Senior Human Resources Manager at Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action – helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future. In Nigeria, Mercy Corps has worked since 2012 focusing its programming on adolescent girls’ empowerment, economic development, conflict mitigation, and humanitarian response.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Human Resources Manager

Location: Abuja, Nigeria (with 50% travel to field/ project locations)
Employment Type: Full-time
Supervisory Responsibility: HR Team
Reports Directly To: Human Resources Director
Position Status: Full-time, Regular.

Program / Department Summary

• The Human Resource Department is responsible for developing and implementing effective HR policies, procedures, and people-friendly guidelines within Mercy Corps Nigeria. This includes but is not limited to: Talent Acquisition & development; employee engagement coordination; country-wide training & learning management; compensation & benefits administration; country-wide performance management oversight; disciplinary & grievance handling; staff data management; staff disengagement management and 3rd party service provision management (HMO, Group Life)

General Position Summary

• The Senior Human Resources Manager provides oversight to the management of human resources for Mercy Corps operations in Nigeria under the leadership of the HR Director. S/he will assist the HR Director in the achievement of MC program objectives with the facilitation of recruitment, remuneration, and staff development issues in Human Resources Development.

Essential Job Responsibilities
The roles and responsibilities of the Senior HR Manager include but are not limited to:

Strategy & Vision:

• Support the HR Director to develop and monitor overall HR strategies, tactics to response to all country HR needs while aligning with the regional and global objectives.
• Identify weaknesses in current HR Advise supervisor on outstanding issues and assist in designing and implementing, as required.
• Work with the HR Director to establish an annual HR work plan, set priorities, monitor work progress, and ensure results are achieved according to schedule and set standards.
• Provide technical leadership to the country HR team including reviewing and supervising the HR team and setting of annual capacity development plans for each team member.
• Builds the capacity of all direct reports and bring efficiency to Nigeria’s HR procedures.

Recruitment, Selection and Onboarding:

• Ensure the recruitment of national staff adheres to the standing Recruiting Guideline and is in compliance with government regulations.
• Supervise the Senior Talent Acquisition Officer to ensure all new, national staff receive orientation on Mercy Corps Country systems, policies and procedures.
• Work with the Senior HR Officer to ensure all new hires receive MC ID card, email and all relevant documents upon starting their positions. This includes signing of Job Description, contract, policies and procedures especially the National Staff Handbook and Security Manual.
• Ensure newly hired national and expatriate team members are informed and have access to global HR & Ethics guidance including MC Essentials, Code of Conduct and Security and all relevant policies and are alerted to benefits. Continue with support and advice on policies, as required.
• Build the capacity of the Talent Acquisition team in the effective use of ATS to shorten the time spent on sourcing talent.

Human Resource Management:

• Ensure common understanding and compliance with the National Staff Handbook and other HR policies in all MC Offices
• Serve as a link between the HR team and employees by handling questions, interpreting, and administering HR policies and procedures, and helping to resolve work-related problems.
• Timely collaboration with field HR members to ensure a connection, clear communication and synergy of HR initiatives and priorities.
• Ensure HR services follow proper methodology, policy application and are well documented.
• Ensure a positive, equitable, and consistent employment experience for team members in all locations.
• Ensure Salaries and benefits adhere to Mercy Corps salary scales and standing protocols.
• Conduct job evaluations on new and existing positions and manage country-wide job audits to ensure equity and competitiveness within the job market.
• Ensure Mercy Corps personnel policies strictly adhere to Country labour law as applicable. This includes payment of appropriate taxes, benefits etc.
• Liaise with program managers to ensure country org charts for programs and operations exist and positions are covered within budgets. Make sure that org charts are updated on a regular basis.
• Ensure that all national staff have an up-to-date relevant job description.
• Ensure efficient Performance Management Systems are in place and there is a clear understanding of Performance Management Tools
• Identify training and development opportunities using staff performance and development plans as a standard and working with Unit Heads.
• Maintain confidentiality of all national staff personnel issues including disciplinary procedures and contracts/ pay rates.
• Manage and maintain office/workspaces in such a way that fosters a harmonious work environment that reinforces Mercy Corps’ culture of innovation, influence, and impact.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.
• Oversee the administration of compensation and benefits.
• Manage relationships with benefit providers and advocates on behalf of team members to resolve benefit issues.
• Oversee the clearance of terminated employees, as per MC policies and procedures.
• Ensure all personnel, recruitment, and other HR files are maintained as per defined MC protocols.
• Track and generate relevant HR data and metrics to improve organizational effectiveness.
• Provide team members with information, tools, and resources to improve performance & reach objectives.
• Liaise with program managers to ensure country org charts for programs and operations exist and positions are covered within budgets. Make sure that org charts are updated on a regular basis.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

Team Management:

• Oversee and manage the field HR team ensuring prompt and consistent service to Mercy Corps Nigeria team members.
• Encourage the ongoing development of the Human Resources staff.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
• Supervise, hire, and orient new team members as necessary.
• Provide team members with information, tools, and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

Security:

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
• Promote a safe and inclusive work environment that, regardless of the context, is consistent with Mercy Corps’ culture of care.

Organizational Learning:

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries:

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Supervisory Responsibility: HR Team

Accountability

• Reports Directly To: Human Resources Director
• Works Directly With: HR Team, Program Team, Global HR & Talent Acquisition Team, Program Leads, Managers, and other hiring managers.

Knowledge and Experience

• Master’s in Human Resources Management, Business Administration, or related field.
• Requires National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) or an NYSC exemption certificate.
• Proficiency in computer applications to include MS Office: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Knowledge of donor regulations including USAID, EC, DFID.
• Internationally recognized qualification in project or program management or commitment to obtain the qualification in the early months of work.
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
• Knowledge of Sphere standards and other training in humanitarian response is preferred.
• Requires at least seven years of experience with seven years of strong, demonstrated management experience in the INGO sector in strategic HR.
• In-depth knowledge of Nigeria employment practices and legal regulations pertaining to payroll and employment.
• Highly organized with keen attention to detail and the ability to deal with confidential information in a discrete manner.
• Strong presentation and communication skills, advanced knowledge of written and spoken English is essential.

Success Factors:

• The successful Senior Human Resource Manager will have the ability to multitask, set priorities, and work under tight deadlines within a complex team.
• S/he will demonstrate strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills and be committed to the values and mission of Mercy Corps.
• S/he will take initiative and contribute to team efforts, as well as demonstrate an ability to communicate, assume leadership, and make solid decisions.
• S/he will possess a demonstrated ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel both in a managerial as well as training capacity.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

• Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together.
• Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
• We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

• Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have a sustained global impact. We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all.
• We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, colour, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics:

• Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary-General and IASCand have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.
• We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and adhere to the Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct e-learning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Note

• Applicants should have their CVs and Cover Letters in one document addressing the position requirements.
• Female candidates who are qualified are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Application review will be on a rolling basis

Application Deadline 24th November, 2023.