HR Manager, Sierra Leone

Position: HR Manager, Sierra Leone

Location: Makeni, Sierra Leone

Direct Report: Country Director, Sierra Leone

Background:

World Hope International (WHI) is a global, Christian relief and development organization operating in 5 countries, including an affiliate fundraising entity in Canada. WHI’s expertise is in global health, water and energy, and social protection, serving approximately 1 million people per year regardless of ethnicity, gender, race, and religion.

For over 25 years, WHI has pursued a vision of a just, safe, and equitable world. Our history demonstrates that effective and practical solutions exist to complex problems. Transformative change happens when marginalized communities experience opportunity, hope and dignity supported by innovative community, church, government, and private sector partnerships.

Job Purpose:

The Human Resources Manager plays a critical role in supporting the success of WHI in Sierra Leone. They are responsible for leading all aspects of the HR function for a staff of over 200 employees, ensuring a positive and productive work environment that fosters employee engagement and high performance. They will also serve as a strategic partner to leadership, providing expert guidance on HR policies, practices, promoting employee well-being initiatives, and compliance with Sierra Leone labor laws and regulations specific to the NGO sector. In Sierra Leone, WHI implements programs in water, health, and protection, focusing on empowering vulnerable children, families, and communities.

Essential Functions:

• Provide strategic leadership and management of human resources in Sierra Leone, ensuring alignment with WHI’s mission, vision, values, and strategic plan.
• Support the development of an organizational culture that provides accountability while encouraging learning, creativity, well-being, and innovation.
• Conduct a workforce analysis and develop a staffing pipeline and structure to support the programs deliverables and needs.
• Ensure staff are compliant with organizational policies including conflict of interest, code of conduct, child protection, finance, technology, information sharing, and archiving.
• In collaboration with program leaders, ensure ongoing learning and professional development opportunities are available to staff.
• Ensure human resources processes and services are legally compliance, cost effective, properly documented, and efficiently serve the needs of staff.
• Ensure global and local policies in safeguarding are well understood, practiced, and enforced across the organization and its programs.
• Maintain compensation and benefit plans as outlined by WHI and required by local labor laws.
• Lead initiatives to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Work with the Global HR team to develop and implement strategies to enhance employee engagement and retention.
• Develop and implement crisis management plans related to HR issues.

Responsibilities:

• Support the Director in the formulation, creation, and implementation of administrative policies for WHI.
• Advise and draft updated polices and employee handbook as needed.
• Manage the hiring process, including advertising open positions, reviewing resumes, coordinating, and conducting interviews, conducting reference checks, drafting offer letters and contracts, and completing the onboarding process.
• Maintain employee information and files in Sharepoint and BambooHR.
• Maintain HR metrics to track key performance indicators.
• Complete separations and offboarding processes including exit interviews and settlement/benefit documentation (End of Service Benefit, Redundancy, Termination).
• Update contracts as needed for existing staff.
• Serve as a liaison with the medical insurance company to facilitate benefits and coverage for staff.
• Ensure national staff have registered Social Security (NASSIT) numbers and request quarterly statements from the social security office.
• Assist with monthly payroll updates and send monthly pay slips to staff.
• Support managers with completing bi-annual performance reviews.
• Oversee compliance with WHI policies and labor laws of Sierra Leone.
• Collect, process, and submit monthly and routine staff requests including time off and allowances (leave, maternity, paternity, and relocation).
• Ensure timely renewal and submission of work and resident permits and other related expatriate coverage needs.
• Ensure health and safety standards are met and in line with minimum standards.
• Responsible for the management of office supplies (consumables, stationery, furniture, etc).
• Coordinate and follow up on office maintenance and repair needs and communicate appropriately.
• Serve as the focal point for planning and organizing training events and staff retreats.
• Share monthly medical reports with staff for proper monitoring and recording of medical expenses.
• Liaise with the workmen’s compensation insurance company and facilitate staff incident reports and medical claims while ensuring all incidents are reported to WHI HQ.
• Serve as a point of contact for employee concerns and complaints. Lead in mediating and resolving employee conflicts and grievances in a fair and timely manner.
• Conduct workplace investigations in collaboration with the Senior Director of HR including reporting complaints, interviewing witnesses and complainants, collecting, and analyzing evidence, maintaining confidentiality, and preparing clear and concise reports with recommendations.
• Engage with local communities and stakeholders to enhance WHI’s reputation and recruitment efforts.

Minimum Education / Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management or a related field. Master’s degree in HR preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in HR management, preferably in an NGO setting.
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, or CIPD certification preferred.
• Experience working with staff of similar size (200+ employees) is preferred.
• Strong understanding of Sierra Leone labor laws and regulations, including those specific to the NGO sector.
• Proven ability to recruit, hire, and onboard staff efficiently.
• Experience managing an HR information system (HRIS). Experience with BambooHR is a plus.
• Experience conducting thorough and confidential workplace investigations.
• Experience in performance management, employee relations, and compensation and benefits administration.
• Experience in project management and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proven ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines in a fast pace, complex, decentralized, and geographically diverse organizational culture.
• Fluency in English and at least one other relevant language, such as French or Krio.
• Strong communications skills, oral and written.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills and experience working on a multicultural team.
• Proficient computer skills – especially the Microsoft Suite of applications (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, SharePoint).
• Commitment to the values and mission of WHI.

Working Environment / Conditions:

Standard office environment. Domestic travel may be necessary (10-15%). Seldom remote work may be needed.

Benefits include paid national holidays, sick leave, paid vacation, parental leave, and medical benefits.

Salary: SLE 101,000 – SLE 134,000/year