Organizational Setting

FAO's Human Resources Division (CSH) provides HR strategies, policies, tools, guidance and oversight to FAO offices worldwide to ensure that the Organization attracts, develops and retains a diverse, skilled and highly motivated workforce, delivering on the mandate of the Organization. Over the next years, CSH will focus on developing and implementing a people centered strategy, and positioning HR as a strategic partner contributing to the achievement of the mandate of FAO.

The position is located in the Human Resources Division (CSH) at FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

Reporting Lines

The Deputy Director reports to the Director, Human Resources Division (CSH).

Summary of Duties and Functions

Under the overall guidance of Director, the Deputy Director will coordinate the daily management and operations of HR and will play a key role in the continuing development of a robust HR change management system.

The Deputy Director will also oversee and ensure the strategic positioning of CSH in its interactions with HR’s stakeholders.

She/he will assist the Director in providing direction to the CSH teams in the following areas: 

• organizational design, strategic workforce planning, position management and job classification; 

• talent acquisition and management, mobility and outreach;

• global learning and career development, performance management; 

• social security and medical insurance; 

• strategic reporting, data analysis and management.

In particular she/he will:

Establishment of partnership and delivery of HR strategic services globally 

• Build and maintain strategic relations and collaborative partnership with managers at headquarters, Regional Offices and Country Offices to understand their needs and requirements especially as concerns emergency response and technical capacity; 

• Oversee the work of the HR teams at Headquarters and Regional Offices, creating a strong HR global community of practice; 

• Oversee the implementation of new HR initiatives and procedures globally and guide Regional Offices and Country Offices in aligning HR policies and procedures effectively; 

• Propose inputs to HR policy and strategy based on experiences with clients and external networking, so as to constantly contribute to the implementation of CSH’s Strategy at corporate level.

Organizational design, strategic workforce planning and change management 

• Oversee a comprehensive approach to position management, organizational design and strategic workforce planning; 

• Coordinate organizational studies, structural and job reviews, promote awareness, and understanding and support dynamic evolution of organizational changes and effective post management; 

• Lead the implementation of the HR aspects of FAO Programme of Work and Budget in collaboration with the Office of Strategy, Planning and Resources Management (OSP).

Talent acquisition and management, mobility and outreach 

• Oversee the implementation of talent strategies and programmes which strengthen FAO’s capabilities in attracting, assessing, selecting talents; 

• Lead the development of pro-active recruitment and selection policies and procedures to meet corporate targets; 

• Lead the development of mobility and job rotation programmes and coordinate initiatives aimed at building a diverse technical capacity across the Organization; 

• Facilitate the development of a network of recruitment sources to facilitate the identification of highly qualified candidates.

Global Learning, Staff development and Performance management 

• Promote FAO as a learning/knowledge sharing Organization; 

• Lead the identification of organization-wide staff development needs to support organizational effectiveness and individual development; 

• Lead the development of new methodologies and approaches to encourage learning and knowledge sharing and to support career development, performance management and their consistent application throughout the Organization; 

• Oversee staff development activities, including training, workshops, coaching, and staff individual learning.

Social security and medical insurance 

• Coordinate the strategic plan for social security services including staff well-being and welfare across the Organization; 

• Lead FAO’s social security services including coordination of its main bodies (i.e. Staff Pension Committee (SPC), Advisory Committee on Medical Coverage (JAC/MC) and the Advisory Committee on Compensation Claims (ACCC)); 

• Participate in identifying needs, formulating and developing strategies, policies, plans and tools relating to social security benefits in line with the UN Common System; 

• Oversee the management of the medical insurance contract with third party firms/entities.

HR Reporting and data management 

• Lead and coordinate regular reporting and data analysis and management; 

• Propose and implement improvements of HR processes, products and services to strengthen an integrated service structure and to enhance CSH’s effectiveness, efficiency and timeliness; 

• Lead the development and implementation of HR systems including enterprise resources planning (ERP), processes, and tools.

Minimum Requirements 

• Advanced university degree in Human Resources Management, Social Sciences, Economics, Business, Public Administration or related field. 

• Minimum twelve (12) years of relevant managerial and professional post graduate experience in effective human resources management and/or administrative management. 

• Demonstrated experience in leading/facilitating organizational change and management in an international organizations/settings. 

• Experience in the UN common system is highly desirable. 

• Proven ability and experience in communication and negotiation. 

• Proven ability to produces high-quality work on key issues and to manage effectively and efficiently human and financial resources to ensure the timely delivery of programmed outputs in a fast-changing environment. 

• Demonstrated leadership and managerial skills of a high order with maturity and the ability to apply judgment in the exercise of professional independence and to manage complex and/or sensitive issues with diplomacy and confidentiality. 

• Ability to lead and work effectively with a diverse team of people of different national and cultural backgrounds in an international setting. 

• An HR professional certification is highly desirable. 

• Working knowledge (proficiency – level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency – level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).