HR Support Specialist at Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

The Regional Office for Africa, RAF, is responsible for leading FAO’s response to regional priorities for food security, agriculture and rural development through the identification, planning, and implementation of FAO’s priority activities in the Region. It ensures a multidisciplinary approach to programmes, identifies priority areas of action for the Organization in the Region and, in collaboration with departments and divisions at headquarters, develops, promotes and oversees FAO's strategic response to regional priorities.

The RAF Human Resources Unit facilitates the implementation of FAO human resources policies, procedures and services in RAF. It advises senior management on appropriate measures and strategies to ensure that FAO decentralised offices in sub-Saharan Africa attract, develop and retain a diverse, skilled and highly motivated workforce. The RAF HR Unit works in close coordination with the Office of Human Resources (OHR) and the Shared Service Centre (CSS) to ensure consistency, quality, compliance, efficiency and effectiveness in all HR-related activities, from hiring through to separation.

Reporting Lines

• The HR Support Specialist works under the direct supervision of the Regional Human Resources Officer and in conjunction with the HR Associate and Assistant who provide daily guidance and oversight.

Technical Focus

• Administration and client support in the delivery of HR services and processes; operational aspects of recruitment and induction processes.

Tasks And Responsibilities

• Provide support to the recruitment of RAF personnel ensuring all operational aspects are completed in accordance with corporate procedures and following best practice. Organize job interview logistics and provide assistance to selection panels;
• Work as part of a team to deliver activities and services through the application of relevant corporate policies, systems and tools that enable effective HR processes along the employee cycle – from hiring to separation;
• Provide standard HR information to RAF personnel in a timely and effective manner: receive, review and respond to everyday internal and external requests, enquiries and claims, referring requests outside own knowledge base as appropriate;
• Contribute to analysing HR requirements, information, data, statistics, trends, problems, and/or issues to support service delivery, new HR initiatives and projects for the Africa region, and assist in the preparation of HR plans, strategies, reports, and/or other products;
• Draft routine correspondence; create documents and presentations from a clear brief to support operational activities; assist with briefings and debriefings; take notes at meetings;
• Arrange and/or support the organization of internal and external HR-related events;
• Maintain personnel files and office systems ensuring accuracy, completeness, confidentiality and timeliness of information;
• Perform other duties as required.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• University degree in human resources, public or business administration, organizational psychology or social sciences
• Three years of relevant experience working in a human resources or administrative department
• Working knowledge of English
• Excellent knowledge and experience of using office software (word processing, spreadsheets, presentation software, databases and communications).
• National of Ghana or resident in the country with a regular work permit

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work
• Extent and relevance of experience of core HR processes and recruitment and selection in particular
• Familiarity with most common computerized human resources information management systems
• Ability to set up and maintain office systems
• Limited knowledge of French would be an advantage
• An interest in the issues linked to the FAO mandate would be desirable