Employee Relations Specialist (Consultant) at MasterCard

Reporting to the Director, People and Culture Operations and Shared Services. The Employee Relations (ER) Specialist is responsible for fostering a positive, compliant, and productive workplace by managing employee relations issues, ensuring adherence to labor laws, and supporting both employees and management. The role requires strong knowledge of African labor legislation, dispute resolution, and cultural sensitivity across diverse workforces. 

Duration: 1-year Consultant with option to extend - The successful candidate will be based in one of our listed offices in Africa (Rwanda, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria). 

WAYS YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE  

As a consultant, the Employee Relations Specialist will strengthen the Foundation’s policies and procedures ensuring compliance with labor laws.  

• Advisory & Compliance 
• Provide expert guidance to P&C business Partners and employees on ER policies, disciplinary procedures, and labor law compliance.  
• Ensure alignment with local employment legislation (e.g., South Africa’s Labour Relations Act, Kenya’s Employment Act, Nigeria’s Labour Act, etc.). 
• Monitor and report on ER metrics, grievances, and dispute trends. 
• Conflict Resolution & Case Management 
• Ensure the Investigation and resolution of grievances, misconduct cases, and workplace disputes. 
• Develop strategies to minimize workplace conflict. 
• Stakeholder Engagement 
• Policy Development, update & Training 
• Draft, review, and implement ER policies and procedures. 
• Conduct training for managers and employees on ER best practices, conflict resolution, and workplace ethics. 
• Promote employee engagement and a positive workplace culture. 
• Employee relations risk identification and mitigation/management 
• Conduct audits to ensure compliance with ER policies and labor laws and recommend actions 
• Works closely with: Legal, Compliance, P&C Business Partners, Enterprise Risk Management 

WHO YOU ARE 

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Law, or related field. 
• 8 to 10 years’ experience in Employee Relations or Industrial Relations within Africa 
• Strong knowledge of African labor laws and dispute resolution mechanisms. 
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills. 
• Ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion. 
• Certification in HR/IR (e.g., SABPP, CIPD, or equivalent). 
•  Experience in multinational or pan‑African organizations.