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Human Resources
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Head of Human Resources, West and Central Africa

Vacancy #:   5743
Unit:   Human Resources PACO Regional
Organisation:   International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Location:   West and Central Africa Regional Office, Dakar, Senegal
Reporting to:   Regional Director - IUCN West and Central Africa
Work percentage:   100%
Grade:   SP
Expected start date:   01 April 2024
Type of contract:   Fixed-term (12 months with possibility of renewal)
Closing date:   30 September 2021
BACKGROUND
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB DESCRIPTION MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Head of Human Resources, PACO will spearhead and support line management in building and retaining a competent, motivated and productive workforce, fully resourced with talented managers and key specialists and with the capacity to achieve IUCN programme results, whilst ensuring that IUCN policies and global best practices in human resources management are implemented. To this end the key responsibilities, inter alia, include:
• Lead a highly motivated and competent team of HR professionals
• Oversee all Human Resource functions and operations in the PACO Region
• Lead on strategic HR planning and initiatives in both West and Central Africa
• Play a key role in policy and procedure development and compliance
• Guide and advise the PACO Regional Directorate and other senior managers on all human resources matters
• Play a key role in the overall management and organisational development of IUCN West and Central Africa Region
• Lead the management of all HR matters in the PACO Regional Office and associated units in Senegal.
• Participate in the design and implementation of Secretariat-wide HR policies and initiatives.

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

Lead a highly motivated, competent and productive team of HR professionals
• Manage an efficient and productive Regional Human Resources Unit.
• Motivate and build the technical capacity of the Human Resources team in West and Central Africa as a regional hub, facilitating the cross exchange of knowledge and skills to ensure that HR has adequate capacity to deliver quality services and that the individual competencies of the team are shared and fully utilised.
• Provide guidance, support, coaching and mentoring to the HR team in exercising their responsibilities, with a particular emphasis on crisis mitigation and grievance management.
• Develop capacity of the HR team to support line managers in people management and on-going appraisal processes and to provide strategic advice to senior management.
• Develop, maintain and enhance a common service level and problem-solving approach to HR operations across regions in consonance with global requirements.
• Manage the performance of Officers and Focal Points with direct and/or matrix reporting to the Head of Human Resources.
• As the Regional Hub HR Focal Point, work with IUCN HQ on the decentralisation of the HR function from HQ to the regional offices, acting as the interface on strategic policy matters concerning the HR function.

Oversee all Human Resource functions and operations in IUCN West and Central Africa
• Hold the Human Resources team technically accountable for the:
 Implementation and compliance with IUCN policies and procedures and best practices with regard to all components of the HR management cycle
 Effective and efficient provision of human resources services to all component units and offices
 Staff cost budgets and headcount
 Contracts administration and management
• Provide direct technical supervision to HR Officers and HR focal points as and when specified.
• Advise line management as and when necessary
• Assist with conflict mitigation/management/resolution as, when and where necessary.
• Facilitate open communications with employees regarding all matters that affect employees and their employment.
• Ensure that HR functions and services in the region are monitored on a regular basis and undertake periodic HR Audits

Lead on HR strategic planning and initiatives in the Region
• Lead in the development of an organizational identity, culture and ethos that supports the IUCN Code of Conduct and Professional Ethics for the Secretariat and IUCN’s Mission with an emphasis on equity, transparency, quality, continuous improvement, and high performance.
• Oversee the development of workforce and talent acquisition plans, which anticipate and respond to the changing needs of Offices and Programmes.
• Oversee the development and implementation of capacity building and career development programmes based on organisational and employee needs.
• Work in concert with the Global Human Resources Management Group (HRMG) towards compensation and benefit systems, which are equitable and reflect market values.
• Adopt a collaborative role with HRMG in rolling out key HR initiatives.
• Guide and coordinate the development and implementation of regional action plans in response to the findings of Staff Surveys.
• Guide the use of the HR Management System (HRMS) and collaborate with HRMG to ensure that regional concerns are addressed.
• Develop methodologies for engagement and fee structures of individual consultancies across regions
Play a key role in policy and systems development and compliance
• Lead on the input from the region to HQ for the development and/or enhancement of high quality and realistic global Human Resource Management initiatives, policies, procedures and practices, which enable staff to perform at their highest capacity both individually and in teams.
• Ensure that equal opportunity and gender concerns are incorporated in policies and given due regard in practice.
• Ensure that IUCN human resources management policies, procedures and Conditions of Service are aligned and comply with laws applicable to IUCN in its various locations across the region and that practices comply with requirements laid down by regulatory agencies, taking into account Host Country Agreements, where relevant.
• Together with the Head of Finance, lead on the input from the region for the review and necessary improvements to global policies such as the Delegation of Authority, Travel Policy, Time Management Policy, among others; advise line management on relevant interpretation and compliance issues.

