Actively contribute to knowledge-sharing initiatives focused on SCMU Strategy 2025–2029 priorities, including fostering a high-performance culture, accountability, and cross-functional collaboration;
- Lead and facilitate knowledge-sharing events specifically tailored for SCMU to promote learning, community building, and inter and intra Pillar collaboration;
- Promote synergies between SCMU, Regional Offices and Country Offices by facilitating learning and development activities aligned with SCMU Strategy 2025–2029 priorities;
- Coordinate regular capacity-building sessions and strategic HR information-sharing with HR focal points globally;
- Actively liaise with HR colleagues within and outside the UN system to identify and integrate best HR practices into UNFPA operations, promoting continuous improvement and innovation.
D. Team Management
- Create a conducive working environment aligned with UNFPA's 2030 People Strategy.
- Lead and supervise team.
E. Carry out any other duties as may be required by the Chief, SCMU.
Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
An advanced university degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, Organizational Development or related discipline is required.
Knowledge and Experience:
- Minimum of five years of progressively relevant experience in HR management providing strategic HR support to a large client base, and on a global level is required;
- HR experience within UNFPA is considered an asset;
- Knowledge of modern concepts and approaches, and evolving trends in the field of Human Resources;
- Ability to deliver effective solutions to complex HR challenges in a multicultural and increasingly remote-based environment ;
- Strong analytical skills – ability to extract data, identify trends and raise to the attention more senior staff with recommended actions;
- Demonstrated innovation and creative problem-solving abilities;
- Excellent organizational and multi-tasking skills – ability to coordinate several work-streams in parallel, while maintaining attention to details;
- Ability to handle confidential information and build a trusting rapport with staff at all levels of the Fund;
- Ability to collaborate effectively and create sense of cohesion in teams
- Previous experience with development/humanitarian organization would be considered an asset.
- Excellent knowledge of information technology systems and tools. Knowledge of Oracle ERP system would be considered an asset;
Languages:
Fluency in English is required. Working knowledge of another official UN language is an asset.
Required Competencies:
Values:
- Exemplifying integrity,
- Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
- Embracing cultural diversity,
- Embracing change
Core Competencies:
- Achieving results,
- Being accountable,
- Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
- Thinking analytically and strategically,
- Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
- Communicating for impact
Functional Competencies:
- Demonstrating thorough knowledge of HR policies, practices and systems,
- Ensuring adequate advice and timely responses to client queries,
- Collaborating effectively within and across unit boundaries to deliver comprehensive HR solutions to clients on complex issues.
Compensation and Benefits:
This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.
UNFPA Work Environment:
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.
Disclaimer:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.
Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.
