Associate Human Resources Officer

March 9 2026

D

Non Family with Residential LocationNon Family with Residential LocationDanger Pay

Budapest Hungary

PR2

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

Associate Human Resources Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Associate Human Resources Officer supports the UNHCRs People Strategy and contributes to the implementation of the 2018 independent Human Resources review which resulted in the establishment of HR strategic priorities and the reconfiguration and transformation of the Division of People Management (DPM) from a largely transactional model into a strategic business partner for field operations and senior management. Having the right people in the right place at the right time is at the core of enabling UNHCR to protect and respond to forcibly displaced and stateless persons. By attracting retaining and developing a talented diverse and agile workforce while nurturing a culture of excellence respect and wellbeing for all UNHCRs Human Resources acts as a strategic partner to the organization enabling a people-centric culture.
The Associate Human Resources Officer provides support and assistance in the areas of operational support workforce planning assignments and talent acquisition organizational cultural changes HR policy implementation and duty of care. The incumbent maintains employee confidence and protects the organization and its workforce by keeping human resources information confidential.

The Associate Human Resources Officer is usually supervised by the HR Officer or Senior HR Officer or Head of Office in a Country Operation or the most senior HR staff in a Regional Bureau. She/he usually supervises HR General Service staff.

The incumbent maintains a direct working relationship with a number of units within the Division of People Management (DPM). The incumbent also works closely with the Senior HR Partner the Senior Medical Officer and the Senior Staff counsellor for his/her region.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter UN Staff Regulations and Rules UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability addition staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core functional cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCRs core values of professionalism integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
Workforce Operational Support:
- Assist in implementation of HR initiatives that support organizational culture change such as good people management practices and promoting gender inclusion and diversity.
- Implement HR operational activities to ensure timely provision of HR solutions prioritizing according to the needs and risks.
- Contribute to the development of a HR customer service-oriented culture that values proactivity continuous improvement innovation and high performance.
- Provide support guidance and trainings to HR staff.
Assignments and Talent Acquisition:
- Coordinate the process of recruitment assignment and reassignment of locally-recruited staff and affiliate workforce also assisting with set up and running of (Regional) Assignments Committee where relevant.
- Assist in organizing outreach campaigns to attract diverse applicants. Ensure proper consideration is given to all applicants without distinction on the grounds of race color sex national origin age religion disability sexual orientation and gender identity.
- Analyse track and report on recruitment and assignments trends for management including efforts to reach gender parity.
- Take a proactive approach to risk management in the areas of recruitment ensuring the issues are identified addressed and reported and where appropriate escalated.
Advice to managers and staff and contribution to an inclusive work environment:
- Build dialog and outreach with staff; answer questions and provide information to staff as to where to go for help or ask questions.
- Be proactive in identifying issues themes and patterns affecting the workforces health and welfare including sexual harassment and abuse of authority.
- Ensure that on-boarding induction re-integration into the workplace and off-boarding support is provided to colleagues. Induction programmes should include information on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Sexual Harassment Code of Conduct as well as workforces rights and obligations.
HR policies and inter-agency:
- Enforce compliance with UNHCRs Human Resources policies and procedures and the UN staff rules regulations and UNHCR administrative instructions.
- Participate in the ICSC survey on living conditions and classification of duty stations as well as in the UN Country Team local staff salary survey and other local inter-agency HR-related fora and initiatives.
Duty of Care:
- Contribute to establishing and maintaining a medical evacuation plan with senior management Field safety and the Senior Medical Officer.
- Assist in the security and medical evacuations of UNHCR personnel.
- Support the implementation of a Duty of Care strategy. Identify and assess issues related to duty of care including physical mental health and safety of UNHCRs workforce promoting workforce balance.
For positions in Regional Bureaux only:
In the absence of a Senior Talent Development Officer in the Bureau:
- Contribute to the implementation of a talent development strategy for UNHCR workforce in the region in line with UNHCRs needs and staff members career planning.
- Contribute to the implementation of a talent sourcing and acquisition plan to identify talent mainly among but not limited to national staff and affiliate workforce in the region.

- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P2/NOB - 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Human Resources Management; Human Resources Development; Personnel Administration;
Business Administration; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Experience working in Human Resources. Knowledge of general HR policies processes and systems.
Desirable
Experience in one or more of the following areas: HR Administration workforce planning recruitment HR policy or talent development. Experience in HR information technology systems and tools. Experience in field humanitarian operations and/or emergency settings. Experience working with the United Nations. Experience working in a multi-cultural setting.

Functional Skills
HR-Local mass recruitment
HR-Talent Development and Nurturing
HR-HR data and people analytics
HR-Employee Relationship Management
SO-Learning Agility
HR-HR Business Partnering
MG-Client Relationship Management
HR-Inclusion Diversity and Gender strategy design and implementation
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse harassment including sexual harassment sexism gender inequality discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Essential Attributes
Progressive professional experience in Human Resources management within UN agencies or comparable large international institutions with demonstrated exposure to HR advisory functions and experience providing HR services in complex or hardship operations characterized by high workload intensity tight deadlines and frequent operational shifts.
Demonstrated hands-on experience using enterprise HR and ERP systems such as Workday COMPASS or cloud-based ERP platforms including HR workflows staffing actions and reporting; combined with proven ability to use Microsoft Office tools (Excel Word PowerPoint; Visio) for HR analytics staffing tables organizational charts dashboards and management reporting.
Demonstrated professional experience across end-to-end HR processes including local and international recruitment and management of Affiliate Workforce modalities (International and local Deployments IUNVs NUNVs consultants contractors).
Proven experience serving as Ex-Officio member of Assignment Committees advising on the application of HR policies and AIs/PLs while addressing procedural concerns or disputes.
Proven experience in delivering HR-related trainings and webinars on HR policies and procedures including Code of Conduct to diverse audiences in the operation with demonstrated strong presentation and facilitation skills.

Desirable Attributes
Experience contributing to workforce planning exercises resource allocation frameworks and organizational realignments in large country operations.
Experience in developing HR Guidelines SOPs checklists and internal HR tools to strengthen consistency compliance and service delivery.

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station please visit: of Position:

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been present in Ukraine since 1994 and substantially increased its presence and response after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The geographical presence within Ukraine has significatively expanded to deliver the emergency response. The country office is located in the capital Kyiv and sub- and field offices are currently located in Dnipro Kyiv Lviv Odesa and Kharkiv.

The war in Ukraine has caused death and suffering on a dramatic 2026 with an estimated 10.8 million people in need humanitarians aim to reach 4.1 million of the most vulnerable prioritizing those experiencing the most severe conditions. Some 3.7 million people are internally displaced while around 5.9 million refugees from Ukraine are recorded across Europe and beyond. Some 75000 people including some of the most vulnerable notably older people and people with disabilities live in collective sites spread across the country. Ukraine also hosts asylum-seekers and refugees and is home to thousands of people who are stateless or at risk of statelessness.

The massive destruction of civilian infrastructure with the energy sector being particularly targeted has made life extremely challenging for millions of people who have lost their homes and livelihoods and has severely disrupted access to electricity water heating as well as critical services including healthcare education and social protection. Humanitarian access continues to be hampered particularly in frontline areas as well as to areas under temporary occupation of the Russian Federation. Civilians remain exposed to serious risks to their physical security and integrity particularly in eastern and southern regions of Ukraine. The risk of GBV including sexual violence continues to prevail alongside family separations loss of housing and properties as well as identity and civil documentation. Populations displaced or otherwise affected by the war live in situations of deprivation following the loss or damage of their housing loss of income and often become dependent on an overstretched social protection system.

The Government of Ukraine maintains a strong lead role in responding to the needs of its population and UNHCR supports the Government and its central and local institutions to provide protection shelter/housing cash and in-kind assistance to displaced and other people impacted by the war. Currently UNHCR has MOUs with four-line ministries the Pension Fund of Ukraine the First Ladys foundation as well as the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) 20 regional state administrations and agreements with 12 partners to deliver assistance and support the localization of the response. Under the leadership of the UN Humanitarian Coordinator UNHCR operates as part of the Inter-agency humanitarian response working in close coordination with local authorities and humanitarian partners. UNHCR is leading two Clusters - Protection and Shelter and NFI Cluster including the multi-sectoral coordination in transit centers and collective sites. The strategic orientation of UNHCRs response is to reach people particularly those with specific vulnerabilities who remain in frontline and heavily affected areas with immediate relief while supporting displaced people and those who have remained in their homes or returned with protection advice housing support livelihoods advice and cash assistance to enable their recovery and attainment of durable solutions.

