🇺🇸 Chief, Human Resources Policies Division (D-1) 💼 ICSC Job in New York, United States 🏛️

The rules that decide how hundreds of thousands of UN staff worldwide are recruited, moved, paid in hardship duty stations and evaluated all trace back to one place — and someone has to lead the team that writes them. The International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) is hiring a Chief of its Human Resources Policies Division at the D-1 level in New York. At Youth Works Hub we gather high-level international careers alongside youth opportunities, and this is one of the most senior HR-policy leadership roles across the entire UN common system.

About the Role

The position is located in the secretariat of the ICSC. To support the Commission in fulfilling its mandate, the Human Resources Policies Division (HRPD) develops proposals for establishing, revising and enhancing human-resources management policies across the UN common system — with particular reference to human-resource planning, recruitment, mobility, career and staff-development schemes, performance management, work/life balance, job-evaluation standards, standards of conduct and gender-equity strategies — and promotes consistency in how organisations implement them. The Division is also responsible for managing field entitlements, such as the hardship and mobility scheme, danger pay and the non-family status of duty stations. Reporting to the Executive Secretary, the Chief maintains close contact with stakeholders and partners, directs policy development in these areas to ensure relevance to common-system organisations and Member States, and ensures the Division's work is carried forward expeditiously and professionally.

Responsibilities

📚 Develop and direct studies on the above aspects of human-resources management to build system-wide HR policies, standards and procedures across the UN common system, exploring and adapting best practices from the public and private international sectors;

🌍 Manage the mobility/hardship scheme — including periodic studies of its functioning and methodology, the annual hardship classification of UN duty stations, the designation of non-family duty stations, the danger-pay system, and the common-system rest and recuperation framework;

⚖️ Formulate policy recommendations in the relevant functional areas and provide authoritative advice to the Commission and the General Assembly on matters within his/her competence;

🧭 Monitor and guide organisations' implementation of the policies recommended or approved by the Commission and the General Assembly;

📊 Direct the development, testing and review of job-evaluation and supporting systems, procedures and manuals for common-system organisations, advise and train staff in their application, and develop and implement the job-evaluation segments of remuneration studies;

👥 Develop and direct the Division's work programme and manage staff performance by encouraging professional growth and a results-oriented environment.

Who Can Apply

🎓 Education: An advanced university degree (master's or equivalent) in human resources, public or business administration or a related field is required. A first-level degree in the specified fields with two additional years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu.

💼 Experience: At least 15 years of progressively responsible experience in human-resources management or the development of HR policies in the UN common-system environment, including positions at a senior level, is required. Experience managing staff, leading a team and working in a multicultural environment is required.

🗣️ Languages: English is required for this job opening; French is desirable.

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Competencies

The role calls for professionalism (demonstrated expertise in developing innovative HR policies and systems and encouraging successful change-management environments, with strong data analysis and research skills), communication, leadership (serving as a role model, empowering others, driving change and championing gender balance), and sound judgement and decision-making in complex situations.

Good to Know

📄 Appointment against this position is for an initial period of one year and is extendable. Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise followed by a competency-based interview. The ICSC secretariat is committed to 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity, and female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. Staff appointed to this position submit a financial disclosure statement on appointment and annually thereafter. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of recruitment.

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Frequently Asked Questions

❓ What level is this role? A D-1 senior leadership position heading the ICSC's Human Resources Policies Division in New York.

❓ How much experience do I need? At least 15 years of progressively responsible HR-management or HR-policy experience in the UN common system, including senior-level positions.

❓ Is French required? No — English is required; French is desirable.

❓ How long is the appointment? An initial one year, extendable.

Deadline

⏳ 21 September 2026 (postings close at 11:59 p.m. New York time). Youth Works Hub flags time-sensitive international roles like this so you don't miss them.