ESAR Regional Office and Human Resources Manager Nairobi, Kenya

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. 

We also have offices in New York City, NY, USA; Washington, DC, USA; and numerous project offices around the world. EDC has over 250 projects in 30 countries with approximately 1600 employees worldwide.

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

1.  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.
2. Ensure that new, key and temporary personnel in the region are oriented in terms of policy and procedures and security matters.
3. Serve as the link between home office HR and projects in the ESAR region on matters relating to HR.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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:
 

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:

• 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 offers a supportive work environment, competitive salary, and excellent benefits.