Protection needs to be truly at the center of this response as the highest critical needs of the population caused by the international armed conflict are in the area of protection. Since Ukraine is a highly sophisticated country with a strong government leadership and well-established administrative social protection and digital systems it is essential to design and deliver UNHCRs protection programs in a way which simultaneously addresses immediate needs and supports the further development of sustainable and inclusive national protection systems.

With the EU having voted to confirm Ukraines accession to the EU at the end of 2023 Ukraine will also embark on a series of substantial and long-term reforms in numerous sectors including justice and home affairs which presents an opportunity to contribute to strengthened and more inclusive protection asylum and statelessness reduction systems. Working closely with government authorities local community representatives and partners from the embassies UN civil society and international financial institutions amongst others is thus key to ensuring that UNHCRs response is closely aligned with and complementary of national and local strategies and recovery plans.

As the war continues new urgent humanitarian needs are created every day alongside protracted ones and peoples and communities efforts to recover and rebuild their lives in war-torn communities. Among the IDPs and refugees from Ukraine the majority express a hope and desire to return to their homes as soon as the security situation allows. The protection needs of the population thus need to be analyzed and addressed both from a humanitarian as well as from an early recovery and durable solutions perspective with UNHCR playing a leading role in this work.

The Associate Human Resources Officer (P2) will be based in the Ukraine Country Office in Kyiv and will work under the direct supervision of the Head of the Human Resources view of the scale complexity and operational tempo of the Ukraine operation the Associate Human Resources Officer will frequently act as OiC of HR Unit in the absence of the Human Resources Officer and is therefore expected to demonstrate a high degree of technical autonomy sound judgement and leadership maturity.

The Ukraine operation represents one of UNHCRs largest and most complex contexts characterized by a dynamic security environment frequent organizational adjustments high staff mobility and continuous recruitment and workforce realignment demands. The function plays a strategic role in ensuring operational continuity staff welfare compliance with UN rules and regulations and timely delivery of HR services across multiple duty stations and staff categories.

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the Human Resources Officer the Associate Human Resources Officer contributes to the strategic positioning of HR services and ensures the effective timely and compliant delivery of HR support in a large crisis-affected operation. The incumbent assesses evolving personnel needs; interprets and applies policies UN Staff Rules and Regulations and administrative instructions; establishes and maintains internal HR procedures; and provides practical solution-oriented advice on a wide range of complex HR matters.

Given the operational context the role requires a high level of exposure to and responsibility for complex HR case management including recruitment and selection workforce planning personnel administration staff movements entitlements performance management learning and development and staff relations. The incumbent is expected to handle high-volume deadline-driven HR processes often under pressure while maintaining accuracy confidentiality and professionalism.

The position also requires demonstrating strong leadership and coordination skills including the ability to guide mentor and oversee the work of national Human Resources colleagues and focal points and to provide clear technical guidance to managers and staff. The role requires the ability to operate confidently in a fast-paced environment manage competing priorities and engage with senior managers in a calm diplomatic and persuasive manner.

A strong emphasis is placed on promoting a collaborative client-oriented HR service culture fostering trust with managers and staff and contributing to the maintenance of staff morale and organizational stability in a demanding humanitarian context. Experience in large country operations particularly in emergency humanitarian or recovery settings is essential as is the demonstrated ability to apply HR policies pragmatically while ensuring compliance and transparency.

Living and Working Conditions:

Ukraine is currently designated as a non-family country location with Dnipro and Kharkiv classified as E duty stations with a 4-week R&R cycle whereas Kyiv Odessa and Lviv are classified as D duty station with a 6-week RR Cycle. Budapest is the designated R&R location for all duty stations. English is not widely spoken. Access to hard currency is possible through local banks (rents are normally paid in USD). International staff typically rent private apartments in their respective duty stations. The quality of life is of an average European standard with relatively solid infrastructure. However the volatile security situation including frequent missile and drone attacks that trigger air-raid alarms and require immediate movement to shelters (often during the night) affects the living and working environment on an everyday basis resulting in sleep deprivation and high levels of stress which impact staff welfare and well-being.

