About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Mercy Corps has been present in Ethiopia since 2004 working to drive bold and transformative ideas, working closely with government, the private sector and civil society actors to build a more resilient country, ensuring that programs are responsive to and influenced by participants and stakeholders. With the launch of Mercy Corps Global Strategy, Pathway to Possibility, the country office is poised to operationalize its three-year strategy with a vision to enhance the resilience of climate- and conflict-affected communities through market systems development for improved livelihoods, access to food, and safe and clean water to thrive in the face of crises. In Ethiopia, our strategy focuses in the four outcome areas: 1) Economically marginalized populations have improved and diversified livelihoods, income, and assets; 2) Pastoralists, farmers, and households have access to sustainably produced, safe, nutritious food; 3) Social cohesion and inclusive governance processes are built in crisis-affected communities; and 4) People have equitable, sustained access to clean water and sanitation for domestic and productive use. Currently, we operate in six regional states – Afar, Gambella, Oromia, Somali, Amhara and South Ethiopia. Working with a diverse base of donors that includes United States Agency for International Development (USAID), European Union, GAC, Hilton Foundation, United Nations (UN), JOA, Sweden, EKN, and other foundations, Mercy Corps Ethiopia empowers people to recover from crisis, build better lives and transform their communities for good. 

Position Title: Human Resource Manager

Duty Station: Addis Ababa

Open Position:  1

The Department Summary

The Human Resource (HR) department is responsible for providing effective HR policies, procedures, and people-friendly guidelines and support within Mercy Corps Ethiopia, regional and global teams based in Ethiopia. This includes leading the support on talent acquisition & development; employee engagement coordination; country wide training & learning management; compensation & benefits administration; country wide performance management oversight; disciplinary & grievance handling; staff data management; staff disengagement management and third-party service provision management.

The Position Summary

Under the guidance of the Director of HR and working in collaboration with the HR team, the HR Manager is responsible for the coordination and implementation of the HR functions and will have a variety of duties, including workforce planning, talent acquisition, HR policy implementation, compensation and benefits administration, performance management, provision related HR operational support. The HR Manager will work closely and coordinate with the HR team members to ensure proper and timely coordination and implementation of HR policies and procedures.

Essential Position Responsibilities

TALENT ACQUISiTION AND ONBOARDING

• Coordinate and ensure recruitment and onboarding processes are timely, efficient, compliant and in support of the country programs.

• Revise position descriptions and advertise positions through HCM on Mercy Corps’ website.

• Shortlist candidates based on established requirements and present them to the hiring manager. Conduct interviews and provide summary notes to hiring managers then work with hiring manager to determine which candidates to invite for further interviews.

• Draft interview guides when appropriate and guidepost interview discussions, when appropriate, and help identify and execute next steps.

• Conduct reference checks and follow Mercy Corps established approval process to be able to negotiate offers.

• Utilize applicant tracking system (HCM) to manage recruitment from requisition to hire, ensuring compliance with Mercy Corps practices and applicable labour laws.

• Provide responsive, high-quality service to candidates with additional care for internal or former team members.

• Process all new hire paperwork in coordination with MC Ethiopia team.

• Develop strategic relationships with strategic hiring sources (e.g. colleges, universities, networks, associations), ensuring awareness of MC Ethiopia as a destination employer

• Conduct Talent Assessments country wide and having a pool of talent per location of work where Mercy Corps functions and are anticipating to function.

• Effect all required recruitment activities in line with set recruitment process and applicable staffing plans.

• Ensure vacancy announcement wording is current and reflects MC’s safeguarding policies and other vetting guidelines.

• Work with the Director of HR to ensure equity, diversity and inclusion policies and initiatives are reflected in the recruitment processes.

• Coordinate and ensure all offer letters and employee agreements are prepared, signed, and offered in a timely manner.

• Manage the new hire orientation program and oversee effective implementation and completion of mandatory code of conduct policies.

HUMAN RESOURCE OPERATIONS

• Coordinate the HR operations of MC Ethiopia.

• Provide timely strategic support to supervisors and staff regarding HR services, policies, and procedures.

• Support the Director of HR in improving the people’s experience across the country programs.

