UNOPS

In Latin America and the Caribbean, UNOPS operates across 23 countries, delivering high-impact solutions that drive sustainable development. UNOPS focuses on building and improving resilient infrastructure—including roads, bridges, public facilities, sanitation systems, and housing—to enhance quality of life and foster inclusive growth. UNOPS also supports public health by procuring essential medicines and medical equipment, ensuring broader access to healthcare services. By strengthening institutional capacities, UNOPS promotes transparent, efficient, and equitable public management. As a trusted partner to governments and development stakeholders, UNOPS aligns its interventions with national priorities, helping countries advance the Sustainable Development Goals through practical, results-driven support.

Based in Panama City, Panama, the UNOPS Office of the Regional Director (ORD) for Latin America and the Caribbean provides strategic leadership and coordination across the region, enabling effective delivery of UNOPS’ mandate. Through portfolio oversight, integrated risk management, and the mobilization of expertise and resources, the ORD ensures regional coherence and operational excellence. The office supports country teams in aligning activities with organizational goals, strengthening the impact and efficiency of development efforts. It also leads regional positioning and representation in high-level forums, advancing visibility and engagement with key stakeholders. In close collaboration with other regional offices and headquarters, the ODR fosters cross-regional learning, promotes innovation, and drives strategic initiatives that contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Regional Human Resources Senior Manager reports to the Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean and leads the HR delivery and people management agenda of the Regional Office. Through supervision and functional leadership of HR teams across LCR, this role ensures effective and disciplined regional implementation of global people strategies, corporate HR policies and Regional Office strategic directions, translating them into consistent operational follow-up and management action across the region, in coordination with the Regional People Business Partner.

The Regional Human Resources Senior Manager strengthens the effectiveness, coherence and performance of HR delivery by overseeing workforce planning, staffing coordination, performance management, HR operations, organisational effectiveness, change implementation and people-related risk management. As the lead for the regional HR operation, the HR Manager provides the Regional People Business Partner with operational insights, risk analysis, implementation feedback, strategy design and country-level perspectives required to inform policy discussions, corporate alignment and escalations with HQ/PCG. This ensures that regional realities are properly reflected in corporate dialogue, while implementation remains disciplined, coherent and effective across LCR.

Required

• Master’s degree preferably in Human Resources, Business Administration, Communications, Organisational Development, Public Administration, Social Sciences or a related field with 7 years of relevant experience.

• Bachelor’s preferably in Human Resources, Business Administration, Communications, Organisational Development, Public Administration, Social Sciences or a related field with 9 years of relevant experience.

Desired

• Certification in Human Resources Management, Organisational Development, Change Management, Coaching, Project Management, People Analytics or a related field is an asset.

Required

• Relevant experience must include senior leadership of Human Resources functions at the regional or global level, including supervision or functional leadership of HR teams and accountability for HR delivery.

• Proven ability to advise executive leadership, senior management teams or governance bodies on workforce, talent, performance, organisational effectiveness, change and people-related risks.

• Demonstrated track record leading HR workstreams, transformation initiatives, or change management processes in complex organisations.

• Strong project management experience applied to HR priorities, including structured planning, implementation follow-up, stakeholder coordination and delivery of agreed actions.

• Ability to strengthen HR team capabilities, improve ways of working and ensure consistent implementation of corporate standards across regional or global HR structures.

• Participation in executive boards, leadership committees or senior decision-making forums.

Desired

• Exposure to Latin America and the Caribbean, with an understanding of the region’s institutional, labour market and operational context.

• Background leading HR functions or people-related initiatives in the public sector, private sector, international organization or development contexts.

• Experience leading HR teams through restructuring, regionalisation, operating model changes or organisational transformation.

• A combined profile across HR leadership, change management, organisational development, communications or project management.

• 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.
  

• 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.