Safeguarding & Human Resource Officer

GROOTS Kenya is a national movement of grassroots, women-led, community-based organizations and self-help groups in Kenya that aims to address the lack of visibility of grassroots women in development processes and decision-making forums that affect them and their communities. GROOTS Kenya’s mission is to facilitate the effective engagement of grassroots women and girls in development through anchoring the values of teamwork, service, equality and inclusivity, justice, participation, and commitment toward achieving the overall vision of a just, peaceful, healthy, and equal society (Jamii yenye amani, afya, haki na usawa).

GROOTS Kenya seeks to recruit a Safeguarding and Human Resource Officer to join our diverse team.

Safeguarding responsibilities:

• Implementation of the Safeguarding policy and ensuring compliance in all areas of the organization. Facilitate regular training and capacity strengthening sessions for all staff, volunteers and interns on safeguarding.
• Facilitate and coordinate awareness and sensitization sessions for grassroots women, girls and all program participants.
• Conduct induction sessions on safeguarding to the newly recruited staff, volunteers and interns and carry out refresher trainings.
• Support implementation of community accountability reporting mechanisms for feedback, referrals and complaint handling.
• Conduct regular safeguarding risk assessments and execute mitigation plans.
• Receive, record and monitor the progress of reported cases and ensure follow up on recommendations received.
• Prepare regular reports on safeguarding activities, incidents, compliance and establish and manage a confidential reporting system.
• Continuously monitor and ensure that safe programming is integrated in all program interventions from design to delivery. Manage all safeguarding related partnerships and ensure that new partnerships and collaborations are regularly assessed on their level of safeguarding compliance.
• Update the safeguarding database on a regular basis and ensure that the identified issues are addressed on time.
• Propose to senior management and implement improvements on safeguarding practices based on lessons learned and industry developments.

Human resource responsibilities:

• Support in full cycle recruitment process (coordinating publication of vacancies, receiving and sorting applications, arranging interviews, conducting reference checks and extending employment offers).
• Confidentially maintain up to date employee staff files and ensure key HR information is maintained.
• Assist in onboarding of newly recruited staff and carry out refresher trainings regarding HR policies and procedures.
• Liaise with the programs team to ensure the newly recruited staff are inducted.
• Support staff performance management, learning and professional staff development.
• Identify capacity strengthening needs and coordinate any trainings required.
• Ensure implementation and adherence of HR policies and processes across the organization.
• Stay informed and ensure compliance with Kenyan labour laws as well as human resource legal requirement and data protection and privacy regulations.
• Manage staff attendance and coordination of staff wellbeing.
• Any other duty assigned by the immediate supervisor

Qualifications:

• At least Bachelor’s degree preferred in Human Resource Management, Sociology/Social Work, Psychology, gender and development studies, humanities or related social science
• Strong knowledge of HR policies, procedures and processes and training.
• At least 3 years’ experience working in human resource and safeguarding/ child protection at community, county and/or national levels.
• Proven experience working in a safeguarding capacity within local communities to protect children, prevent sexual exploitation and abuse and support survivors of sexual violence.
• A thorough understanding of relevant safeguarding standards, legislation, regulations, and policies is essential. This includes knowledge of child protection laws, data protection regulations, and knowledge of case management and psychosocial support. Strong communication skills and ability to communicate sensitively and empathetically on sensitive topics.
• Strong experience and ability to facilitate training to a diverse audience.
• Willingness to travel to and work in hard-to-reach areas; computer literacy and excellent documentation and report writing skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment, with highly developed interpersonal and communication skills including listening, influencing and negotiation.
• Excellent attention to detail, data management and data analysis skills.
• Ability to deal with confidential and sensitive information and experience of applying survivor-centered approaches in programming and practice