Job Summary
The Manager, HR Operations & Governance is responsible for leading the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of FSD Africa’s HR operations and governance framework.
The role ensures that HR systems, policies, and processes are efficient, compliant, risk-aware, and data-driven, supporting the organisation’s strategic objectives in a complex, multi-donor and project-based environment.
The role provides organisation-wide leadership across key HR operations programmes including compensation and benefits, HR policy and procedure governance, multijurisdictional contract management, employee wellbeing, occupational health and safety, and equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) while embedding strong governance, compliance, and risk management practices. It ensures that HR operations not only function effectively but actively contribute to organisational performance, cost stewardship, workforce productivity, and management-level assurance on people-related risks.
Key Responsibilities
Strategy & Planning
- Work closely with the Director of HR & Talent Management to execute an HR strategy that supports the programme's strategic goals for growth, operational effectiveness, and impact.
- Lead the development and implementation of a robust HR operations and governance framework, ensuring alignment with organisational strategy and donor requirements.
- Establish and maintain clear governance structures, controls, and accountability mechanisms across all HR operations processes.
- Ensure HR operations are delivered through standardised, efficient, and scalable processes across the organisation.
- Act as custodian of HR policies, procedures, and systems, ensuring they reflect current legal requirements and global good practice.
- Provide strategic advice to leadership on HR operational risks, compliance issues, and governance priorities.
Compensation, Benefits & HR Cost Governance
- Work with the Director HR & Talent Management to ensure that FSD Africa’s compensation and benefits framework is competitive, equitable, and aligned to organisational needs, enabling attraction and retention of talent.
- Design and implement a total remuneration framework aligned to market competitiveness, internal equity, and affordability.
- In collaboration with the Director HR & Talent Management, implement salary reviews, benchmarking, and pay equity analysis (including gender equity and fairness reviews).
- In coordination with Finance (Payroll), manage payroll cycles consistently and accurately.
- Manage and optimise employee benefits (medical, pension, insurance), ensuring value for money and vendor accountability.
- Strengthen governance over HR cost drivers including payroll, benefits, and leave liability.
- Provide leadership with regular insights and reporting on HR costs and workforce trends to inform decision-making.
HR Policies and Procedures, Compliance & Audit
- Oversee the management and governance of multijurisdictional employment contracts, ensuring compliance with local labour laws, organisational policies, and donor requirements across all operating geographies.
- Oversee relationships with and performance of Employers of Record (EOR) providers, ensuring contractual compliance, cost efficiency, and high-quality service delivery while mitigating legal, tax, and reputational risks.
- Lead the development, routine review, socialization, and governance of HR policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with statutory requirements and evolving organisational needs.
- Maintain a structured policy review and approval cycle, ensuring timely updates and approvals.
- Ensure effective communication and embedding of policies across the organisation.
- Lead HR audit readiness, coordinating all documentation, undertaking desktop compliance reviews, and conducting pillar audit readiness checks to mitigate against breaches in policy, procedure, or compliance.
- Ensure full compliance with local labour laws, donor requirements, and internal policies, including fulfilling all legal/statutory requirements associated with the employment of project staff (such as immigration requirements and contracting).
- Prepare for and support audits; ensure that any corrective actions relating to HR management are closed out in a timely manner.
HR Operations Excellence & Digital Systems Management
- Work with the Assistant Manager, Operations and lead the continuous improvement of HR operations processes to ensure efficiency, consistency, and high-quality service delivery.
- Drive effective utilisation and optimisation of HRIS and digital tools, enhancing automation and reducing manual processes.
- Ensure data integrity, accuracy, and security of all HR systems and records.
- Develop and maintain HR dashboards and reporting frameworks to support decision-making.
- Establish a service-oriented HR operations model that supports managers and staff effectively.
Employee Wellbeing & Organisational Climate
- Work with Director HR & Talent Management to design and implement an organisation-wide employee wellbeing strategy addressing physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.
- Monitor the effectiveness of wellbeing initiatives through data, feedback, and engagement metrics.
- Lead employee consultation and feedback mechanisms to ensure staff voice is reflected in decision-making.
- Support initiatives that strengthen organisational culture, engagement, and retention.
Occupational Health, Safety & Safeguarding
- Ensure full compliance with Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) policy and procedure.
- Coordinate and support the Safeguarding Officers in the implementation of safeguarding policies and standards.
- Lead the OSH Committee in the implementation and monitoring of safety protocols, audits, and compliance requirements.
- Partner with Corporate Services and leadership to ensure staff safety, duty of care, and risk preparedness.
- Maintain appropriate reporting and escalation mechanisms for safety and safeguarding risks.
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
- Support the Director HR & Talent Management in leading the EDI Committee and Employee Resource Group in the implementation of the organisation’s EDI strategy across organisation programmes, HR operations, and employee lifecycle.
- Monitor and report on diversity metrics and inclusion indicators, overseeing the publication of relevant scheduled reports (e.g., Gender Pay Gap reports, EDI reports).
- Work with functional leads in HR and pillar level to respond to Soft Controls Audit feedback on EDI and embed inclusive practices across recruitment, rewards, policies, and organisational culture.
- Provide insights and recommendations to leadership to address gaps and strengthen inclusion.
HR Risk Management & Analytics
- Identify, assess, and manage HR-related risks including workforce capacity, compliance exposure, and retention risks.
- Develop and maintain HR risk dashboards and reports for senior management review.
- Analyse workforce and HR data to identify trends and recommend targeted interventions.
- Ensure alignment between HR operations data and overall organisational performance frameworks.
- Manage HR project budget ensuring that finances are utilised in line with FSD Africa's policies and procedures; monitor carefully to ensure that anticipated business benefits are realised.
- Ensure full understanding of HR-related risks and the risk management protocols that need to be in place.
- Identify and assess HR risks across the project lifecycle, including staffing continuity, compliance with local labour laws, safeguarding, and reputational risks.
- Implement all aspects of the Risk Management framework relating to HR Operations.
Stakeholder Engagement & Advisory
- Support organisational change initiatives, including restructuring, growth, and new programme implementation.
- Ensure effective communication of HR processes, policies, and updates across the organisation.
- Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders (vendors, auditors, regulators).
- Oversee internal communication efforts related to HR processes, policy rollouts, learning opportunities, and change management, ensuring clarity, transparency, and staff engagement throughout the project lifecycle.
- Act as a communication bridge between HR pillar, project leadership, and staff, ensuring feedback loops on HR operations are maintained, concerns are addressed promptly, and updates are cascaded effectively.
- Respond to routine staff queries on HR processes, policies, and entitlements; escalate complex issues as needed.
- Coordinate initiatives that promote inclusion, staff wellbeing, and constructive feedback channels across the organisation.
- Handle confidential matters with discretion.
Person Specifications
Qualifications and Education
- Master’s degree and 6 years of experience OR Bachelor’s degree and 8-10 years of experience.
- Professional qualification (e.g. CIPD or equivalent).
- Experience in managing end-to-end HR function in a multi-donor and multijurisdictional labour environment.
Essential Experience, Knowledge, and Skills
- Proven experience in HR operations leadership, including compensation, benefits, and HR systems.
- Strong experience in HR governance, compliance, and audit environments.
- Demonstrated ability to use HR data and analytics to drive decision-making.
- Experience working in a complex, multi-country or donor-funded environment is desirable.
- Strong understanding of labour laws and HR compliance requirements.
- High level of financial and analytical capability, particularly in HR cost management.
- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
