The Office of the Director provides strategic guidance to the General Secretariat and political bodies on human resources matters, ensuring alignment with the Organization’s policies and objectives. The Office of the Director also advises, develops, proposes, and oversees the implementation of personnel management policies, programs, and procedures. These initiatives are designed for consideration by the Secretary General, the Assistant Secretary General, secretaries, department and office directors, and other senior officials of the General Secretariat.

Its main functions are:

• Advises the General Secretariat and the political bodies on human resource matters. Advises on, develops, proposes, plans, and organizes personnel management policies, programs, and procedures for consideration by the Secretary General, the Assistant Secretary General, the secretaries, the department and office directors, and other senior officials of the General Secretariat.
• Recommends to the Secretary for Administration and Finance methods and procedures for carrying out the mandates of the General Assembly and other political bodies in the area of human resources.
• Leads the Organization’s workforce analysis and planning through the collection, definition, analysis, and reporting of quantifiable data that supports current and future initiatives on human resources.
• In accordance with applicable Staff Rules and other administrative provisions of the General Secretariat, applies, manages, and interprets the personnel policy of the General Secretariat, including the post classification system, recruitment, staffing, the compensation system, the performance contract system, benefits, medical and life insurance programs, the internal grievance and disciplinary procedures, staff hiring, official visas and official travel documents, transportation of household goods, performance evaluation, and the Organization’s internship program. Develops succession plans in certain functional teams.
• Serves as the official liaison and provides proactive guidance on all personnel matters between workforce members and the General Secretariat.
• Participates as a member or as technical secretariat in committees, boards, and working groups, such as the Advisory Committee on Reduction in Force, the Advisory Committee on Selection and Promotion, the Leo Rowe Memorial Award Committee, the Performance Evaluation Review Committee, the Staff Incentive Awards Committee, the Ethics Committee, the Joint Committee on Insurance Matters, the Management Board of the Medical Benefits Trust Fund and the 401 M Committee (PAC). Provides liaison with the OAS Retirement and Pension Committee, the Leo S. Rowe Pan American Fund Committee, and the Staff Committee of the OAS Staff Association.
• Researches, adapts, and promotes best practices, fosters collaboration among organizational units, ensuring a uniform implementation of human resource solutions, and promotes overall organizational efficiency.
• Introduces, directs, and influences change management initiatives with leadership in order to address those elements that contribute to improving workforce performance.
• Reports to the Secretary for Administration and Finance on the management of its assigned resources and workforce members.
• Designs and maintains ad-hoc Human Resource Information Systems with features that support the HR department in a wide range of activities and programs.
• In conjunction with the Department of Technology and Information Services (DOITS) and external providers/consultants when required, the DHR develops and oversees projects to modernize the operations of the GS/OAS personnel management systems.

The Department of Human Resources operates under the Secretariat for Administration and Finance.