Senior Human Resource Officer (Benefits) (GMG/SEG 1)

Key Responsibilities:

Management/Administrative 

• Contributes to the development and implementation of the Branch’s Business/Strategic and Operational Plans and Budget; 
• Participates in the development of the HRM’s Unit Plan; 
• Prepares Individual Work Plan; 
• Assists with overseeing the operations of the Unit in the absence of the Director, Human Resource Management (HRM); 
• Manages the daily operations of the Benefits Section to consistently provide a high level of service to clients; 
• Prepares and submits activity/performance and other reports, as required; 
• Represents the Department at meetings/conferences and other fora, as directed; 
• Keeps abreast of trends and changes in pensions and benefits administration and makes recommendations for their adoption, where necessary, to enhance the Department’s human resource service delivery. 

Technical/Professional 

• Provides advice to staff on all types of available benefits, leave and pension matters; 
• Ensures the effective administration of benefits, leave and pension processes; 
• Reviews and signs approval/non-approval letters for benefits; 
• Reviews computed leave and signs approval/non-approval letters; 
• Oversees the development and maintenance of a travelling officers’ database to manage the submission of motor vehicle documents; 
• Verifies travelling claims in keeping with motor vehicle documents for submission to the Finance and Accounts Division for payment; 
• Processes requests to use motor vehicle to perform official duties; 
• Reviews as well as prepares submissions (seniority allowance, qualification increment, tuition refund, accumulation of vacation leave, payment in lieu of vacation leave, special sick leave, and no-pay leave) to the Human Resource Committee (HRC) meetings for consideration; 
• Participates in orienting new staff on available Government benefits; 
• Coordinates in collaboration with stakeholders the processing of Long Service Awards; 
• Verifies and ensures the circulation of notices to staff regarding their maximum of vacation leave eligibility; 
• Verifies departmental and vacation leave rosters prepared for circulation; 
• Ensures the maintenance and monitoring of a Retirement Schedule for the Department so that officers are made aware of their retirement date and the documents they are required to submit to process their retirement; 
• Ensures that the necessary steps are taken to have final Vacation Leave Computations and Period of Service Records prepared; 
• Reviews and submits final Leave Computations for transfers, resignation and retirement to the Internal Audit Unit and the MOFPS for verification respectively; 
• Reviews as well as prepares retirement (normal age) submissions to the Human Resource Executive Committee (HREC) for consideration; 
• Reviews as well as prepares retirement (early retirement, medical grounds, public interest, and abolition of post) submissions to the Office of the Services Commissions (OSC) for consideration; 
• Ensures the processing of pensions and other related benefits through the maintenance of the Public Employee’s Pension Administration System (PEPAS). 

Human Resource 

• Monitors and evaluates the performance of direct reports, prepares performance appraisals and recommends or initiates corrective actions, where necessary;
• Participates in the recruitment of staff for the Department and recommends staffing arrangements in keeping with established human resource procedures and policies;
• Provides leadership and guidance to direct reports through effective planning, delegation, communication, coaching, training and mentoring; 
• Takes steps to address the welfare and development needs of staff in the Unit;
• Makes provisions for direct reports to have sufficient and appropriate physical resources to enable them to undertake their duties efficiently and effectively; 
• Ensures that direct reports are sensitized on the policies, procedures and regulations of the Public Service and Department; 
• Recommends disciplinary action, leave and staffing arrangements for direct reports;
• Performs other related duties that may from time to time be assigned. 

Required Knowledge, Skills and Competencies:

Core

• Good interpersonal skills 
• Good oral and written communication skills 
• Good planning and organization skills 
• Ability to work with others in the pursuit of team goals 

Technical

• The Public Service Regulations, Staff Orders for the Public Service, Financial Administration and Audit Act and Financial Instructions, and other GoJ policies that guides the delivery of HRMD services. 
• Current trends in Human Resource Management techniques and practices.
• Pensions (Public Service) Act, 2017. 
• Government Employees’ (Compassionate Gratuities) Resolution, 1947.
• Government Benefits and Pension Administration processes. 

Minimum Required Qualification and Experience

• First Degree in Human Resource Management or Development, Management Studies, Business Administration, Public Administration, Psychology or related discipline from a recognized Tertiary Institution; plus 
• A minimum of three (3) years’ experience in Human Resource Management, preferably in the Public Sector, in an organization of similar size and complexity. 

Special Conditions Associated with the Job

• Normal office conditions 
• May be required to work beyond regular working hours 
• Spend long hours sitting and using office equipment

Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.