Senior HR Officer (Maternity Cover)

Job Summary

The Senior HR Officer (Maternity Cover) delivers HR administrative services, regional coordination, and Workday data management for WRI Africa in Kigali. This officer coordinates recruitment for Rwanda and the Congo Basin, processes employment contracts, maintains employee files, manages Workday lifecycle updates, guides staff on HR policies, and ensures labor law compliance across regional offices.

Key Roles & Operational Responsibilities

1. HR Operations & Workday Data Management (45%)

• Employee Lifecycle Administration: Manage day-to-day HR records, personnel files, leave tracking, benefits logistics, and contract documentation (offer letters, extensions, confirmations, and promotions).
• Workday Focal Point: Direct Workday HRIS transactions across employee lifecycles, including new hires, transfers, compensation adjustments, contract renewals, terminations, and data integrity audits.
• Vendor & Partner Liaison: Coordinate with medical insurance providers, pension funds, legal counsel, consultants, and Employer of Record (EoR) partners to ensure timely execution.

2. Regional Coordination & Stakeholder Support (30%)

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with regional People & Culture colleagues, Operations, Finance, and global HR units across matrixed teams.
• Multi-Country Support: Support remote HR service delivery across regional country teams, maintaining consistent communication and process documentation during the cover period.

3. HR Policy, Compliance & Employee Relations (15%)

• Policy Guidance: Provide first-line guidance to managers and staff regarding WRI HR policies, benefits, leave structures, and probation timelines.
• Labor Compliance: Monitor contract milestones and ensure adherence to local labor laws and internal guidelines in Rwanda and supported Congo Basin markets.
• Employee Relations: Provide confidential, initial support on employee relations matters, escalating complex grievances appropriately.

4. Talent Acquisition & Onboarding (10%)

• Recruitment Operations: Support recruitment for Rwanda and Congo Basin positions, coordinating job postings, candidate screening, interview scheduling, reference checks, and offer processing.
• Onboarding & Orientation: Organize new hire orientation, system provisioning, policy briefings, and documentation for new staff and interns.

Foundational Capabilities & Prerequisites

Required Technical Profile & Experience

• Educational Baseline: Completed Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Non-Profit Management, Public Administration, or a related field, paired with an HR qualification at diploma level or professional certification.
• Professional Track Record: 5+ years of relevant professional experience in generalist HR administration, ideally within an international non-profit or matrixed global organization.
• HRIS Proficiency: Hands-on experience navigating and managing transactions in Workday or equivalent HRIS platforms.
• Language Skills: Written and spoken proficiency in both English and French.
• Labor Law & Systems: Practical understanding of labor laws, contract structures, and HR policy development.
• Work Authorization: Existing valid work authorization in Rwanda is mandatory (WRI cannot sponsor work visas for this role).

What WRI Offers

• Global Impact & Network: Access to WRI's global network spanning Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the US.
• Flexible Work Model: Hybrid / Office Flex structure with flexible working hours.
• Inclusive Mission: Dynamic workplace centered on diversity, equity, inclusion, and environmental sustainability.

Skills Required:

• Hr / Public / Admin
• Sales / Marketing / Business / Management