Human Resources Management Expert for Bosnia and Herzegovina Local Governance Assistance Activity - STTA

The USAID-funded Local Governance Assistance Activity (LGAA) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), implemented by Tetra Tech International Development, is currently accepting expressions of interest for a Human Resources Management Expert for a short-term technical assignment. The Human Resources Management Expert will work with the LGAA team based in Sarajevo, BiH.             

Position Description/Summary: The purpose of this assignment is to engage a local or a regional expert for a short-term consultancy to work with the City Administration of Zavidovići to improve their HRM function with the focus on optimizing their organizational structure, improving staff skills and capacities, establishing an employee performance monitoring system and improving the employee data management system.

The anticipated level of effort for this assignment is 42 days. The period of performance for the assignment is o/a November 15th, 2024, to March 15th, 2025. The HRM Expert will perform the work both remotely from their home of record in BiH or within the region (neighboring countries of Croatia, Serbia or similar), and on-site in the target LGU/s. Domestic travel is therefore expected.

Responsibilities:

Task 1: Provide solutions for optimizing the organizational structure of the City Administration of Zavidovići

The Consultant will work with the Administration in the City of Zavidovići to assess current organizational set up and provide recommendations for a more optimal option. Specifically, the Consultant will:

* Conduct an in-depth assessment of the City Administration human resources needs based on the assessment of key strategic documents (such as Development Strategy for the period 2017-2026; Strategy for Development of Local Roads and Streets 2018-2027; Social, Environmental, and Climate Adaptation Plan—SECAP until 2023; Strategy for Sustainable Development of Urban Mobility 202-2027 etc.), review current systematization, and conduct consultations with the City leadership (i.e. Mayor, Heads of Departments).

* Review the current organizational set up, structural and job divisions, as well as the employee job descriptions.

* Produce a roadmap for improvement, which includes recommended organizational, structural and procedural solutions, updated job descriptions for all organizational units as needed, and suggested staffing levels.

Task 2: Improve staff skills and capacities in the City Administration of Zavidovići

The Consultant will work with the Administration in the City of Zavidovići to deploy previously designed HRM tools, such as the staff skills assessment and individual training plans. Specifically, the Consultant will:

* Provide support to the City of Zavidovići in conducting staff skills assessments using the staff skills assessment matrix provided by the LGAA.

* Provide support in the analysis of the staff skills assessment and identify skills gaps by considering updated job descriptions and LGU strategic priorities.

* Support preparation of mid-term (three-year) individual training plans for identified key staff.

Task 3: Establish an effective employee performance management system in the City Administration of Zavidovići

The Consultant will work with the Administration of the City of Zavidovići to introduce an effective employee performance management system based on the existing legal framework and available best practice from within the country (relevant regulations of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, e.g. Civil Service Law, Law on Employees in Civil Service Bodies, Rulebook on performance appraisal of civil servants and accompanying Guide, as well as regulations of the City of Zavidovići, such as for example Rulebook on Labour Relations). Specifically, the Consultant will:

* Devise a roadmap for introducing an effective performance management system in the City of Zavidovići, detailing key milestones, responsibilities, and timeframes.

* Provide hands-on support in introducing improvements of performance appraisal in the City of Zavidovići, including by using a recently conducted assessment and recommendations developed for the City of Zavidovići and provided by the LGAA.

* Train relevant Zavidovići staff in all required building blocks for the improvement of the performance appraisal system. This training should introduce relevant policies and procedures as well as a detailed description of the methodological approach used in the performance review. At a minimum this includes: an outline of the process and required formats / templates for performance appraisal; setting up key performance indicators; collection and maintenance of obtained performance data; motivational and promotional measures relevant to the performance appraisal process; career advancement and skills development opportunities based on the performance measurement results.

Task 4: Improve employee data management system

The Consultant will work with the Administration of the City of Zavidovići to review current databases/registers that are in use for recording and managing the employee related information. Based on this review and the modern HRM standards the Consultant will suggest improvement of local practices including recommendations on the type of data that an HRM system must store and analyze.

In order to perform this task, the Consultant is expected to:

* Review report on existing HRM practices in Zavidovići produced by LGAA.

* Review databases/registers that local HR office of partner LGU maintains with a specific focus on the type of recorded employee data, level of accuracy, completeness, usability, and timeliness of this data.

* Research best practices in other BiH LGUs (sample of at least five LGUs of various sizes) in terms of their record keeping system and practices, type of data recorded, structure of databases/registers and overall data management.

* Prepare a brief overview describing research findings including recommended types of data to be stored and managed as well as a simple electronic tool, which would enable more comprehensive approach to data management (recommended frequency of updating data, assigned responsibilities for the data management system and any other recommendations related to practical use and overall data management as appropriate).