Senior Human Resources Advisor, Noumea, New Caledonia

• Organization: SPC - Secretariat of the Pacific Community
• City: Noumea, New Caledonia
• Office: SPC HQ Noumea

Senior Human Resources Advisor
Job Code : 15-32
Location : Noumea, New Caledonia
Grade : 11
Salary Range : SDR 3,813 - 4,671 monthly
Closing Date : 25/06/2015
Duration : 3 years
Are you passionate about development effectiveness and supporting Pacific Island communities to achieve their goals?
Description

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) invites applications for the position of Senior Human Resources Advisor in its Human Resources Section, part of the Operations and Management Directorate located at its headquarters in Noumea, New Caledonia.
The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) works with its 22 Pacific Island member countries and territories, providing technical and scientific assistance across a wide range of sectors to enhance economic, environmental, social and human development in this region.
The Operations and Management Directorate (OMD) provides organisational governance and operational support to SPC's divisions and programmes, ensuring compliance with SPC's policies. OMD operationalises the audit, risk management, financial accountability and performance management of SPC's programmes. The Human Resources Section is part of OMD and is led by the Human Resources Director. It has around 15 staff, located in offices in Noumea and Suva. The Senior HR Advisor works closely with the HR Director and the Recruitment Team Leader, the Senior HR Generalist in Suva and the rest of the HR team.
The role – The Senior Human Resources Adviser is responsible for providing advice and support in the management and resolution of all operational generalist human resources enquiries and issues within the framework of relevant employment terms and conditions, policies and procedures. It encompasses – but is not limited to – the following major functions:

• Human resources advice: Provide a substantiated reply to all staff inquiries regarding enforcement of the various HR policies, staff rules and explain their rights; contribute to the development, formulation and critical review of polices; and assist the Director of Human Resources to maintain the effectiveness, relevance and consistency of existing HR policies and procedures in light of organisational change and the overall framework of the remuneration system.
• Contract management: Oversee the contracts of all SPC staff managed from Headquarters, produce all the contracts needed and ensure the accuracy of the terms and conditions of service; make recommendations and arrive at an agreement with the section heads on various and diverse contracts related enquiries.
• Team management: Coordinate management of the HR team so as to achieve the goals set during annual planning meetings; oversee the work and conduct annual job performance evaluations for those staff under his/her responsibility.
• Life and health insurance scheme management: Supervise coverage delivery for the health and life insurance policies and suggest needed improvements; supervise the management of the complementary health insurance and approve payment of the monthly premiums.
• HR business partner role: Support managers and employees in the implementation of the SPC People Management cycle: objectives setting, performance management, development and improvement planning, people review, succession planning and workforce planning.

The profile – SPC is looking for a dynamic, qualified and experienced human resources advisor with demonstrated in-depth experience in operational generalist human resources service delivery. The ability to prioritise and negotiate deadlines and to develop creative and effective solutions to resolve human resources challenges and issues will be instrumental in this role.
Key selection criteria
1. Qualifications

University degree or equivalent in HR management, public or business administration
2. Technical expertise

• At least three years of demonstrated relevant operational generalist human resources service delivery experience, in a similar HR advisory capacity at an international level;
• Proven ability to lead and manage a team, performance training and professional development;
• Experienced user of HR-Online or any similar employee self-service software;
• The ability to apply HR policies and regulations in a fair and consistent manner;
• Great networker, able to develop effective working partnerships and proven customer service, interpersonal, mediation and consultation skills;
• Demonstrated experience in the provision of a range of diverse employee-related services, including the application of conditions of employment;
• Solid computer skills and a proficient user of the MS Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook).

3. Language skills
SPC is looking for a fully bilingual speaker for this role with excellent written and oral communication skills in both French and English
4. Interpersonal skills and cultural awarenessGood interpersonal skills, a team player with the ability to network and work effectively in a multicultural setting. Cultural sensitivity and a demonstrated understanding of developing country environments, with knowledge of Pacific Island countries and territories being an advantage
Salary, terms and conditions
Required start date – This position is to be filled as soon as possible.
Remuneration – The Senior Human Resources Advisor is a band 11 position in SPC's 2015 salary scale, with a starting salary range of SDR 3,813–4,671 SDR (special drawing rights) per month, which converts to approximately XPF 525,264–643,322 (USD 5,795–7,097; EUR 4,402–5,391); please check published daily market rates for current currency conversions. An offer of appointment for an initial contract will be made in the lower half of this range, with due consideration being given to experience and qualifications. Progression within the salary scale will be based on annual performance reviews. SPC salaries are not subject to income tax in New Caledonia at the present time.
Benefits – SPC provides subsidised housing in Noumea. An establishment and relocation grant, removal expenses, airfares, home leave, medical insurance and education allowance are available for eligible employees and their recognised dependants. Employees are entitled to: annual leave and sick leave per annum, life insurance, and access to SPC's Provident Fund (contributing 8% of salary to which SPC adds a matching contribution).
Languages – SPC's working languages are English and French.
As an equal-opportunity employer, SPC recruits on merit, but if two interviewed candidates are ranked equal by the selection committee, preference will be given to nationals of Pacific Island countries and territories.
Application procedure
Please use SPC's online recruitment system to lodge your application following the link below.
Please note that it is not possible to start your application via the online system, save it and return to complete it later; therefore, it is strongly recommended that you prepare all documents and required information prior to starting your application.
If you cannot access the online recruitment system, please apply by:

• email: recruit@spc.int
• fax: + 687 26 38 18

For your application to be considered, you are required to provide us with:

• an updated resume
• contact details for three professional referees (include name / title / relationship / contact details)
• a cover letter detailing your skills, experience and interest in this position
• a statement with your brief responses to the following questions:

1. Please describe what it means to deploy a client-focused approach to human resource advisory work.
2. Outline your experience in developing creative and effective solutions to resolve human resources challenges.3. Describe your experience in managing and developing a small HR team.
Important note: Please ensure your documents are in either Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format.