About the Role
Vital Strategies is seeking an experienced Global HR leader who will continue to build on our efforts to strengthen global HR operations and compliance. This is an exciting opportunity for a collaborative, culturally agile leader who is passionate about operational excellence, continuous improvement, and making a meaningful global impact.
The Director, Global HR Operations and Compliance is a critical leadership role within the Human Resources function, responsible for advancing HR operational excellence, strengthening global compliance, and supporting the continued evolution of our people practices. With seven global offices and Employer of Record (EOR) arrangements in thirteen countries, this position provides strategic leadership and oversight for Vital's global HR operations, compliance framework, and employee services, ensuring consistent, efficient, and legally compliant HR practices across all locations.
The Director will lead the development and implementation of inclusive policies, procedures, and best practices; provide guidance on global employment actions and employee relations matters; support workforce expansion into new countries; and oversee global compensation, benefits, and HR governance programs. This role is responsible for identifying and mitigating employment-related risks while ensuring a positive employee experience and operational consistency across diverse jurisdictions.
Reporting to the Vice President, Global HR, the Director partners closely with organizational leaders, HR colleagues, legal counsel, country offices, and external partners to strengthen HR infrastructure, optimize systems and processes, and enhance the organization's ability to manage a global workforce effectively.
Duties & Responsibilities
Global HR Operations
- Maintain a high-quality global HR operations function, including standardized policies where legally appropriate, standardized processes, technology, systems, tools, forms, and guidelines that are accessible, well understood, and consistently utilized across all offices.
- Balance global organizational standards and compliance requirements with the operational, cultural, and legal realities of individual country offices, ensuring an appropriate and practical approach across diverse environments.
- Build trusted relationships with global office leadership, HR and Country Directors, to encourage transparency, collaboration, and timely sharing of HR-related information necessary for effective operations, risk management, and compliance.
- Partner with, support, and advise global HR team members and Country Directors on HR operational matters; while supporting local HR partners in assuming HR functions locally as appropriate for each office.
- Lead global HR due diligence (terms and conditions of employment, infrastructure and documentation) and manage the maintenance of international office employee handbooks and guides for EOR-hired staff.
- Partner with leadership, programs, and operation teams in opening offices or establishing EORs; as well as closing offices or programs.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory reporting requirements, maintenance of required documentation, and timely responses to HR audits and coordinate with the risk management committee.
- In partnership with local HR teams, lead annual global employee benefits renewals, including plan design, vendor coordination, and budget management.
- Oversee global compensation programs, including salary benchmarking, pay review processes, compensation guidance, and manager training.
- Work with Talent Acquisition, Grants & Contracts and Global Finance to coordinate the annual and reforecast workforce budget.
- Oversee the establishment of EORs and the ongoing vendor/employee/manager relationships.
- Ensure the global HR team is trained in the core HR operational areas, as well as any Vital HR specific procedures and practices.
- Ensure that HR policies, procedures, and compliance documents are accessible to all staff via the organizational intranet "Vital Pulse".
- Collaborate with HR team to implement, analyze, and maintain operational metrics and people data to inform decision-making and strengthen organizational effectiveness.
- Serve as a key HRIS company administrator and partner to global HR teams, leveraging technology to improve HR operations, reporting, compliance and data integrity.
- Partner with HR and operational leaders to ensure HRIS data accuracy globally, establish effective governance processes, and support local teams in maintaining timely and accurate employee records.
Compliance
- In collaboration with Legal and VP HR, ensure that HR processes, policies, recordkeeping, and forms are in compliance with regulations, country and local labor laws, and donor guidelines.
- Oversee policy, process and procedure documentation to ensure consistency, accessibility, and compliance across the organization.
- Conduct spot checks to employee files to ensure audit readiness and compliance; and provide training to HR team members responsible for maintaining documentation.
- Ensure compliance with the Vital global data retention policy for employee data and HR documentation.
- Identify and proactively mitigate HR operational and compliance risks through strong controls, monitoring, documentation practices, and partnership with local offices.
Employee Services
- Coordinate the development and maintenance of HR programs and tools, including policies and procedures, SOPs, manuals, management guidelines, and other HR infrastructure to support business units, proposals, and projects.
- Ensure all offices and employees hired through EOR arrangements have access to an HR Help Desk or equivalent support structure with timely communication, responsiveness, and follow-up.
- In consultation with the VP HR and General Counsel, and in coordination with HRBPs, manage complex employee relations matters in a balanced, fair, and objective manner using appropriate counseling, investigative, intervention, and mediation techniques.
- Serve as an internal consultant and facilitator to managers and employees in resolving employment and performance-related issues in collaboration with HR business partners as appropriate.
- In collaboration with the Director of Talent Management and HR Country Teams, ensure timely delivery of training to managers on HR operations, policies, systems, and practices; and support clear communication of Vital HR business practices to employees globally.
- Foster a service-oriented HR culture that emphasizes responsiveness, partnership, trust, consistency, and practical problem-solving across all global offices.
Compensation & Working Conditions
- Kenya Base Salary Range: KES 14,000,000 - KES 18,500,000
- UK Base Salary Range: £110,000 - £120,000
- Switzerland Base Salary Range: CHF 120,000 to CHF 140,000
- Travel: Up to 10% international travel depending on organizational needs.
- Working Hours: Ability/willingness to work across multiple time zones.
