Oxfam Regional Human Resources Adviser Kenyan Job

Regional Human Resources Adviser

Horn, East & Central Africa (HECA) Region

Based in Nairobi, Kenya

About Oxfam

Oxfam is one of the world's leading humanitarian agencies assisting people affected by natural disasters and conflict throughout the world.

With over 5,000 staff and dedicated volunteers in more than 80 countries, Oxfam is able to achieve the greatest impact to end poverty and suffering through combining emergency response work, long-term programmes for poverty alleviation and campaigning for lasting change.

The person

As a key member of the Regional HR team, you’ll provide specialist advice on HR and business issues, and you will provide day to day advice to the programme teams, particularly around implementing Oxfam GB - HR policies and procedures in order to ensure consistency and appropriate application.

Working with teams across the HECA region, you will ensure the high quality implementation of HR standards in line with organisational service standards.

You will provide leadership and advice in the recruitment and induction processes in collaboration with programme teams;

Develop systems for maintenance of full HR related practices, records and staff contract management.

Liaise with Country HRM over international staff, staff payroll issues and ensure excellent working relation and timely correspondence /actions, review of annual pay using comprehensive indicators.

You will oversee implementation of performance management and performance review cycle.

Ensure that medical policy is developed for the programme and that medical expenses are cost effective and meet the organisational needs and managed effectively.

What we're looking for

You will have HR generalist experience especially leading on recruitment, you’ll ideally have worked in the Horn, East and Central Africa region and you will certainly be sensitive to the complexities of working in a multicultural environment. Good networking skills.

Budget and numerical skills. Ability to gather and analyse critical information for reporting and designing systems. You will be committed to the beliefs and values of Oxfam.

This will be reflected in your approach to working with your team.

Detailed Job Description

Regional Human Resources Adviser

Division / Department / Location: International/HECA Nairobi

Job Family: Human Resources

Salary: According Oxfam salary scale

Level: National C1

Oxfam Purpose: To work with others to find lasting solutions to poverty and suffering

Team Purpose: To ensure Oxfam GB management in Regional Centre in Kenya has the HR capacity to providing support to the programme.

Job Purpose: To advise on, and implement a full range of human resource strategies and procedures necessary to support effective people management across the Programme.

Reporting Lines

• Reports to: Regional Human Resources Manager
• Staff reporting to this post: HR officer
• Budget Responsibility: None

Dimensions

• Managing/ supervising resources within defined boundaries or a specialist area, which may include people, assets and/or budgets.
• Providing professional advice to senior managers on areas of work covered in their remit.
• Influences the development of strategy and ensures and supports operational implementation.
• Develops solutions to diverse and complex problems within organisational policy.
• Interprets and applies operational and specialist information in a variety of formats from a variety of sources.
• Flexibility to anticipate and resolve challenges within corporate or divisional parameters, with moderate scope.
• Decisions are made, with a specialist/ divisional context, to further the objectives of Oxfam and the division with reference to the external HR environment.
• Impact of this role is significant within the programme and could have some impact Oxfam-wide.
• Contribute to and influence operational planning.
• Influence managers, staff and volunteers in Oxfam and develop effective networks with external bodies.
• Implement best practice - legal responsibility – employment law, tax laws, etc. Influences in specific areas
• Organise learning and development opportunities for staff to achieve corporate goals
• Working with staff representatives for the organisation

Key Responsibilities: To lead and manage the HR department.

HR Policy/ Strategy and Employment Law:

• Provide day-to-day advice to the programme teams, particularly around implementing Oxfam GB – HR policies and procedures in order to ensure consistency and appropriate application
• Ensure implementation of the staff handbook and Oxfam HR policies and procedures in conjunction with Line Managers and staff representatives
• Manage the implementation of the annual salary and benefits review for the programme.
• Advise and support programme teams / line managers on good HR practices

Recruitment, induction and retention:

• Provide leadership and advise in the recruitment and induction processes in collaboration with the programme teams;
• Ensure that the programme induction plan/process is maintained, reviewed for improvements and implemented regularly or/and as needed.
• Advise and ensure HR functions follow the processes for recruitment, inductions starters and leavers; performance management; pay and benefits reviews and organization of learning events.
• Ensure well-balanced gender equity and equality within programmes, respect for confidentiality and equal opportunities policies ensuring commitment to equality and fairness, irrespective of political, religious and ethnic affiliation

HR General Management and Administration:

