Job Description:ESAR Regional Office and
Human Resources Manager
Nairobi, Kenya
About EDC
About EDC
Founded in 1958, Education Development Center (EDC) is an
international nonprofit organization that works to build bridges between
educational research, policy, and practice. EDC’s headquarters are located in
Waltham, MA, USA.
Countries in EDC’s East and Southern Africa Regional (ESAR) in which EDC has had projects in recent years include Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Zambia.
Title: ESAR Regional Office and Human Resources Manager (OHRM)
Summary:
EDC’s ESAR office is based on Nairobi, Kenya. The ESAR Regional
Office and Human Resources Manager is responsible for (1) the day-to-day
management and administration of the ESAR office and (2) the provision of human
resources support to projects in the region.
The Regional OHRM’s direct supervisor is the ESAR Center
Director, but concerning HR issues, he/she does so in close consultation and
under the direction of the HR office in EDC’s headquarters in Waltham,
MA.
Office administration tasks include coordination, support or
oversight of regional office tasks (e.g., legal, human resources, financial, or
security) that span more than one project (e.g., all projects with some
functions based in Kenya), liaison with the Regional Finance Manager and
projects in the region, and administrative, human resources, legal, security,
and office and new business development support to the ESAR Director, selected
projects, and the home office.
The Regional OHRM will report to the Associate Director of HR for HR-related duties and be supervised administratively by the ESAR Center Director in Nairobi, Kenya.
Essential functions:
Human Resources
The Regional OHRM will report to the Associate Director of HR for HR-related duties and be supervised administratively by the ESAR Center Director in Nairobi, Kenya.
Essential functions:
Human Resources
- Provide
advice and support to supervisors and staff on various HR elements:
recruitment and selection; performance management; personnel
administration; rewards; HR procedures; grievance management; and
separation. Refer questions about compensation, benefits and ending
employment to Home Office and HR and work together to develop solutions.
- Ensure
that new, key and temporary personnel in the region are oriented in terms
of policy and procedures and security matters.
- Serve
as the link between home office HR and projects in the ESAR region on
matters relating to HR.
- Coordinate
development, adherence and standardization of HR processes, policy and
procedures across EDC projects. Ensure that policies and procedures are
consistent across projects where EDC has more than one project in a
country.
- Work
with EDC’s Home Office to ensure that new local regulations are absorbed
into the project systems and procedures, and advise EDC’s Home Office when
EDC’s Policies and Procedures manual needs revision to incorporate new
regulations/laws.
- Research
HR practices in the region upon request of Home Office HR. Take part
in HR special projects or tasks (salary surveys, job evaluation etc.) in
the region as well as represent EDC in various forums.
- Build
the capacity of project HR managers by providing training and occasional
on-site support. Act as the backup HR manager for projects to cover
unexpected absences.
- Support
project close-outs and start-ups in the region.
Office Management
1. Assist the ESAR Director with routine administrative tasks including routine office logistics, communication, and clerical support, maintaining/managing ESAR office inventory, tracking staff travel and leave plans, assisting with logistics related to Director or other ESAR office-related travel, organizing training and other events, dealing with office space management and liaising with the landlord, and routinely soliciting updates regarding country plans from projects in the region. Report on a regular basis to the ESAR Center Director and other EDC staff designated by him on the status of all of the above.
2. Assist the ESAR director with new business development activities such as:
1. Assist the ESAR Director with routine administrative tasks including routine office logistics, communication, and clerical support, maintaining/managing ESAR office inventory, tracking staff travel and leave plans, assisting with logistics related to Director or other ESAR office-related travel, organizing training and other events, dealing with office space management and liaising with the landlord, and routinely soliciting updates regarding country plans from projects in the region. Report on a regular basis to the ESAR Center Director and other EDC staff designated by him on the status of all of the above.
2. Assist the ESAR director with new business development activities such as:
a. Developing/maintaining list of potential personnel,
organizations, and stakeholders with whom EDC may wish to work, especially
those within Kenya
b. Conducting market research as assigned by Director
c. Help in the preparation of proposal budgets
3. Support the ESAR Center Director in tracking activities and achievements against work plans, contributing to ESAR annual budget preparation and tracking, and preparing payments and tracking expenses against budgets, relating to the regional office and other projects that draw upon regional office services but without staff presence in Nairobi, Kenya.
4. Ensure the efficient running of the ESAR Regional Office, including liaising with the International Finance Manager and administrative, human resources, and financial staff of projects that are co-located and provide support to the regional office.
5. Follow up with project administrators on behalf of the ESAR Director on cross-project tasks that have a bearing on EDC’s good standing in Kenya (e.g., project staff work permits, donor relations etc.)
6. Serve as the ESAR security focal person ensuring that security plans (e.g., staff contact tree) are consistent and are routinely reviewed and updated to reflect current practices; liaising with the director of security on urgent security information.
7. Arrange and facilitate cross-project meetings.
8. Organize special events (e.g., ESAR events or meetings and provision of logistical support for EDC home office staff/dignitaries visiting the area or regional meetings of EDC staff).
9. Ensure that interns are developed and managed as appropriate. Other duties as may be assigned.
Qualifications and Requirements:
3. Support the ESAR Center Director in tracking activities and achievements against work plans, contributing to ESAR annual budget preparation and tracking, and preparing payments and tracking expenses against budgets, relating to the regional office and other projects that draw upon regional office services but without staff presence in Nairobi, Kenya.
4. Ensure the efficient running of the ESAR Regional Office, including liaising with the International Finance Manager and administrative, human resources, and financial staff of projects that are co-located and provide support to the regional office.
5. Follow up with project administrators on behalf of the ESAR Director on cross-project tasks that have a bearing on EDC’s good standing in Kenya (e.g., project staff work permits, donor relations etc.)
6. Serve as the ESAR security focal person ensuring that security plans (e.g., staff contact tree) are consistent and are routinely reviewed and updated to reflect current practices; liaising with the director of security on urgent security information.
7. Arrange and facilitate cross-project meetings.
8. Organize special events (e.g., ESAR events or meetings and provision of logistical support for EDC home office staff/dignitaries visiting the area or regional meetings of EDC staff).
9. Ensure that interns are developed and managed as appropriate. Other duties as may be assigned.
Qualifications and Requirements:
- Bachelor's
Degree in Human Resources, or general administration or business
administration. Master’s degree an added advantage.
- Minimum
5 years’ experience as a HR generalist with technical skills in most HRM
elements.
- Minimum
of 5 years experience in general office management or administration,
- At
least 5 years of experience working in an international organization or
agency;
- Proven
ability working with wide range of colleagues including local
project staff, international staff, consultants, and government officials;
- Ability
to manage multiple tasks while attending to details, follow through and
efficiency;
- Strong
interpersonal skills and ability to work under pressure;
- Experience
working with USAID funded project is a plus;
- Excellent
writing and verbal communication skills in English.
Application and contact details:
Interested qualified candidates are requested to submit their
resume on email to endungu@edc.org by Friday 8th March 2013.
To ensure the timely review of your credentials, please insert
the title of the position in the subject line of the email.
EDC is committed to diversity in the workplace.
EDC is committed to diversity in the workplace.
EDC offers a supportive work environment, competitive salary,
and excellent benefits.
