Job purpose

Reporting to the Executive Vice President, Africa Region, this position is responsible for providing strategic People & Culture leadership and organizational development in the Africa region. This includes the development and implementation of a results-driven performance management culture, talent and succession planning strategy, staff welfare policies, and organizational development initiatives to ensure a supportive and conducive working environment in compliance with local labour laws.

Direct reports: Manager, Talent Acquisition – Africa Region

Manager, HR (ESA) East & Southern African Region

Indirect reports: Manager, HR (WCA) West & Central African Region

Geographic Scope

Directly and indirectly oversees the People & Culture function and team across the African Region this includes but is not limited to (Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Nigeria, Liberia, Cameroon, Zambia & any other countries within the Africa region that Evidence Action is or will be present) The role also collaborates closely with Global and US-based teams.

Duties and responsibilities

Leadership

• Culture: In collaboration with Africa regional leadership and People & Culture teams, strategically align regional culture and increase employee engagement.
• Strategy: Develop and implement strategies for achieving key regional HR objectives, while ensuring their harmonization with global strategies.
• Supervision: Provide matrix supervision to In-country People & Culture teams on matters related to HR management and organizational development.
• Leadership support: Guide Africa regional leadership in all aspects of HR while promoting an agile and effective organizational culture in HR service delivery.
• Communication: Oversee the development and implementation of organization wide communication and change management plans.
• Risk management: Take the lead in identifying, monitoring and controlling people and culture related risks in the region.
• Compliance: Lead and promote compliance to applicable (local) employment regulations, immigration and labour laws as well as Evidence Action People & Culture policies and guidelines.
• Contribute and support the implementation of People & Culture related audit recommendations and audit Performance Improvement Plans.

Technical & Operational Support

• Payroll: Manage regional staff contracts and monthly payroll.
• Safety and security: Working with the Operations team, lead and provide guidance to all staff safety and security measures/interventions in the region.

Performance Management & Staff Capacity Building

• Performance reviews: Oversee the annual performance management process which includes annual objective setting, mid-year performance reviews, 360 reviews and annual performance appraisals.
• Talent management: Develop and implement workforce planning aligned with the organization’s overall strategy aimed at attracting and retaining top talent while building a strong pipeline of future leaders for succession planning. Lead Africa’s capacity building and talent management projects and conduct talent management gap analysis to improve the quality of the talent pipeline.
• Lead the regional leadership team in developing a comprehensive succession plan for the entire Africa region
• Conduct and analyse exit interviews/debriefs and make recommendations for organizational improvement.
• Learning and development: Institute learning and development agenda in the region by participating in the development of systems and tools that will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of organization operations.
• Ensure the continuous development and maintenance of an effective performance management system through implementation of best practices.

Staff Engagement and Well Being

• Execute employee satisfaction surveys on an annual basis and leverage the results to enhance staff and organizational well-being.
• Drive measurable improvements in leadership, culture, and agility in consultation with Africa regional leadership.
• Enhance employee well-being and provide support to managers in resolving employee relations matters fairly and consistently.

Documentation, Reporting and Representation

• Ensure efficient delivery of People & Culture services using People & Culture Information systems.
• Oversee proper document archiving in line with Data Act and organization policies on information management and disposal.
• Prepare and present periodic progress reports on People & Culture performance to Senior regional leadership.

Requirements

• Graduate qualification and/or Professional qualification in Human Resource Management, Social Science/Studies, or Organizational Development.
• Minimum 10 years Human Resources (HR) experience.
• At least three years of regional human resource responsibilities in a senior management position within an international NGO and in implementing world-class services in international organizations and ideally, in a network setting to diverse, dispersed and dynamic teams.
• Membership to IHRM is required.
• Must have legal authorization to work in Kenya.
• A bilingual speaker (English and French) is preferred but not required.
• Possesses intellectual independence and the courage to make difficult decisions, along with a capacity for complex problem-solving and a keen ability to diagnose organizational performance issues.
• Nurtures a productive, motivating, and responsive environment that enhances people’s capacity in alignment with Evidence Action’s objectives to achieve excellent results, and utilizes appropriate communication channels tailored to meet audience’s needs.
• Responds positively and constructively to change, managing or participating in change processes in a way that is appropriate to role in the organization.