Kristoffer Østvang Email & Phone Number

Bergen, Vestland, Norway

Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

The OneHR Centre in Bonn is a cross-system service provider for background verification and job classification. As manager of the centre, I manage a team of ten staff members who are responsible for for service delivery to over 20 UN organisations via the UN Inspira system. I am also responsible for cost recovery, administration and financial planning for the centre, training of the staff and clients, client surveys and managing our processes and guidelines.

Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory Of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

In my role as the HR Specialist at the Global Shared Services Centre (GSSC) in Kuala Lumpur, I played a crucial role in providing comprehensive HR support and guidance to both staff and management within this multinational operation. As the chief HR business partner to the Finance service team, I was responsible for staffing, organisational design, performance management, occupational health and safety, and learning and development. I also acted as HR advisor to the director of the GSSC for sensitive personnel issues, including misconduct and perfomance issues.

Kyiv, Kyiv City, Ukraine

I was deployed to Kyiv for a three month HR support mission during the Russian invasion of Ukraine to rebuild the HR function in the office. I acted as HR business partner to the Resident Representative and the management team and a core member of the Operations team.

Greater New York City Area

The Global Service Delivery Model played a critical role in the UN Secretary General's reform efforts, aiming to transform support services for its global staff. This project sought to streamline operations and improve service quality by establishing shared service centers. My initial focus was using data analysis to understand the current service landscape and develop a sustainable funding model for HR, payroll, and finance service centers. I designed the organizational structure of these centers, defining job roles and the management hierarchy for optimal efficiency. Additionally, I spearheaded HR process improvements, including a major overhaul of the onboarding system using Inspira (Peoplesoft) to create a more user-friendly experience.

New York

In my capacity at the Office of Human Resources Management of the Secretariat, I provided support from the UN Headquarters in New York to staff stationed worldwide. My role involved facilitating the integration of Umoja, the Secretariat’s comprehensive Enterprise Resource Planning system, with a specific focus on implementing its HR functionalities and supporting testing, documentation and reporting.Additionally, I played a vital part in the preliminary planning stages for the HR components of the Global Service Delivery Model project, prior to the formation of a dedicated project team.

Amsterdam Area, Netherlands

As Manager of the European HR Operations team, I oversaw various HR systems and processes within the EMEA region, including vital annual processes like headcount budgeting and performance reviews. I successfully led the implementation of a new talent management system across 30+ countries, impacting over 17,000 employees. I updated Canon's HR reporting with a Power BI solution, introducing dashboards and enhanced headcount reports for streamlined decision-making. Additionally, I revamped their staff engagement survey, focusing on simplification and cost reduction. My role also involved providing the HR executive group with detailed data analysis to facilitate strategic decision-making.

Dale, Hordaland, Norway

At Dale of Norway, I managed all administrative functions including HR, finance, facilities, ICT, and retail outlets, acting as an HR partner to the leadership. After a difficult sales year, I implemented financial controls and negotiated cost-saving measures with the union to stabilize the company's finances. In collaboration with the board, I secured funding for a new collection aimed at expanding the market and also obtained support from Innovation Norway to upgrade critical production technology. Following a product line redesign, I spearheaded the recruitment of a new sales and management team to bolster the company's sales strategy. These interventions significantly contributed to Dale of Norway's turnaround and its future growth trajectory.

Oslo Area, Norway

Arcus-Gruppen, recognized as Norway's premier wholesaler of wine and spirits, embarked on a significant transition in 2012 when it moved from its historic Oslo base to a modern factory and office complex located outside the city. In this context, my role was primarily project-based, focusing on supporting the relocation process in collaboration with the HR Director. Additionally, I assumed various HR responsibilities during this period.

Voss, Norway

During my tenure as HR Manager at Skigutane, a sportswear company then under the ownership of Active Brands and known for managing several premium brands in the Nordic sporting goods industry, I undertook a pivotal interim role. My appointment was concurrent with a significant organizational restructuring aimed at cost reduction and a strategic refocus on production and brand development. As the main HR business partner for the management team, I worked closely with the CEO and COO to ensure staff were treated fairly during the restructuring and ensuring the retention of key employees.

London, United Kingdom

As a Human Resources Consultant at Canon Europe, I supported the Talent and Resourcing Director before moving to the HR Projects team. I managed their Applicant Tracking System, developing training programs and improved reporting for streamlined recruitment. I played a significant role in developing Canon Europe's new careers site, focused on employer branding and user experience. In the restructuring of Learning and Development, I provided expertise in areas like labor cost budgeting, job design, and salary benchmarking. Finally, I actively participated in the selection of a new Learning Management System, from drafting business requirements and RFPs to serving on the selection panel.

London, United Kingdom

Early in my career, I participated in a graduate trainee program at Canon Europe that offered comprehensive support to EMEA region operations. This program involved three postings at various Canon offices where I gained experience in diverse aspects of HR including recruitment, employee relations, operations, systems, organizational development, and training. My placements included supporting the HR Director for Corporate Support Functions, working with the HR Business Partner for Consumer Imaging, and assisting the Project Director in a major headquarters relocation. This traineeship provided a strong foundation in multinational corporate HR, giving me diverse experiences and valuable learning opportunities.

Oslo Area, Norway

NAV Utland was the office for foreign clients of the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration. This was a project role dedicated to reduce the backlog of pension insurance cases from foreign residents who may have some state pension rights in Norway.

Oslo, Norway

Customer service work at IKEA Furuset, during this period I was also on leave for 10 months for my national service in the Norwegian Army.

Oslo, Norway

National service with the Norwegian Army. Rifleman, HMKG 1st Company. Radio operator.

Greater Orlando, Florida, United States

Cultural representative at the Norwegian pavillion at EPCOT.

Mba, Strategic Management

Bbht, Hospitality

High School Diploma

High school diploma