HR Associate (Partner Personnel)

Giga; Islamabad; On-site; PKR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

UNOPS in Islamabad is seeking an HR Associate (Partner Personnel) to provide comprehensive HR support to partners, handling contracts, payroll, benefits, and recruitment in a timely, compliant manner.

You will coordinate with client focal persons, manage HR records, and contribute to process improvements while collaborating with HR teams to deliver high-quality HR services for development projects in Pakistan.

Qualifications

• Experience in HR services including contracts, payroll and benefits administration.
• Experience in recruitment processes and interviews.
• Proficiency with MS Office and G-Suite in HR contexts.

Responsibilities

• HR Services Support: manage partner personnel contracts, payroll, and benefits.
• Recruitment Support: assist in postings, screening, and interviews.
• Coordination and Communication: liaise with client focal persons and HR team.
• Process Improvement: identify and implement HR process enhancements.

Skills

Benefits Administration

Communication

Recruitment

Human Resources

Payroll

Problem Solving

Education

Secondary school education with 6 years of relevant experience

Bachelor’s degree in any discipline

Tools

MS Office

G-Suite

Job description

General Information

• Position Title: HR Associate (Partner Personnel)
• Job Category: Human Resources
• Duty Station(s): Islamabad
• Seniority Level: Associate
• ICS Level: 06
• Contract Type: ICA - LICA - Support - Regular
• Contract Level: LICA 6
• Posting Start Date: 04-Sep-2026
• Posting End Date: 08-Sep-2026
• Duration: Open-ended (Subject to performance and funds availability)

Job Highlight

This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the effective delivery of UNOPS projects by providing essential HR support to partners. The position offers exposure to a variety of HR functions, collaboration with diverse stakeholders, and professional development within the UN system.

About the Region

The Asia Pacific Regional Office, based in Bangkok, Thailand, provides strategic leadership and oversight for UNOPS operations across 17 countries, ensuring high performance, operational excellence, and alignment with organizational goals. Operations currently span Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Pacific Islands. Across these countries, we work closely with key stakeholders to strengthen partnerships and maximize impact through five main operating units: Afghanistan (AFCO), Myanmar (MMCO), South Asia Multi-Country Office (SAMCO), East Asia and Pacific Multi-Country Office (EAPMCO), and the Asia Regional Health Cluster (ARHC). Through these entities, we provide agile, client‑focused service delivery across diverse sectors - including infrastructure, health, procurement, and project management - supporting the implementation of sustainable development solutions across the region.

About the Country/Multi-Country Office

The South Asia Multi-Country Office (SAMCO) supports UNOPS operations across six countries: Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. SAMCO delivers a broad range of services and technical expertise in climate change, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), infrastructure, procurement, human resource management, and fund management. Each country office is staffed with local technical experts and maintains strong partnerships with national governments, ensuring context‑specific solutions and effective project implementation.

About the Project Office

Since 1999, UNOPS has been a committed partner in Pakistan, supporting the country’s progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNOPS focuses on delivering essential services, including strengthening health systems, expanding access to WASH facilities in remote areas, and improving infrastructure for schools and communities. We also support emergency response efforts, delivering critical medical supplies and essential services during times of crisis. Through close collaboration with the Government of Pakistan, development partners, donors, and UN agencies, UNOPS works to build resilient, sustainable communities. Leveraging expertise in project management, procurement, human resources, and infrastructure, we provide tailored solutions that enhance efficiency, reduce risk, and maximize development impact.

Job Specific Context

This position provides HR services support to UNOPS partners, managing partner personnel contracts, payroll, allied services and insurance. The role involves supporting the recruitment and contracting of various positions for partners following UNOPS processes, providing guidance on benefits and entitlements to client focal persons, processing travel claims and payroll, and liaising with the client focal persons on various matters.

Role Purpose

The HR Associate (Partner Personnel) is responsible for providing comprehensive HR support services to UNOPS partners, ensuring efficient and compliant management of personnel contracts, payroll, recruitment, and benefits administration. The role contributes to the smooth operation of partner projects by facilitating effective communication and coordination between UNOPS and its partners. This role reports to the Project Manager and collaborates with the HR Assistant team to provide comprehensive support for the efficient delivery of HR services.

Functions / Key Results Expected

1. HR Services Support

• Manage partner personnel contracts, ensuring compliance with UNOPS rules, regulations, and policies.
• Process payroll for partner personnel accurately and in a timely manner.
• Provide guidance on insurance benefits and entitlements to client focal persons for further communication to partner personnel.
• Process travel claims payments for partner personnel, ensuring accuracy and adherence to travel policies.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date HR records for partner personnel.

2. Recruitment Support

• Support the recruitment of different positions for partners, following UNOPS recruitment processes.
• Assist in the preparation of job descriptions, posting of vacancies, screening of applications, and coordination of interviews.
• Ensure compliance with UNOPS recruitment policies and procedures.

3. Coordination and Communication

• Liaise with the client focal persons from the client side for different HR-related matters.
• Facilitate effective communication between UNOPS and its partners regarding HR policies, procedures, and updates.
• Respond to HR-related inquiries from partner personnel and client focal persons in a timely and professional manner.
• Assist the project manager in providing different statistical reports to clients in close coordination with the team.

4. Process Improvement

• Identify opportunities for process improvement in HR service delivery to partners.
• Recommend and implement changes to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
• Contribute to the development of HR policies and procedures related to partner personnel.

Skills

Benefits Administration, Communication, Recruitment, Human Resources, Payroll, Problem Solving

Competencies

Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organisational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion.

Acts as a positive role model contributing to the team spirit. Collaborates and supports the development of others. For people managers only: Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires others to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles.

Demonstrates understanding of the impact of own role on all partners and always puts the end beneficiary first. Builds and maintains strong external relationships and is a competent partner for others (if relevant to the role).

Efficiently establishes an appropriate course of action for self and/or others to accomplish a goal. Actions lead to total task accomplishment through concern for quality in all areas. Sees opportunities and takes the initiative to act on them. Understands that responsible use of resources maximizes our impact on our beneficiaries.

Open to change and flexible in a fast paced environment. Effectively adapts own approach to suit changing circumstances or requirements. Reflects on experiences and modifies own behavior. Performance is consistent, even under pressure. Always pursues continuous improvements.

Evaluates data and courses of action to reach logical, pragmatic decisions. Takes an unbiased, rational approach with calculated risks. Applies innovation and creativity to problem‑solving.

Expresses ideas or facts in a clear, concise and open manner. Communication indicates a consideration for the feelings and needs of others. Actively listens and proactively shares knowledge. Handles conflict effectively, by overcoming differences of opinion and finding common ground.

Education Requirements

Required

• Secondary school (or equivalent) with 6 years of relevant experience OR
• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in any discipline with 2 years of relevant experience is required.

Desired

• A globally or nationally recognized professional certificate in Human Resource Management (HRM) is desired.

Experience Requirements

Required

• Relevant experience is work in managing personnel contracts, payroll and benefits administration, and recruitment and selection processes.
• Experience in the use of collaboration and productivity tools (e.g. MS Office, G-Suite, etc) and web-based management systems is required

Desired

• Experience of working in multicultural environments or UN system organizations in a developing country is desired.
• Experience in development or humanitarian contexts is desired

Language Requirements

• English - Fluent - Required
• Urdu - Fluent - Required

Additional Information

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.

Terms and Conditions

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post.
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few mandatory courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• For more details about the contract types, please click here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.