About WorldFish

“WorldFish is a leading international research organization working to transform aquatic food systems to reduce hunger, malnutrition, and poverty. It collaborates with international, regional, and national partners to co-develop and deliver scientific innovations, evidence for policy, and knowledge to enable equitable and inclusive impact for millions who depend on fish for their livelihoods. As a member of CGIAR, WorldFish contributes to building a food- and nutrition-secure future and restoring natural resources. Headquartered in Penang, Malaysia, with country offices across Africa, Asia, and the Pacific, WorldFish strives to create resilient and inclusive food systems for shared prosperity. For more information, visit: www.worldfishcenter.org”

About the Position

The postholder has a pivotal role in aligning global HR strategies and programs with WorldFish objectives to drive success at WorldFish, through a proactive HR business partnering service. The postholder will collaborate with leaders, managers and teams across WorldFish Headquarters (HQ) and globally located country offices to ensure the implementation of HR practices and programs that enhance employee performance and meet regulatory and compliance requirements to ensure the delivery of a seamless HR service.

The postholder will be a trusted advisor to managers and leaders at all levels, supporting managers and staff to be at their best in order to deliver the WorldFish strategy.

The postholder will cover the full employee life cycle in their role. The postholder will use their expertise to enable good change management and optimizing employee performance in this role. They will lead on effective management of employee relations globally and global HR policy development. Alongside, working closely with others in the HR team to identify and implement strategies for effective performance management, gender, diversity and inclusion, learning and development, talent management, employee safety and security and workforce planning.

Key Responsibilities

HR Partnership

• Support HQ and country office managers, leaders and HR colleagues in country offices in the development and implementation of Human Resources plans, to maximize their effectiveness and capabilities.
• Build strong relationships with managers to understand their objectives and challenges.
• Effectively support Managers, leaders and HR colleagues in country offices and HQ teams, providing guidance on HR best practices and policies.

Process Improvements and Policy Development

• Collect and use people data and metrics to shape, inform and monitor people’s practices and hot spots.
• Lead on global HR policy and process development and improvement, including administration, country supplements (country staff handbooks) and other documentation, ensuring this is kept up to date, is effective, in line with current legislation and global WorldFish and CGIAR policies and practices.
• Ensure effective implementation of policies and processes, ensuring staff engagement and compliance where required.

Effective Management of Employee Relations

• Handle complex employee relations issues and investigations, ensuring effective case management and fair and consistent resolution in line with WorldFish values and policies.
• Provide specialist advice and instruction to managers and country office HR colleagues on employee relations management (i.e. disciplinary, capability, bullying and harassment) in line with relevant local and global policies and local labor legislations, working with legal providers as needed.

Change Management

• Lead and support organizational change initiatives, ensuring smooth transitions and employee engagement.
• Provide guidance on change management best practices to managers and leaders, including effective implementation and communications.

Gender, Diversity and Inclusion

• Lead the identification and delivery of gender, equality and inclusion HR initiatives.
• Give accurate and appropriate advice, training and support to managers to recognize, respect and enable diversity, promoting a positive and inclusive work environment.

Talent Management and Performance Management

• Partner with country offices and HQ teams to enable effective workforce planning, succession planning and talent development processes.
• Support, coach and advise managers to embed an effective performance management culture, policies and processes in order to develop high performing teams.

HR Operations

• Advise on complex employee contract changes (i.e. complex probationary periods and contract renewal requirements).
• Working with others in HR, deliver onjob design, job evaluations and job classification requirements and changes.

Learning and Engagement

• Support Learning and Development colleagues by sharing identified learning needs and supporting the implementation of programs to enhance employee skills and knowledge.
• Support career development initiatives for employees at all levels.
• Support leaders, managers and HR colleagues in country offices with developing action plans from the global staff survey.

Safety and Security

• Act as the point of contact for safety and security globally in the HR team, working closely with colleagues in Facilities at WorldFish and across other CGIAR centers.

Work with wider Global HR team

• Work closely with the WorldFish global HR network, both leading and supporting the development and delivery of global HR services, projects, sharing learning and resources across the HR network.
• Work with others in the people and culture community across other CGIAR centers.

Leadership and Management

• Undertake annual work planning with the HR team to develop a cohesive HR departmental plan.
• Recruit, manage and develop direct reports, ensuring high levels of engagement and performance.

General

• Performs any other duties, tasks and responsibilities as may be required to further advance relevant strategies and initiatives and as discussed with WorldFish and CGIAR.

Requirements

The successful candidate will have:

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field.

• Membership of a nationally recognized professional human resource body such as CIPD, SHRM etc, obtained through professional experience and/or educational route. If an applicant does not have this, continuous professional development will need to be fully evidenced.

• Significant experience in a Human Resources business partner or related roles, with a focus on global HR.

• Strong understanding of global HR practices, employment laws, and regulations.

• Significant experience in providing advice to managers and leaders at a variety of levels and on a variety of HR issues.

• Strong experience of complex employee relations cases, including disciplinary, grievance and bullying and harassment cases.

• Good knowledge of employment law and codes of good practice.

• Experience of using technology for a wide variety of HR services and activities.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to influence, build relationships and work collaboratively with people at all levels in a respectful, multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary organization.

• Demonstrated experience in leading and implementing HR programs and initiatives.

• Experience of working in multi-cultural environments with proven ability to build relationships with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures.

• Good awareness of the latest trends and best practice in Human Resources

• Demonstrated ability to serve as an agent of change, with experience of leading change programs.

• Sound judgement, seen as a credible source of advice and feedback, particularly for leaders and managers.

• Good project manager with sound planning skills.

• Good coaching and mentoring skills with an approach that builds capacity rather than dependency.

• Uphold the highest ethical standards by inspiring trust and treat all people with respect and personal integrity.

• Commitment to WorldFish values and a working style that demonstrates these.

Desirable Skills/Experience

• A post graduate qualification in human resources management, employee relations, organizational behavior, organizational psychology.
• Professional qualification or training in coaching, mentoring, mediation, facilitation, project management.
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills, confident standing up and delivering to groups.

Benefits

This is a Nationally Recruited Staff (NRS) position and WorldFish offers a competitive remuneration package including comprehensive benefits (but not limited to) insurance coverage for staff and eligible dependents, employer provident fund contribution, paid leave and others. The duration of the contract will initially be for a three-year period with possibility for extension, depending on funding and performance.

Your application must include:

• A copy of your curriculum vitae,

• A cover letter which addresses key requirements stated above; and

• Contact information of three professional referees who may be contacted if you are short-listed for the position.

To be considered, applications must be submitted by no later than 24:00 (MYT), 28 January 2024.

Location: The post holder will be based in Penang, Malaysia. This position will involve international travel.

The screening will start immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Due to the high volume of applicants for WorldFish positions, we appreciate all interest, but only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Our Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Commitment

WorldFish has seven offices across Asia, Africa and the Pacific, with more than 400 staff and 27 nationalities who contribute to a dynamic multicultural work environment.

WorldFish is committed to promoting a work environment where diversity and inclusion is valued and we seek to have gender balance in the organization. We aim to also seek balance across other diversity dimensions.

People in WorldFish are treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnicity/race, national or social origin, disability, religion, political affiliation, age, family size, marital status or any other form of personal identity.

We are an equal opportunities employer and strongly encourage qualified women and men from developing nations to apply.