Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Key Topics Of Experience
Conferences And Publications
Professional Development
Timeline
Hi, I’m

Godwin Otim

People & Culture Specialist (Learning & Career Development)
Istanbul,34

Summary

As a purpose-driven People & Culture Specialist, I bring a strategic and human-centered approach to unlocking talent, shaping thriving workplace cultures, and driving sustainable organizational growth. With a strong foundation in career development, global learning, and talent strategies, I support individuals and the organization to align purpose with performance. Currently serving in a global role at UNICEF, I focus on: ️ Empowering high-potential talent through tailored development programs and personalized coaching ️ Leading initiatives that enhance employee experience, engagement, and career mobility ️ Collaborating across diverse teams to build a learning culture grounded in equity, inclusion, and innovation ️ Supporting workforce transformation through strategic talent planning and capacity building Whether facilitating growth conversations or designing impactful development tools, I’m passionate about helping people realize their potential while supporting organizational success.

Dedicated professional prepared to bring extensive expertise and results-oriented approach to Specialist role. Known for effectively managing tasks and supporting organizational goals through collaborative efforts and adaptive strategies. Recognized for excellent communication and analytical skills, ensuring seamless operations and consistent outcomes.

Overview

18
years of professional experience
6
years of post-secondary education

Work History

UNICEF

People & Culture Specialist (Career Development)-Global Talent Development
01.2024 - Current

Job overview

  • Drive organizational talent growth by designing and delivering targeted career development interventions, managing professional development programmes for national staff, evaluating learning initiatives, and curating knowledge resources to support a culture of continuous growth across the organization.
  • Conduct needs assessments and advice on regional and country offices on tailored career development interventions.
  • Manage and coordinate the Professional Development Programme for national staff, including delivery and review of workshops.
  • Lead evaluation of career development activities, compiling feedback and bi-annual reports to inform continuous improvement.
  • Support the design, implementation, and monitoring of new career development programmes and initiatives.
  • Maintain a centralized resource hub and facilitate knowledge-sharing to promote best practices across the HR community.
  • Led Strategic Transition in Career Development: Spearheaded a strategic shift from standalone career management initiatives to global career transition support in response to U.S. funding cuts that affected over 2,000 staff, ensuring timely and relevant assistance during a period of organizational change.
  • Enhanced Access to Career Resources: Revamped and streamlined the SharePoint career hub by establishing a 'Just-in-Time Career Support' approach, providing staff with easily accessible, targeted tools and resources aligned with their evolving career needs.
  • Accelerated Organizational Learning on Career Tools: Designed and delivered over 22 workshops on career development and AI-powered tools within a 3-month period, leading and facilitating sessions that reached a wide cross-section of staff globally.
  • Champion of Inter-Agency Collaboration: Coordinated and led a highly acclaimed session on 'Resilience and Adaptability in Times of Change – Bending Without Breaking' during a UN inter-agency learning series involving 21 agencies. The session stood out among 45 others, attracting over 37,000 participants and receiving exceptional feedback.
  • Pioneered Global Career Forum Delivery: Successfully coordinated the first-ever Global Career Forum in October 2024, including co-designing and co-facilitating a flagship session on resilience and adaptability to support staff navigating professional transitions.

UNICEF

HR Officer (Performance management and Learning and Development)
01.2021 - Current

Job overview

  • Provide guidance and oversight on the Strategic planning and alignment of Learning and Development Initiatives through application of HR models on L&D and Performance management, as well as understanding of organizational HR policies and procedures.
  • In collaboration with senior management, supervisors, and staff, support the design and delivery of the office-wide and individual learning plans including guidance on approaches and learning opportunities.
  • Provide guidance to managers and staff on the performance management process and manage the effective completion of the annual performance review process.
  • Continuous staff and management engagement through the JCC, field visits and monthly all-staff meetings and ensuring governance committees have broad representation.
  • Support the provision of policy advice and guidance to staff. Assist with coordination and implementation of new policies. Ensure compliance of rules, regulations, and procedures.
  • As secretary of the HR work group in Kenya, contribute to the implementation of the UN Business Operations Strategy for Kenya and position UNICEF as a lead agency on key issues like disability, equity, and inclusion.
  • Launch of a 2-year plan L&D plan (2022-2023) supported by a comprehensive skills gap analysis, leading to strategic focus on CO learning short, medium, and long-term needs.
  • As change agent in HR through the CPD/CPMP for KCO in 2021-2022, successfully supported over 50 staff through career transitions including those on abolished posts.
  • Championed the workplace culture transformation of KCO from 3 out of 10 positive tracer indicators in pulse survey in 2021 to 9 out of 10 positive indicators from 2022.
  • Successfully launched the KCO career story series in 2022 to boost, equip and motivate staff on career progression and improve on talent management in the CO.
  • Coordinated onboarding processes for new hires, integrating them seamlessly into the workplace environment.
  • Assisted managers and supervisors with employee disputes, disciplinary actions and other workplace issues.

UNICEF

Learning and Development Specialist, P3
07.2023 - 10.2023

Job overview

  • Oversee the talent development and performance management pillar within the HR section, focusing on four key areas: learning and development, performance management, career development and HR capacity building.
  • Responsible for shaping and directing UNICEF’s overall strategic framework for talent development and creating a clear linkage with the programme needs and building internal capacity in HR Business Partnering in close collaboration with the HR Officer and HR Associate (UNV).
  • Revised and updated the L&D plan, followed up and tracked training calendar delivering 26 group trainings, 7 of which were delivered by myself plus Coordinated with Programme sections on technical trainings, as per learning plan.
  • Conducted Performance management refresher to new staff and managing performance conversations for both staff and supervisors. Provided day to day guidance on performance-related issues including system support.
  • Developed and facilitated the HR Capacity building schedule to equip HR colleagues on knowledge and practice of all areas of HR to strengthen the capacity for business partnering models. Also shared online course on HR BP as an introduction to the Model.
  • Conducted L&D and Career Development sessions for staff, also sharing opportunities for growth and supported staff applications for learning programmes like MMC, Staff Exchange and stretch assignments.

