Human Resources Manager at Mercy Corps

Program / Department Summary

• Mercy Corps has been present in Nigeria since 2012, focusing its interventions on humanitarian assistance, economic development, and conflict mitigation. With the ongoing insurgency in Northeast Nigeria causing the displacement of millions of individuals, Mercy Corps started its humanitarian response in 2014 to address the rising humanitarian needs. As the crisis has persisted, Mercy Corps’ strategy has also expanded to address the root causes of the conflict and seek to build the long-term resilience of communities with integrated programs focusing on governance, the recovery of markets and livelihoods, social cohesion and social protection, youth empowerment, and local conflict management.
• The Human Resource Department is responsible for providing effective HR policies, procedures, and people- friendly guidelines and support within Mercy Corps Nigeria. This includes but is not limited to: Talent Acquisition & Development; employee engagement coordination; countrywide training & learning management; compensation & benefits administration; performance management oversight; disciplinary & grievance handling; staff data management; staff disengagement management; and 3rd party service provision management (HMO, Group Life, etc.).

General Position Summary

• The Human Resources Manager will manage the human resource operations function in the Northeast of all the Mercy Corps offices in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria, under the leadership of the HR Lead. S/he will assist the HR Lead in the achievement of MC program objectives with the facilitation of recruitment, remuneration, and staff development issues in Human Resources Development.

Essential Job Responsibilities

• The roles and responsibilities of the Deputy HR Manager include, but are not limited to:

 Strategy & Vision  20%:

• Support the HR Lead in the successful implementation, adherence, and common understanding of recruitment guidelines in all MCN offices.
• Implement Mercy Corps HR systems and provide professional advice and coaching to team leads, staff, and partners on daily HR issues.
• Collaborate with the HR Lead to establish an annual HR work plan, set priorities, monitor work progress, and ensure results are achieved according to schedule and set standards.
• Take the lead in conducting comprehensive training and professional development needs assessment and analysis, and ensure the provision of focused and precise development programs for Mercy Corps staff and partners.

Recruitment, Selection , and Onboarding 40%:

• Ensure the recruitment of national staff adheres to the Mercy Corps recruiting guidelines and is in alignment with Nigerian Labour Law.
• In collaboration with the HR Lead, lead in all MCN recruitment initiatives.
• Ensure all new national staff receive orientation on Mercy Corps Nigeria systems, policies, and procedures.
• Ensure all new hires receive the MC ID card, email, and all relevant documents upon starting their positions. This includes signing job descriptions, contracts, policies, and procedures, especially the National Staff Handbook and Security Manual.
• Ensure newly hired national and expatriate team members are informed and have access to global HR & Ethics guidance, including MC Essentials, Code of Conduct, Security, and all relevant policies, and are alerted to benefits. Continue with support and advice on policies, as required.
• Ensure a positive, equitable, and consistent employment experience for team members in all locations.
• Ensure the up-to-date status of all personnel, recruitment, and other HR dashboards and records.

Human Resource Management 30%:

• Interpret the National Staff Handbook and other HR policies in all MC offices ensuring common understanding and compliance.
• Serve as a link between the HR team and employees by handling questions, interpreting and administering HR policies and procedures, and helping to resolve work-related problems.
• Timely collaboration with field team members to ensure a connection, clear communication, and synergy of HR initiatives and priorities.
• Ensure HR services follow proper methodology and policy application and are well-documented.
• Ensure a positive, equitable, and consistent employment experience for team members in all locations.
• Support in finalizing negotiations and preparing documentation, including remuneration packages attached to offers for new hires in close coordination with the country office HR team attached to offers for new hires, in close coordination with the HR Lead
• Manage all HR tracking systems to ensure compliance and data accuracy.
• Oversee record keeping through personnel files and/HCM database that adheres to required Mercy Corps data management, donor, and local law regulations.
• Work with Snr HRM to ensure full compliance with Mercy Corps Performance Management Systems and Tools.
• Provide team members with information, tools, and resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Identify training and development opportunities using staff performance and development plans as a standard, and working with Unit Heads.
• Manage relationships with benefit providers and advocates on behalf of team members to resolve benefit issues.
• Liaise with program managers to ensure country org charts for all functions are updated regularly.
• Maintain confidentiality of all national staff personnel issues, including disciplinary procedures and contracts/pay rates.
• Manage and maintain office/workspaces in such a way that fosters a harmonious work environment that reinforces the Mercy Corps’ culture of innovation, influence, and impact.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Ensure all interventions adhere to Mercy Corps’ Gender Policy, Do No Harm principles, and beneficiary accountability standards.

Team Management 10%:

• Ensure prompt and consistent service to Mercy Corps Nigeria team members.
• Encourage the ongoing development of the Human Resources team members.
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations, and provide regular constructive feedback.
• Supervise, hire, and orient new team members as necessary.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options, and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

Security:

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.
• Promote a safe and inclusive work environment that, regardless of the context, is consistent with Mercy Corps’ culture of care.

Organizational Learning:

• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient, and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

Accountability to Beneficiaries:

• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of our field projects.
• Team members are expected to conduct themselves professionally and respect local laws, customs, and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Supervisory Responsibility:

• Senior HR Officer, HR Assistant

Works Directly With:

• HR Team, Program Team, Managers, and other hiring managers.

Knowledge and Experience

• A bachelor's degree in business administration, Social Sciences, or other related academic disciplines, and advanced post-graduate qualifications will be an added advantage.
• Membership of an HR professional body with certification is strongly required
• Requires National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) or an exemption.
• Requires at least seven (7) years of progressive HR experience with at least 4 years of similar experience within the INGO sector.
• In-depth knowledge of Nigeria's labor law.
• Highly organized with keen attention to detail and the ability to deal with confidential information discreetly.
• Experience in capacity building and setting frameworks for staff development.
• Strong presentation and communication skills and advanced knowledge of written and spoken English are essential.
• Proficiency in computer applications, including MS Office: Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of donor regulations, including DOS, EU, FCDO, etc.
• Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team and in a sensitive environment.
• Fluency in English is required. Fluency in Hausa and any other Nigerian language will be an added advantage.
• Willingness to travel to field offices as may be required.

Success Factors

• The successful Deputy Human Resource Manager will have the ability to multitask, set priorities, and work under tight deadlines within a complex team.
• S/he will demonstrate strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills and be committed to the values and mission of Mercy Corps.
• S/he will take initiative and contribute to team efforts, as well as demonstrate an ability to communicate, assume leadership, and make solid decisions. S/he will possess a demonstrated ability to interact effectively with international and national personnel both in a managerial and training capacity.
• Throughout the relief and development community. S/he will be flexible, resilient, and possess the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

• Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together.
• Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges.
• We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
• We recognize that diversity and inclusion are a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening, and evolving to become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

• Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis.
• We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have a sustained global impact.
• We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination based on race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status, or any other protected group in the locations where we work.