Human Resources Business Partner, Exams at British Council Nigeria

Role Type: Advisory, Policy and Expertise
Pay Band: PB 6
Department: Human Resources
Duration: Indefinite
Reports to: Head of HR Nigeria & West Africa

Role Purpose

• To partner with the exams business in the delivery of Exams HR services in line with corporate standards.
• The post holder will support the Head of HR and Country Exams Manager and undertake specific work within HR to support the effective management of the British Council operation, focusing on our Exams operations.

Current: 

• Nigeria is now officially the largest economy in Africa. It is also the most populous country with over 180 million citizens. The UK is its largest trading partner. Nigeria holds significant political power in the region and internationally and its society retains a positive attitude to the UK.
• Therefore, there continue to be major opportunities for the UK and British Council to build on our strong existing relationships with the Nigerian government, institutions and customers/audiences. However, there are complex and substantial risks to this work i.e. security and compliance. 
• Nigeria is the British Council’s largest operation in sub-Saharan Africa with offices in 4 cities – Port Harcourt in the south, Kano in the north, Abuja the Federal capital and Lagos the commercial centre. We also have a number of project offices across the country.
• Our 200 staff work across a range of states delivering large scale contracts, partnership programmes, examinations, projects as well as services in Arts, Education & Society and English & Exams. We are already achieving substantial impact and income (current annual income is £27.2 million) and have plans to grow and develop our impact further.
• Partners and clients include government, public and private institutions, foundations, private sector organisations and civil society. We work closely with the wider UK mission including DFID and UKTI. 

Main Accountabilities
HR Operations:

• To work with the recruitment hub in the management of recruitment and selection end-to-end processes for the Exams SBU.
• To ensure that managers carry out recruitment and selection according to corporate and equal opportunity standards ensuring adherence to local employment laws. Ensuring utilization of the HRIS; e-recruitment in the selection of new staff.
• To oversee the induction for all new staff and actively quality checking elements of the induction programme to ensure consistency in the process across all offices. Collecting feedback on induction programmes and acting on feedback provided to improve the process.
• Manage all aspects of risk associated with the working staff including Health Insurance, Life Assurance and Employee compensation. To ensure that all staff is covered under the health and life insurance scheme. Manage day to day relationship with vendor teams; health maintenance organizations, insurance brokers etc. - providing feedback to vendor on performance, communicate issues back to Head of HR as needed.
• To contribute to HR team objectives by attending and contributing to staff meetings.
• Assist in managing communications for effective dissemination of information to employees on wages, Equality Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) issues, disciplinary procedures, grievances, benefits and other HR policies and practices.
• Manages employee data with available HRIS (e-HR) system such as hires, promotions, transfers, performance reviews, terminations, and employee statistics for reporting. To prepare regular or special reports necessary for business decisions.
• To support Head of HR on the delivery of corporate HR strategies and plans. To ensure HR plans, issues and failings and risk are actively managed and reported to Head of HR for reporting at FCCF and ERMF meetings.
• To ensure adherence to Information Knowledge Management standards of the team.

Learning & Development:

• To promote a culture of learning, knowledge sharing and teamwork by aiding collaboration and creating models for change management.
• To assist in arranging regular training on recruitment & selection, performance management etc.
• To take responsibility of own personal development by undertaking relevant developmental programmes; self-learning, job shadow, on the job training. Etc.

Employee Relations:

• In consultation with Head of HR, to receive and respond to inbound employee relations enquiries.
• To maintain an up to date record of employee relations issues
• In consultation with Head of HR, to provide guidance, consultation and assistance to Line Managers and Staff on matters relating to employee disciplinary actions.
• To respond to request for information on HR policy interpretation from internal and external clients.
• To encourage at least 90% of staff to complete the staff survey.
• To build relationships and collaborate with managers and leads across the exams business to identify specific employee engagement requirements of differing business areas. Working with the HR team, recommending appropriate, cost effective ways to meet and exceed these requirements. S/he will also analyse and review all employee engagement activities to measure success and inform future planning.

Functional Expertise:

• Provide professional coaching/mentoring/guidance to internal customers and HR colleagues, to manage non-routine HR issues or guidance to implement project and change plans.
• Develops peer/personal networks within and outside the British Council to enhance own knowledge and expertise. update knowledge of developments in external policy, practice and regulation
• Completes an annual cycle of formally recognised Continuing Professional Development to maintain and deepen their professional expertise
• Builds a network of external suppliers/providers/contacts to support effective service provision and knowledge exchange

Performance Management:

• To assist Line Managers in ensuring that their team performance management system operates to corporate standards and guidelines.
• Assisting Head of HR in coordinating annual moderations of performance reviews.

Equal Opportunity and Diversity:

• Assisting Head of HR to ensure BC Nigeria’s strategy identifies and responds to EDI
• To manage face to face training on specific EDI topics
• Support head of HR in collating evidence for Diversity Assessment Framework (DAF) submissions.

Financial Management:

• To prepare operational budgets. Ensuring value for money in the procurement of services on behalf of the team.
• In liaison with the Finance team, develop effective strategies for financial wellbeing of the team.

Key Relationships
Internal:

• Country Exams Manager
• Deputy Country Exams Managers
• Exams Heads and Managers
• Regional Exams Team
• BC Exams Employees
• Staff Association
• Senior Leadership Team Nigeria
• Country and SSA Regional HR team.

External:

• Local Labour Lawyers
• Health Maintenance Organization
• Insurance Brokers

Qualifications
Minimum / essential:

• Education to degree level

Desirable:

• HR qualifications: CIPM, CIPD, SHRM,

Language Requirements
Minimum / essential:

• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Shortlisted candidates will need to demonstrate that they meet the required standard through the APTIS test which will be administered as part of the recruitment and selection exercise

Role Specific Knowledge & Experience
Minimum / Essential:

• About 3 years’ experience in HRM in a multinational organisation
• Proven track record in HR Management
• Ability to demonstrate understanding of best practice in HR processes and systems
• Excellent commercial acumen and understanding of business strategy and practices
• Knowledge of Nigerian Labour law and understanding of business strategy and practices
• Knowledge of Nigerian Labour law

Desirable:

• Managing change

British Council Core Skills
Minimum / Essential:

• Managing Projects (Level 2). Analyses project data
• Examines project data and performance, reporting on progress and recommending corrective action as needed.
• Communicating and Influencing (Level 2). Relates communications to circumstances:
• Displays good listening, writing and speaking skills, setting out logical arguments clearly and adapting language and form of communication to meet the needs of different people/audiences.
• Planning and organising (level 2). Plans ahead
• Organises own work over weeks and months, or plans ahead for others, taking account of priorities and the impact on other people.
• Analysing data and problems (level 2. Uses data
• Reviews available data and identifies cause and effect, and then chooses the best solution from a range of known alternatives.

British Council Behaviours:

• Working Together (MORE DEMANDING): Ensuring that others benefit as well as me.
• Making It Happen (MORE DEMANDING): Challenging myself and others to deliver and measure better results
• Connecting With Others (MORE DEMANDING): Actively appreciating the needs and concerns of myself and others.
• Being Accountable (MORE DEMANDING): Putting the needs of the team or British Council ahead of my own.
• Creating Shared Purpose (ESSENTIAL): Communicating an engaging picture of how we can work together
• Shaping the Future (ESSENTIAL): Looking for ways in which we can do things better