• Developing systems for maintenance of full HR related practices, records and staff contract management
• Liaise with Country HRMs and the drought response HRM over international staff R&S and payroll issues and ensure excellent work relation and timely correspondences/actions, review the annual pay using the comprehensive indicators
• Ensuring accurate headcounts and timely update of HR information systems
• Consolidation of monthly reporting and ensuring this information is sent to Country HRM and the drought response HRM, i.e. report on contracts; MMR, Payroll checks, Leave Balances, etc.
• Ensure that absence (including annual leave and sick leave) is proactively managed by the line managers
• Ensure that a medical policy is developed for the programme and that medical expenses are cost effective and meet staff and organisational needs, and managed effectively.
• Ensure that relevant staff health & safety guidelines, HIV/AIDS at work place & policy are applied for the benefit of staff and better delivery of country programmes
• Develop the stress management tools which are appropriate to the needs of the programme and to the culture.
• Ensure the implementation and maintenance of the filing systems for staff by ensuring that staff files are upto-date, that proper documentation procedures were followed and to ensure HR team conducts regular audit of the staff files.
• Providing oversight of GOLD data maintenance for the Regional Centre and Country Programmes including, ensuring that the data is uptodate, accurate and complete; regular monitoring of GOLD data quality(audit); ensuring that GOLD inputters have the skills and that Super Users are providing the required support to country HR teams; and controlling GOLD system access to unauthorised users. Produce the monthly HR Work Plan and Performance Indicators for HR department
• Ensure pro-active, regular and relevant communication flow within the programme and HR department
• Manage appropriately all legal cases relating to Human Resources.

Learning and Development:

• Oversee implementation of performance management principles and performance review cycle
• Work closely with other SMT member to identify training needs and priorities of the teams and individuals
• Building the humanitarian capacity within the organization and managing the resources
• Facilitate and promote pick up and go kits.
• Coach and support managers to performance manage their staff, ensuring that assessment of performance is objective and that poor performance is addressed appropriately
• Provide support and advice on performance development plans.

People management:

• Line manage direct reports using Oxfam procedures and systems
• Coach and support all line reports and other staff as needed
• Ensure adequate feedback and communication on work issues and manage poor performance Management support
• Part of the management team and supporting the senior programme managers
• Advise and lead on HR planning on change management (in line with Oxfam Procedures) for the programme, including the review of job profiles and benefits.
• Support and advice on programme structure and strategy

Key Skills and Competences

Behavioural Competencies.

• Organisational awareness – Understands the Business and how HR can best contribute to its success
• Demonstrates basic financial awareness and how business works
• Ensures resources are used economically and takes action to avoid unnecessary waste
• Compiles people information to assist others in decision making in the line
• Recognises primary competitors in the marketplace

Job specific skills

– Understands and delivers suitable HR practices for the organisation which lead to organisation success.

• Supporting others
• Influencing others
• Provides clear technical/ professional information to others on request.
• Has a strong customer orientation and focuses on customer needs and satisfaction
• Proactively shares own know-how with other colleagues.
• Volunteers expertise to help others solve problems and tackle issues.
• Develops job knowledge and expertise through continual professional development
• Ensures confidentiality and practices HR to the highest ethical standards
• Takes full advantage of technology appropriate to own role

- Drive to achieve results

• Works to ensure that targets are met
• Reviews and amends resource allocation in respect of targets
• Seeks better ways of doing things
• Enthusiastically tackles demanding goals
• Proactively looks for learning and development opportunities.

Work effectively in the organisation – personally demonstrates the organisation’s values, builds trust with colleagues in the organisation, and proactively contributes to organisation success.

• Maintains effective working relationships with colleagues
• Listens, questions and communicates in an influential and engaging way
• Presents clear and concise information in response to queries. Delivers outputs on time and to the agreed standard.
• Reinforces Oxfam values and desired behaviours through example.
• Demonstrates a proven track record for customer service, delivery and capability

Technical Competencies

• Generalist HR experience, especially leading on recruitment.
• Advise and inspire confidence using professional/ specialist knowledge.
• Overcomes challenges, despite hurdles, and resolves challenges consistent with Oxfam's values and ways of working.
• Organisational awareness.
• Ability to support staff from a distance.
• Good networking skills.
• Budgeting and numerical skills /Attention to detail
• Skills in computer applications (MS office/HRMIS)
• Good interpersonal skills and demonstrable ability to work as a member of a diverse team.
• Ability to gather and analyse critical information for reporting and designing systems.
• Gender and cultural sensitivity and commitment and understanding of the values of Oxfam and the principles of equal opportunity.

If you have the strength of character to meet the challenges involved, this role offers scope for immense personal fulfilment as well as a chance to enrich and develop your career.

To join us, please visit www.oxfam.org.uk/jobs using Ref. No.INT5155 and place your application or send an email to hecajobs@oxfam.org.uk with an updated CV detailing your experience and daytime telephone contacts.