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 collaborate 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 Niger since 2005, focusing its interventions on improving food security, livelihoods, gender, social cohesion, governance and emergency response outcomes. Mercy Corps has also been working in Burkina Faso since 2016 with activities in conflict research and livestock programming. Our work in these areas contributes to local communities’ resilience to shocks and stresses and enables them to achieve long-term, inclusive and equitable development. Mercy Corps’ vision for change requires the private sector, government and civil society to work together to create meaningful and sustainable change. Mercy Corps is currently implementing 11 development and humanitarian programs with a budget of more than $62 million. The current team in Niger is composed of 100 national and 10 international team members, while the Burkina Faso team currently counts 25 national and four international team members
Program / Department Summary
The Human Resource / Administrative Department is responsible for providing effective HR / Admin policies, procedures, and people-friendly guidelines and support within Mercy Corps Niger and Burkina Faso. This includes but is not limited to lead the support on: Talent Acquisition & development; employee engagement coordination; countrywide training & learning management; compensation & benefits administration; countrywide performance management oversight; disciplinary & grievance handling; staff data management; staff disengagement management and third party service provision management; guest / expat house management, and protocol / admin support
General Position Summary
The HR Admin Director provides leadership of the human resource and administrative department at Mercy Corps Niger and Burkina Faso. S/he ensures the overall provision of a high-level standard of HR services, policies, and programs. This includes developing, implementing and managing HR and Admin processes and procedures in accordance with local policy laws / standards; leadership of the HR & Admin team; supporting the driving of initiatives and projects in support of the Global People Team strategy and that the country teams are as content and productive as possible at all times; and ensuring HR and Admin documentation is compliant with all donor policies. The HR Admin Director also builds the capacity of all team members across the country teams. S/he provides support and advises the Country Director on HR issues. The HR Admin Director works closely with all staff including Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Program Managers to bring efficiency in HR procedures.
Essential Job Responsibilities
STRATEGIC OVERSIGHT
Support the Country Director to set direction by prioritizing and organizing actions & resources to achieve objectives and contribute to countrywide strategy development.
Develop and implement a country People Strategy for Mercy Corps Niger/Burkina Faso and liaise with HQ, regional and country offices to support and contribute to global/regional People/HR strategy;
Establish annual HR work plan, set priorities, monitor work progress and ensure results are achieved according to schedule and set standards;
Implement the human resources management component of the country strategic plan.
Advise departments on organizational structure challenges and improvements.
Strategic oversight of all HR processes inclusive of Talent acquisition and development, Recruitment & Selection, performance management, Compensation and benefits, Employee relations, HR Policy and processes, grievances and counselling and stakeholder Management.
Strategic oversight of all Mercy Corps Admin processes inclusive of managing protocols, administration, guesthouses, legal support to Operations team and to the entire mission.
HUMAN RESOURCES
Develop, implement and monitor the interpretation and application of new human resources systems, practices and procedures.
Work closely with country HR teams to integrate assigned staff into existing policies and procedures. When needed, develop complementary procedures that reflect the needs of programming, while maintaining compliance with locally applicable HR laws and regulations.
Make sure that the National Employee Handbooks for staff operating is updated and revised in line with latest Labor Law. Make sure that additional clarity is given to the National Employee Handbook in order to provide needed details.
Remain informed, on an ongoing basis, about current and changing HR related laws, policies and “best practices” to ensure that current and future personnel policies, employment practices, and compensation packages are within the limits of established standards, procedures, guidelines and policies of Mercy Corps, as well as national laws
Lead the performance management process.
Perform annual and probationary period performance checks, use budgets to organize training, and work individually with managers and employees to create countrywide development plans.
Ensure onboarding and induction for team members before the end of their first week, including online training in collaboration with the headquarters team.
Provide regular review and proper application of staff compensation and financial benefit levels;
Ensure appropriate training and development of staff.
Manage national benefit plans, communicate updates and conduct information campaigns for national staff.
Ensure that standard staff data is stored appropriately, updated in personnel files on time.
Oversee the administration of human resources, guarantee 100% compliance with applicable labor laws, and consult a local lawyer if necessary.
Lead all employee relations with professional grace in order to give employees and supervisors the tools and resources necessary to resolve conflicts with mutual respect. Act as an impartial mediator if necessary.
Monitor the application of the code of conduct, participate in or co-direct labor relations surveys and ensure that problems are resolved and that appropriate follow-up is carried out in collaboration with project managers.
Support supervisors in determining appropriate, consistent and judicious disciplinary measures in accordance with local labor law.
Using available HR data work with the team to deploy annual employee surveys to promote employee engagement within our offices;
Support management’s goal of continuous capacity development of national team members through the provision of internal and external training;
Manage layoffs or reorganizations in partnership with the SMT, supervisors and regional human resources, with a focus on compliance, due diligence, communications and staff care.
