Job Description National HR & Travel Assistant
Primary Location
: Iraq
Organizational Setting
The main aim of the FAO country office, which is headed by the FAO Representative, is to assist the government to develop policies, programmes and projects to achieve food security and to reduce hunger and malnutrition, to help develop the agricultural, fisheries and forestry sectors, and to use their environmental and natural resources in a sustainable manner. FAO Iraq is implementing and planning a number of projects aimed at strengthening the resilience and socio-economic cohesion amongst the vulnerable host communities in rural areas through support to agricultural livelihoods and access to employment in the agri-food sector.
Reporting Lines
Under the general supervision of the FAO Representative and/or Deputy Representative, he incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the HR Specialist and in close collaboration with the Finance Specialist in Iraq.
Technical Focus
HR & travel support
The HR Assistant provides day-to-day administrative support for HR operations, ensuring timely and accurate completion of tasks in accordance with FAO's rules, procedures, and practices. This position supports the HR and Travel Specialist and works under their close supervision to assist in implementing FAO programs in Iraq.
Tasks and responsibilities
HR-related Responsibilities
• Support the implementation of the hiring plan for national and international affiliate workforce.
• Assist in developing and/or reviewing Terms of Reference for the affiliate workforce, ensuring compliance with current standards and regulations.
• Help in managing the publication of vacancy announcements to attract qualified candidates.
• Assist in organizing and facilitating the selection process, including scheduling interviews and preparing reports on evaluated candidates.
• Support the management of contracts in the Global Resource Management System (GRMS), ensuring all required documentation is collected and verified.
• Monitor the validity of contracts and assist in coordinating with supervisors for renewals or terminations as necessary.
• Provide administrative support for recording worked hours and processing payments for international consultants.
• Collaborate in implementing actions to promote a respectful and harmonious work environment, aligned with the organization’s values.
• Support the performance evaluation process of national and international consultants, providing logistical and administrative assistance.
Travel-Related Responsibilities
• Assist in processing travel expense claims, ensuring compliance with organizational rules and policies.
• Help in identifying and claiming refunds of travel costs and following up as necessary.
• Provide travel assistance to staff, ensuring arrangements and entitlements are in line with organizational rules.
• Support the management of travel arrangements in the organization’s corporate travel system.
• Assist in processing Purchase Orders (PO) for international travel tickets.
• Support the coordination of logistics for incoming and outgoing missions.
• Perform other related administrative duties as required.
CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING
Minimum Requirements
• University degree in Business Administration, Human Resources, or any related subject.
• At least one year of relevant experience in administrative and/or human resources work, UN experience is an asset.
• Working knowledge of English and working knowledge of Arabic.
• Iraqi National.
FAO Core Competencies
• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building Effective Relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement
Technical/Functional Skills
• Experience with HR management software like GRMS or similar.
• Understanding of HR procedures, especially in international settings.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Capable of handling HR issues and finding practical solutions.
• Accuracy in documentation and maintaining records.
• Clear communication in English and Arabic.
• Ability to build good working relationships with colleagues.
Selection Criteria
• Ability to work within a team of professional staff from diverse technical and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to plan and meet deadlines.
• Teamwork spirit, ability to work under minimum supervision, flexibility.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing) Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/ Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances.
HOW TO APPLY
• To apply, visit the recruitment website at and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications, and language skills
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile
• Once your profile is completed, please apply, and submit your application
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications
• Incomplete applications will not be considered
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.
If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance:
FAO IS A NON-SMOKING ENVIRONMENT