• Ensure proper, timely and compliant contracts and contracts administration across the organization.

• Participate within HR team to share ideas, develop standard practices and implement best practices across Mercy Corps Ethiopia.

• Support and work closely with the Director of HR to ensure compliance with all internal policies and procedures as well as external regulatory concerns and applicable labour laws. 

• Support the Director of HR in implementation of HR initiatives and solve people management issues in a manner that complements the organization’s HR priorities.

• Ensure that personnel and job files are maintained to the required level in line with MC rules and regulations and are up-to-date.

• Assist with all internal and external audit requests relating to staff files and benefits.

• Update regularly and maintain the program and departments organizational charts.

• Maintain the position descriptions library for all program positions.

• Maintain up-to-date information on People data

REWARD and benefits administration

• Coordinate the rewards and benefits administration of MC Ethiopia.

• Support the Director of HR with consolidating national staff payroll changes and documentation.

• Process all benefit enrolments for staff relating to medical insurance, life and accident cover and the pension scheme.

• Ensure appropriate supporting documentation are in place at the time of administering benefits and reconciliation of debit and credit notes for payment processing.

• Support the Director of HR in the coordination of the annual benefits renewal processes.

• Escalate staff benefits issues to the supervisor as needed and coordinate appropriate follow-up.

• Monitor and schedule individual salary actions and assist in implementing salary adjustment.

• Ensure terminations and clearance of exited team members’ benefits with insurance service providers.

TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Oversee and manage the field HR team ensuring prompt and consistent service to Mercy Corps Ethiopia team members.

• Encourage the ongoing development of the Human Resources staff.

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.

• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.

• Supervise, hire and orient new team members as necessary.

• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.

• 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.

GEDSI (GENDER, EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL INCLUSION)

• Support the organization’s commitment to age and gender inclusive team building process.

• Promote an inclusive and equitable workplace culture.

• Increase staff knowledge of GEDSI

Supervisory Responsibility

HR Officers and senior officers

Accountability

Reports Directly To: HR Director

Works Directly With: HR team, Finance teams, Operations, Program Teams and partner organizations, other Mercy Corps staff

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• A bachelor’s degree in human resource management, Business Administration, or related field with relevant experience.

• Professional Certification in Human Resource Management

• 5 years’ experience with at least 2 years’ experience of progressive and hands-on HR generalist experience evident in multiple human resource disciplines, including compensation practices, organizational diagnosis, employee and union relations, diversity, performance management, and relevant employment laws.

• Previous experience with the INGO sector supporting a large country portfolio is required.

• Demonstrated experience working in a high-volume context and complex recruitment environment.

• Proficiency in MS Office, HR Information Management and applicant tracking systems is required.

• Ability to communicate, influence and problem solve effectively across diverse cultures and geographical distances with sensitivity.

• Fluency in written and spoken English.

• Solid communication skills and decision-making capabilities based on analytical skills and critical thought processes.

Success Factors

The successful candidate is a problem solver, who is adept in successfully dealing with issues of complexity. They are a skilled communicator, able to develop strong relationships with stakeholders. They will be skilled at approaching complex problems and breaking down solutions into clear, actionable action steps. They will be able to work effectively and collaboratively, as a member of a highly visible team, whose performance is key to the ensuring success of Mercy Corps. They will have the ability to manage a wide variety of projects and maintain a focus on continuous improvement. They will also have a commitment to positive customer services and be able to navigate difficult conversation with both hiring managers and candidates as needed.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with regular travels to the field. This position requires up to 20% of travel by air and road to field offices in relatively secure environments.

Mercy Corps team members represent the agency both during and outside work hours when deployed in a field posting or on a visit/TDY to a field posting. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

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 is 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 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 on the basis of 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.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

How to apply:

• Register using the following link CLICK HERE

All qualified individuals are invited to apply for the advertised position. All applications, including a CV, three references, and all applicable official papers, must be sent electronically.

Only candidates that are short-listed will be acknowledged and called for interviews.

“Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer promoting gender, equity and    diversity. Qualified female and young candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. We are committed to empower women and youth.”

DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS: 16 December 2023/ 4:00 PM