Human Resource Consultant

The HR Consultant will provide services in the strategic and daily operational management of the transition process for the finalization of the transition plan, as well as the recruitment, selection and onboarding of staff.

Background

By way of Cabinet Decision No. 20/18, dated June 4, 2018, the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) and the Consumer Affairs Commission (CAC), were identified to be merged to create a single public body to execute the functions of competition, law enforcement, and consumer protection.

The FTC and the CAC are statutory agencies which were created under the Fair Competition Act (FCA) and Consumer Protection Act (CPA), respectively.  The functions of both agencies are defined in their respective legislations and the FTC and the CAC are slated to be merged to form a new statutory agency. 

The phases to the merger are outlined below:

1. The Operational Merger (Phase 1), which provides for the development of a structure for the Merged Entity and commencement of staffing of the new entity.
2. The Legislative Merger (Phase 2), which provides for the creation of the new entity and the legal structure that will govern it, the creation of a new legislation that will describe the governance of the entity, and amendments to the FCA and the CPA.

PURPOSE

To advance the operational phase of the merger, there is need to engage the services of a Human Resource Consultant to provide services to the FTC CAC Merger Steering Committee and the Board in particular, in the strategic and daily operational management of the transition process for the finalization of the transition plan, the recruitment, selection and onboarding of staff in Jamaica Competition and Consumer Authority (JCCA) in a fair, transparent and accountable manner.  The Human Resource Consultant will also be expected to co-ordinate and facilitate the change management interventions necessary to support the organization as it navigates a smooth and successful transition to a new Authority. 

This consultant will lead the implementation of the transition process and provide technical guidance and support to the Merger Steering Committee whose task is to direct and manage the implementation of the different phases of the merger of the two agencies.

The Consultant will report to the Chair of the Merger Steering Committee.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES OF THE MERGER

1. A new entity that will assume the functions of the FTC and the CAC, as defined in the FCA and CPA, respectively.
2. Optimization of resources with respect to competition law enforcement and consumer law enforcement.
3. Combined technologies, information systems capabilities and knowledge transfer of the combined employees.

SCOPE OF WORK

Under the direction of the Merger Steering Committee, the Consultant will be required to undertake the following:

Human Resource and Administrative

• Revises and updates the HR Transition Policy to ensure congruence with the JCCA Bill.
• Finalizes the mapping exercise to allow for seamless transition of staff from the FTC and CAC to the JCCA.
• Finalizes the transition plan to guide the transition activities.
• Develops the human resource engagement policy and implementation plan to execute the staffing of the new entity.
• Prepares the Onboarding Plan.
• Manages the transition process and supports or leads committees reviewing all planned human resource activities to ensure completeness against targets with respect to the staffing of the JCCA.
• Support the implementation of the transition plan with minimum disruption to the work of the individual organizations including the co-ordination of the recruitment process:- advertisement of vacancies; scheduling of assessments and interviews; issuing of secondment/transfer/employment letters.
• Manages relationships with a wide range of stakeholder groups.
• Reviews and/or develops and implements stakeholder satisfaction tools to ensure continued stakeholder buy-in and satisfaction and where gaps exist, to develop solutions to remedy.
• Executes the Change Management Communication Plan to ensure key stakeholder awareness and understanding of the change arrangements.
• Facilitates the creation of the conditions necessary for transition with the least resistance from the employees and maximum enthusiasm to adapt to the change.
• Organizes workshops/sensitization sessions to provide staff members and stakeholders with information on any major human resource initiatives or activities.
• Implements strategies to maintain interaction and high-level engagement.
• Ensures proper documentation and record-keeping in compliance with the government’s Records Management policies and procedures.
• Ensures that all activities are in keeping with legal and governmental requirements.

Change management

1.     Develops and implements a staff change management plan including:

o   Communications regarding the merger including a merger road map and ongoing updates.

o   Organizing activities and events for communicating to staff about the merger.

o   Developing and managing a cadre of change ambassadors to support the merger and organizational transition to a new entity.

o   Career counseling, planning advice and support.

o   Facilitating the reduction of resistance to change.

o   Conducting a change readiness survey.

o   Arrange for counseling support for staff to manage anxiety and uncertainty.

2.     Provides advice and support for Union relationships in support of the merger.

Knowledge, Skills and Competencies

• Sound analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Excellent oral and written communication and presentation skills;
• Excellent time management and organizing skills;
• Excellent people and team building skills;
• Adequate capacity to plan, manage and report on complex projects to tight deadlines;
• Stakeholder engagement and management skills;
• Proficiency in using the Microsoft Office Suite.

Nature of the Assignment: The assignment is on a purely contractual basis. 

Duration of Contract: Twelve (12) months 

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• A graduate level degree in human resources, organizational psychology, organization development or related field.
• Sound knowledge of GOJ Human Resource Management practices;
• Knowledge of change management principles and methodologies;
• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience managing change and transformation interventions within large organizations.

OR

• At least five (5) years’ experience and expertise in human resources and organizational diagnosis and development.  Experience in governance, administration and/or management of statutory institutions is an asset.

The full Terms of Reference document is available on the MOFPS' website at http://www.mof.gov.jm or the TIU’s website at https://publicsectortransformation.gov.jm/

We thank all interested persons for applying, however please note that only short-listed applicants will be contacted. The Ministry of Finance and the Public Service reserves the right to withdraw this invitation without providing reasons at any time before the indicated deadline for application.