In addition massive attacks on the countrys critical infrastructure result in frequent and prolonged electricity cuts. The lack of generators in private multi-storey buildings and apartments may also affect elevators heating water and even sewage systems leading to an overall unpredictable and sometimes difficult living situation especially during winter.

Due to the state of war a nationwide curfew is in place from 00:00 to 05:00 every day. All airports are closed and air traffic is suspended meaning that travel within Ukraine and in/out of the country is conducted mainly by car or train supported by official shuttles for border crossings to Poland and Moldova. Average travel time by train combined with road shuttle from Kyiv to airports in Poland Hungary or Moldova ranges from 1117 hours with train tickets selling out very quickly.

Security:

The war in Ukraine remains ongoing. Russian Federation (RF) Armed Forces continue to occupy Crimea and significant parts of Donetsk Luhansk Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts with recent advances near Pokrovsk and deeper into Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Approximately 19% of Ukraines territory is under RF control.

The front line remains the primary zone of kinetic military operations particularly in the east (Donetsk and Luhansk) southeast (Zaporizhzhia) and areas north of Kharkiv. Heavy fighting continues around Pokrovsk where RF forces are attempting to encircle Ukrainian positions and in Zaporizhzhia where breakthroughs have occurred under cover of poor weather. RF forces are conducting large-scale missile and drone strikes across Ukraine including the use of cruise missiles ballistic missiles and combat drones. These attacks increasingly target civilian areas and critical infrastructure such as energy facilities transport hubs and residential buildings. Emergency power outages are now routine due to sustained strikes on the energy grid creating severe hardship as winter sets in. Commercial air travel remains suspended with road and rail as the only viable transport options.

Deliberate attacks on humanitarian convoys have occurred. On 14 October 2025 a clearly marked UN inter-agency convoy delivering aid to Bilozerka (Kherson region) came under artillery fire and drone strikes by RF forces. Two World Food Programme trucks were destroyed by drones despite visible UN markings. Fortunately no staff were injured but this incident reflects a broader pattern of increased risk to humanitarian personnel. Since the full-scale invasion humanitarian workers have faced violence and some have been killed and injured in Ukraine primarily in front-line areas. UN facilities and assets have also been damaged in strikes on urban centres and humanitarian access remains severely constrained. Front-line shifts and intensified hostilities have led to extremely high access constraints in Donetsk Zaporizhzhia Kherson and parts of Kharkiv Sumy and Chernihiv oblasts. Mines UXOs and ongoing military operations further restrict movement.

The UN Security Management System (UNSMS) continues to apply the Security Risk Management (SRM) process. Current risk levels range from High to Very High and in some areas with active hostilities. Across all SRM areas where UNHCR operates the projected risk level remains High. Applicants for positions in Ukraine must be prepared for a highly dynamic and hazardous security environment where unexpected events occur frequently. Key considerations: Air raids are frequent requiring staff to shelter for extended periods. Power heating and water outages are common especially during winter. Disruptions to essential services (shops banks restaurants) may occur. Curfews apply nationwide; private travel by international staff is prohibited. All mission travel requires authorisation and completion of mandatory BSAFE SSAFE and IFAK training plus security clearance.

The UNHCR Field Security Unit (FSU) works closely with UNDSS and other UNSMS partners to ensure program delivery within acceptable risk parameters. Contingency planning remains critical to support UNHCRs mandate of providing protection and assistance to people in need. Given the evolving operational and security environment maintaining robust security preparedness is essential.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: Business Administration Bachelor of Arts: Human Resource Development Bachelor of Arts: Human Resources Management Bachelor of Arts: Personnel Administration

Certifications

Human Resources

Competencies

Accountability (Outstanding - 5) Analytical thinking (Outstanding - 5) Change capability & adaptability (Outstanding - 5) Client & results orientation (Outstanding - 5) Commitment to continuous learning (Good - 4) Communication (Outstanding - 5) Empowering & building trust (Outstanding - 5) Managing performance (Outstanding - 5) Managing resource (Outstanding - 5) Organizational awareness (Good - 4) Planning & organizing (Outstanding - 5) Teamwork & collaboration (Outstanding - 5)

Bi-Annual 2026 Compendium - Part B

Additional Information

This position doesnt require a functional clearance