Senior HR Assistant, Client Services Job #: req32703 Organization: World Bank Sector: Human Resources Grade: GD Term Duration: 2 years 0 months Recruitment Type: Local Recruitment Location: Port Moresby,Papua New Guinea Required Language(s): English Preferred Language(s): Closing Date: 4/30/2025 (MM/DD/YYYY) at 11:59pm UTC
Description
Do you want to build a career that is truly worthwhile? Working at the World Bank Group provides a unique opportunity for you to help our clients solve their greatest development challenges. The World Bank Group is one of the largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries; a unique global partnership of five institutions dedicated to ending extreme poverty, increasing shared prosperity and promoting sustainable development. With 189 member countries and more than 120 offices worldwide, we work with public and private sector partners, investing in groundbreaking projects and using data, research, and technology to develop solutions to the most urgent global challenges. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org
Country context
Papua New Guinea (PNG) belongs to the World Bank’s PNG and Pacific Country Management Unit (CMU) which covers twelve countries as follows: Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. The CMU is managed from the Sydney Office under the leadership of the Country Director, assisted by an operations Manager. The PNG Country Office in Port Moresby is led by the Country Manager, assisted by the Senior Operations Officer. Since July 1st, 2024, the Country Manager is now also the Joint Country Representative (JCR) for the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA).
The World Bank’s portfolio in PNG consists of 10 active projects (all IPFs) with net commitments of US$462.5m covering energy, transport, water, agriculture, community-driven development, urban youth, labor mobility, and health and nutrition. There are six ASAs underway, three of which are multi-year Programmatic ASAs financed largely by trust funds. Preparation of a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for the period FY2025-2029 is underway.
The Position
WBG is seeking to hire a well-organized, proactive and motivated individual to provide Human Resources (HR) support in Papua New Guinea Country Office, based in Port Moresby.
The incumbent is expected to fully demonstrate generalist capabilities as well as hold specialized expertise within the staff lifecycle (from on-boarding through ending employment). It requires the highest level of client orientation, people management, attention to detail and strong organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills.
The Senior HR Assistant is mainly responsible to provide efficient and high-quality support for the HR team in delivering a full range of HR related products/services to client managers and staff in the PNG Country Office. This position is expected to work with relative independence in the interpretation of data.
Duties and Accountabilities
• Work as a face of HR on the ground. Guide staff to appropriate HR related topics and solutioning group, providing an institutional perspective in the discussion and resolution of issues/problems.
• Respond to routine inquiries from clients and CMU on HR programs and policies, in consultation with relevant HRBP. Act as a point of contact for any HR queries.
• Assist hiring teams and CMU on recruitments, vacancy postings in coordination with HR Recruitment Services team, participate in shortlisting committees and interview panels as appropriate and prepare salary recommendation for hiring managers.
• Provide overall process and procedural hiring guidance for different appointment types in World Bank like Term, Extended-Term, Short-term appointments.
• Assist onboarding and orientation of selected candidates and relocated staff based on each relevant type of appointment. Produce and update HR welcome briefing material based on Country Office specific best practice. Provide guidance and briefing to enhance staff onboarding experience and quick adaptation on their workplace’s culture and HR systems.
• Work closely with HRBP to convene focus groups to discuss HR program/policy issues in specialized units, document and follow up.
• Assist internal clients in the implementation of institutional and Country Office HR programs, e.g. Engagement Survey Follow-up Actions, Induction, Coaching & Mentoring Programs, Global Mobility Initiatives of relevant Offices, DEI Initiatives of relevant Offices, Respectful Workplace Advisors’ Initiatives as appropriate etc.
• Design and manage customized databases, and independently conduct research/analysis/special studies resulting in recommendations to facilitate decision-making. This would imply not only data retrieval, but also development and analysis of data, interpretation and write-up of analysis on an independent basis with a minimum of supervision.
• As part of Staff Learning and Development, conduct training needs analysis as needed. Identify and develop HR-related training programs for the Country Office in coordination with the HRBP.
• Keep abreast of latest policy changes, participating in team conversations and bring the ground challenges to HR Management attention.
• Provide administrative and translation/interpretation support to counselors/Ethics team as needed including scheduling relevant meetings with the CMU and other entities and assisting during group workshops/presentations.
• Acts as Medical Benefits Plan (MBP) administrator to support local staff on medical benefits issues.
• Assist departing staff with exit formalities as well as exit briefing based on type of exit i.e., resignation, retirement, separation, or end of contract.
Selection Criteria
• Bachelor/master’s degree in HR, Management, Behavioral Sciences, Business or other related fields or a combination of degree and relevant work experience.
• Minimum 3 years of relevant experience in HR functions in a comparable working environment such as International or Multinational organizations.
• Knowledge of local (PNG) and regional (Pacific) Human Resources market and political context and understanding of the country’s working environment.
• Demonstrated initiative, innovation and drive for results including ability to undertake a diversity of tasks within a rapidly changing and demanding environment on short deadlines.
• Experience with data collection, research, analysis, and interpretation. Ability to articulate issues and recommend solutions to aid management in decision-making.
• Proficiency in all HR Systems and office management applications such as PeopleSoft, Recruitment tools, SAP, MS Office Tools.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to deal rapidly, and in a timely and accurate manner, with shifting priorities and work pressure with minimum supervisory requirements.
World Bank Group Core Competencies
The World Bank Group offers comprehensive benefits, including a retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; and paid leave, including parental leave, as well as reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.
We are proud to be an equal opportunity and inclusive employer with a dedicated and committed workforce, and do not discriminate based on gender, gender identity, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability.
Learn more about working at the World Bank and IFC, including our values and inspiring stories.