Head of HR, West Africa at Tetra Maritime

Role summary 

• The Head of HR, West Africa, will have substantive experience from working at an international organisation, and will be expected to deliver HR leadership and execution to an international standard, matching the pace, quality and governance typical of global multinationals. This role requires the capability and drive to operate at a world‑class level while grounding HR delivery in West Africa’s specific operational and talent realities 
• The Head of WAF HR will be the primary driver of talent acquisition and HR delivery across West Africa, owning high‑volume hiring while ensuring alignment with local operational needs and global HR strategy. This role is pivotal in embedding HR excellence within the region, building strong local talent pipelines, and actively contributing to global initiatives and cross‑regional collaboration. 

Key responsibilities 

Local HR leadership 

• Oversee all HR operations in WAF, including recruitment (working with the London recruitment lead), employee relations, performance management, compensation and benefits, and compliance. 
• Act as the primary HR contact for WAF leadership, ensuring HR support is responsive, strategic, and aligned with business goals. 
• Lead organisational design and workforce planning efforts in collaboration with local and regional stakeholders. 
• Drive the implementation of HR systems and digital tools, including appraisal platforms and ATS rollout. 
• Manage local HR teams and ensure consistent delivery of HR services across WAF entities. 

Talent & recruitment

• Own end‑to‑end recruitment for WAF, including direct sourcing, agency management and employer branding, with clear targets on time‑to‑hire, quality of hire and cost per hire. 
• Personally lead hard‑to‑fill and senior hires, including market mapping, headhunting and closing; this is a hands‑on role, not one primarily delivered through others. 
• Leverage strong personal networks and relationships with top‑tier Nigerian and West African recruitment agencies and search firms to secure critical talent quickly. 
• Design and deliver high‑volume recruitment campaigns to support rapid operational growth, ensuring robust pipelines across operations, technical and support functions. 
• Partner with the London recruitment lead on process, systems and employer brand, while retaining clear accountability for meeting WAF hiring and retention targets. 

Global HR collaboration 

• Collaborate with the London HR team on global HR: crucially, this role is an active and senior member of the global team as well as WAF lead. 
• Support global reporting and KPI tracking, ensuring WAF metrics are integrated into broader HR dashboards and governance processes. 
• Participate in cross‑regional projects including employer branding, graduate programmes, and organisational development. 

Requirements

• Substantive experience in HR leadership from a multinational or otherwise top‑tier Nigerian corporate, ideally in a high‑growth or asset‑heavy/operational environment. 
• Strong understanding of both strategic HR and operational delivery: able to move between hands‑on recruitment, day‑to‑day HR operations and long‑term people planning. 
• Proven track record leading high‑volume and specialist hiring in West Africa (especially Nigeria), with clear examples of ramp‑up and large team expansions. 
• Strong personal network of recruitment agencies, search firms and direct talent contacts in Nigeria and wider West Africa, with evidence of having "opened doors" and closed critical roles through these networks. 
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships across geographies. 
• Experience with HR systems, compliance frameworks, and talent development. 
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to influence and drive change across cultures and functions, while remaining personally accountable for delivery in the WAF region.