Recruitment Assistant

Overview

This opportunity is for a Recruitment Assistant based in Bonn, Germany, supporting the recruitment function within UNDP’s Global Shared Service Centre. The role sits within the outposted recruitment setup that serves Country Offices and helps deliver timely, accurate, and client-focused HR services.

This opening is available to nationals of EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland. There are multiple vacancies.

Tiered application process

UNDP uses a tiered approach for many vacancies to prioritize internal staffing needs. Applicants should check the tier, if any, stated in the vacancy title and confirm that they meet the relevant eligibility requirements.

• Tier 0: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff on permanent or fixed-term appointments whose posts will be abolished, or whose contracts will end or not be renewed during 2026.
• Tier 1: Other UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff on permanent or fixed-term appointments.
• Tier 2: UNDP/UNCDF/UNV staff on temporary appointments, personnel on regular PSA contracts, and Expert and Specialist UN Volunteers.
• Tier 3 or no tier shown: All other contract types from UNDP/UNCDF/UNV and other agencies, plus external applicants.

About the role

UNDP’s Global Shared Service Centre was established to support transparent, standardized, and high-quality service delivery across the organization, including HR administration, recruitment, advisory support, benefits, entitlements, payroll, and related transactions. The Bonn-based recruitment function supports local personnel recruitment in a proximity-based model and reports into the GSSC in Copenhagen.

The Recruitment Assistant works under the guidance of the Recruitment Associate and Recruitment Analyst, helping manage recruitment cases end to end, maintaining accurate records, supporting client communication, and contributing to knowledge sharing, reporting, and continuous improvement.

What you will do

• Help ensure recruitment activities, documentation, and records follow UN/UNDP rules, policies, strategies, and procedures.
• Support mapping of recruitment workflows and the development or updating of standard operating procedures.
• Assist with vacancy reviews, candidate screening, application assessment, reference checks, interview coordination, selection finalization, and case transfer for onboarding and contract processing.
• Communicate application outcomes to candidates as needed.
• Support preparation of recruitment analytics and reports, especially for priority vacancies tied to gender balance and workforce diversity.
• Maintain recruitment tracking tools, measurements, and databases.
• Keep official systems and records accurate and up to date, including UNall and Quantum.
• Support maintenance of candidate rosters and alternate candidate lists.
• Contribute to recruitment knowledge resources and help identify policy or process improvements.
• Help deliver training sessions on local recruitment processes for business units.
• Perform additional tasks within the functional profile as required for office needs.

Competencies and working style

The role calls for someone who is detail-oriented, dependable, adaptable, and able to work calmly under pressure. Strong collaboration, inclusion, continuous learning, and communication skills are important, along with a service mindset and a willingness to improve processes.

Required education

Secondary education is required.

A university degree in Human Resource Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, Social Sciences, International Relations, or a related discipline will be considered an advantage, but it is not mandatory.

Experience and technical background

• At least 5 years of relevant HR and/or administrative experience with a high school diploma, or at least 2 years with a bachelor’s degree.
• Recruitment experience at national or international level is preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in MS Office tools such as Word and Excel is required.
• Ability to use collaboration tools and work comfortably with digital platforms and new technologies is required.
• Experience with cloud-based management systems such as ERP is required.
• Proven ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders at all levels is required.
• Experience with talent acquisition software and platforms is an advantage.
• Prior work in an international organization is desirable.
• Experience with Power Apps and AI tools is considered an asset.

Language requirements

• Fluency in English, written and spoken, is required.
• Working knowledge of German is preferred.
• Knowledge of another UN language is an asset.

Equal opportunity and conduct

UNDP promotes diversity, inclusion, and merit-based hiring. The organization does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination, or abuse of authority. Selected candidates will be subject to appropriate checks and are expected to uphold these standards.

Additional information

UNDP may select one or more candidates from this announcement and may also retain applications for similar roles at the same grade and with comparable requirements.

Applicants are encouraged to follow UNDP’s guidance on the responsible use of AI in recruitment. UNDP does not charge any fee at any stage of its hiring process.

Salary details were not specified in the source.