UNICEF

SENIOR HR ASSOCIATE (L&D Local Focal Point)
01.2019 - 01.2021

Job overview

  • Provided administrative, procedural, and operational support for efficient implementation of a broad range of Human Resources functions for all categories of staff in office, ensuring accurate and timely delivery, whilst promoting a client-based, quality and results orientated approach to the unit and ensuring compliance with UNICEF HR rules and regulations.
  • As L&D focal point- conceptualized, designed, and delivered core, foundational and flagship global learning programmes.
  • Implemented cost-effective approved range of courses by mobilizing internal resources such as (AGORA) E-learning system for convenient learning.
  • Researched, analyzed, verified, and compiled information on external training courses available and educational institutions to help supervisors decide on learning programmes that address learning gaps in country office.
  • Monitored and analyzed organizational learning needs focusing on new areas of Strategic plan. Supported the development of tools and coordinated the assessment of existing competencies and identified current and future learning needs in emerging areas of the Strategic plan.
  • Developed and supported in the approval of the CO SOPs on internal and external stretch assignment and Job shadowing for effective implementation.
  • Successfully Launched individual career profiles for UCO, equipping staff, and supervisors with a quick reference for talent profiling.

Airtel

HEAD OF LEARNING, TALENT & DEVELOPMENT
08.2015 - 06.2019

Job overview

  • Consistently achieved over 75% planned versus actual learning Interventions by accomplishing learning and development strategies and modifying learning styles and online interventions for convenient learning.

Vision Group

PERFORMANCE & REWARD AND HR BUSINESS PARTNER
10.2011 - 07.2015

Job overview

  • Successfully launched a revamped performance management system in the company and transformed management performance by supervising target achievement and training and equipping supervisors and staff accordingly.

Barclays Bank (Now Absa)

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION ANALYST-HR
12.2007 - 09.2011

Job overview

  • Achieved Eagle’s Award for exceptional performance and innovation by transforming new methodologies to support HR workflow through a centralized database.

Education

Atlantic International University

Master’s Degree from HR Management
01.2009 - 01.2011

University Overview

Makerere University

Bachelor’s degree from Statistics
01.2004 - 01.2007

University Overview

Makerere University

Certificate from Database Management, Oracle database design & optimization, and Network Administration and Security
01.2007 - 01.2008

University Overview

Skills

Strategic Business & Functional Analyses

Key Topics Of Experience

Key Topics Of Experience
  • Career Development, Management and Transition support
  • STEP (REACH & IMPACT+) Programmes
  • Personal Effectiveness (7 habits of Highly Effective people)
  • New Work Modalities and Future of Work, Innovation and Agility
  • Emotional Intelligence
  • Navigating stormy waters- the role of leadership
  • Power of Brand and Effective communication
  • Organisational Culture, Values and Employee engagement
  • HR Business partnering (Enhancing Employee Experience)
  • Staff Orientation and Onboarding

Conferences And Publications

Conferences And Publications
  • HR Reveal – Human Resource Managers Association Conference
  • The East African Community Students’ Union − Makerere University
  • Public Universities Executive Guild Conference − Guild Council Representative
  • Empowering Africa’s Emerging Cutting-Edge leaders – Makerere University
  • The International Science Conference − Uganda Statistical Society
  • Report on automated system to test trend and seasonality variations in communicable diseases
  • Alumnus of Institute of National Transformation (INT Uganda)-Youth Leadership program

Professional Development

Professional Development
  • Return on Investment for Learning and Development – Millennium Business Consulting
  • Certified Trainer and Assessor of Trainer – Business Edge Leadership Maxwell
  • 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Affiliate of Franklin Covey
  • Collaborative Performance Management for Managers & Supervisors − Grayson Consulting
  • Building & Implementing the BALANCED SCORECARD − Strategic Leadership Centre International
  • Certified-Professional peer counsellor
  • Total Reward Training Pertaining to Effective Reward Scheme (Mauritius)
  • Blue Printing Workshop for System, applications, and products in data processing (SAP) (Botswana)

Timeline

People & Culture Specialist (Career Development)-Global Talent Development
UNICEF
01.2024 - Current
Learning and Development Specialist, P3
UNICEF
07.2023 - 10.2023
HR Officer (Performance management and Learning and Development)
UNICEF
01.2021 - Current
SENIOR HR ASSOCIATE (L&D Local Focal Point)
UNICEF
01.2019 - 01.2021
HEAD OF LEARNING, TALENT & DEVELOPMENT
Airtel
08.2015 - 06.2019
PERFORMANCE & REWARD AND HR BUSINESS PARTNER
Vision Group
10.2011 - 07.2015
Atlantic International University
Master’s Degree from HR Management
01.2009 - 01.2011
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION ANALYST-HR
Barclays Bank (Now Absa)
12.2007 - 09.2011
Makerere University
Certificate from Database Management, Oracle database design & optimization, and Network Administration and Security
01.2007 - 01.2008
Makerere University
Bachelor’s degree from Statistics
01.2004 - 01.2007

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Godwin OtimPeople & Culture Specialist (Learning & Career Development)