Guide and advise the PACO Regional Directorate and other senior management team on all HR matters including, but not exclusive, to:
• Advise Senior Management in a timely manner on HR risk management issues, which may affect organizational performance, including issues relating to legal compliance, performance and conduct, and employee relations.
• Advise the Regional Director on all internal communications regarding any matter that affects staff including structural and policy changes as well as HR matters.
• Provide routine HR reports to the PACO Senior management team together with sound analysis of challenges, trends and recommendations to enable sound decision-making and support HR Officer and Focal Points to provide reports of a similar nature to country-level senior management.

Support the Regional Director on organizational development and management aspects
• Assist the Regional Director in setting the tone in the development and implementation of effective corporate strategies for better management and sustainability.
• Assist in the development of organizational performance assessment systems and tools e.g. performance indicators for corporate and management objectives.
• Advise the Regional Director on organisational design and coordinate consultative processes with respect to management structures, design and classification of positions, and workforce planning
• Take a lead role in coordinating strategic management reviews and the smooth and timely implementation of recommendations, with a particular responsibility for sound internal communications and mitigating and/or managing conflict.
• Advise the Regional Director in change management strategies and enable smooth restructuring and right-sizing implementations.

Lead the management of all HR matters in the PACO Regional Office and associated units in Senegal
• Supervise the HR Officers and or HR focal points in:
 Implementation and compliance with IUCN policies and procedures and best practices with regard to all components of the HR management cycle
 Effective and efficient provision of human resources services at the PACO and all associated units in Senegal
 Staff cost budgets and headcount
 Contracts administration and management
• Provide support and guidance to managers on people management.
• Lead conflict mitigation/management/resolution as and when necessary.

Other tasks
• Manage the unit’s budget and financial reporting requirements and develop internal management systems.
• Represent IUCN internally and externally concerning the Human Resources function to learn and share best practices as required.
• Lead negotiations with external organisations/agencies on HR matters
• Carry out any other relevant task required by, and mutually agreed with, the Regional Director.
REQUIREMENTS
  • At least 08 years of experience in a senior position in a regional or international environment;

• Knowledge of all aspects of international human resources management;

• Academic studies of three to five years in HR management, or similar academic qualification such as law, sociology or business administration

• Excellent managerial, analytical, interpersonal, negotiating and team building skills;

• Demonstrated skills and practice in strategic planning, policy, performance and change management;

• Experience of handling a cross-cultural work force in a multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary setting;

• Ability to work under pressure with complex tasks and deal tactfully with sensitive issues;

• Willingness to maintain a balance between the operational demands and the strategic aspects of the post;

• Extensive work experience in Central and West Africa;

• Knowledge of the conditions and benefits provided by other international organizations;

• Cultural awareness and sensitivity to gender issues;

• French as a working language is essential, a good understanding of other IUCN languages(English and/or Spanish) and other African languages is an asset.

• Fully computer literate and familiar with Microsoft Office and major software packages.

• Willing to travel frequently within the region and internationally.
APPLICATIONS

Applicants are requested to apply online through the HR Management System, by opening the vacancy announcement and pressing the "Apply" button.

Applicants will be asked to create an account and submit their profile information. Applications will not be accepted after the closing date. The vacancy closes at midnight, Swiss time (GMT+1 / GMT+2 during Daylight Saving Time, DST). Please note that only selected applicants will be personally contacted for interviews.

Other job opportunities are published in the IUCN website: https://www.iucn.org/involved/jobs/


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IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.

Created in 1948, IUCN is now the world’s largest and most diverse environmental network, harnessing the knowledge, resources and reach of more than 1,400 Member organisations and around 16,000 experts. It is a leading provider of conservation data, assessments and analysis. Its broad membership enables IUCN to fill the role of incubator and trusted repository of best practices, tools and international standards.

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