Coordinate with the HR Managers in Niger/Burkina Faso during internal compliance activities including of routine audits, investigations and disciplinary meetings;
Alongside our legal counsel in each country, support the management of all human resource related legal issues in compliance with the labor law.
TEAM MANAGEMENT
Develop capacity of HR team members
Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback and assist team members with information, tools and resources to improve performance and reach objectives;
Schedule and lead quarterly all-staff meetings and hold regular meetings with the staff delegates.
Support implementation and adherence to new policies and systems, and ensure staff acceptance.
Assist the program team and departments to understand their roles and responsibilities in terms of interaction with the Human Resources department include trainings, regular coordination meetings, problem solving and necessary planning activities to ensure effective and timely program implementation.
Ensure high level of trust and communication among field offices and HR staff in the field.
RECRUITMENT, ONBOARDING & PLACEMENT
Continuously assess and refine the recruitment process; through the recruitment software and develop waiting lists of candidates, create networks and actively use innovative and creative recruitment methods to attract and hire the best talent.
Ensure recruiting and hiring practices complies with government regulations and organizational policies.
Work with the Department and Program Directors to ensure all hiring requests are completed according to Recruiting Policies and Procedures.
Ensure that exit process for staff departing Mercy Corps is conducted in line with the HR policies and Mercy Corps requirements.
Work with the SLT, department heads and program managers to ensure org charts for programs and operations exist and positions are covered within budgets. Ensuring strategic reviews of org structure by team/dept. are conducted on a semi-regular basis and recommendations on adjustments provided as required.
Oversee the management and archiving of recruitment related exchanges between hiring teams, HR, and candidates.
In liaison with HQ, organize and help with the onboarding process for new hires and for the existing staff.
Ensure that orientation is conducted for each new hired national and expatriate staff.
Lead on developing and implementing consistent systems of new staff induction, and service requests between HR and other departments.
COmpensation & Benefits
Provide innovative country level compensation philosophy
Ensure all country staff are covered on all relevant insurances
Review salary scales & benefits packages and benchmark against the market on every two-year basis and ensuring that our salary / benefits package are competitive
Ensure all merit based pay increases are done as and when required
Conduct job evaluations on new and existing positions and manage country wide job audits to ensure equity and competitiveness within the job market
Provide required support during assigned expatriate recruitment activities
ADMINISTRATION & LEGAL ASPECTS
Approve the identification of new guesthouses/office building as needed and support the Admin team to manage contractual negotiations and arrangements with property owners.
Ensure accommodation in Niamey and Ouagadougou for all incoming staff and visitors, in either Mercy Corps housing or hotel.
Support the Admin team to ensure that all official documents such as visas and identification of international personnel are secured and renewed in a timely manner and the list of pending visas and other official documents is updated weekly.
Ensure that Mercy Corps obtains all necessary registrations, permissions and documentation for smooth operation of Mercy Corps in Niger and Burkina Faso, and ensure renewal as necessary in a timely manner.
Advise heads of department on the current best HR Admin practices, as well as current legislation relating to tax laws, visas, travel restrictions, customs services and labor code,
Advise the Country Director, heads of projects and other management staff on government policies and procedures, the taxation system and the interaction with the government.
In close coordination with the Lawyer, ensure that Mercy Corps’ staff regulations, contracts, documentation, policies and procedures are in line with the laws of Niger and Burkina Faso and in compliance with Mercy Corps and donor regulations.
Ensure that any process that is legally binding Mercy Corps’ office is as riskless as possible.
Coordinate office/work spaces between the HR and Operations departments to foster a harmonious work environment that reinforces Mercy Corps’ culture of innovation, influence and impact.
ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING
- As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.
ACCOUNTABILITY TO BENEFICIARIES
- Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Supervisory Responsibility: The HR / Admin Department and teams
Accountability
Reports Directly to: Country Director
Works Directly with: Country Leadership / SLT Team, Head of Offices, Africa HR Field Leaders, Africa Global HR
Knowledge and Experience
Bachelor degree or equivalent in relevant field, masters preferred
6- 10 years of professional HR experience, including at least 5 years as a senior manager or business partner, preferably in the NGO sector.
Experience managing or advising a multi-national HR function.
Demonstrated experience in promoting and leading organizational learning, culture and wellbeing.
Demonstrated understanding of complex emergencies, related security concerns, and appropriate responses to such emergencies.
Understanding and experience navigating multiple regulatory sources (labor laws, donor requirements, etc.) and developing HR policies and procedures that ensure compliance with each.
Experience in the deployment and management of HR systems;
Knowledge of donor regulations including USAID, EC, and DFID regulations is an added advantage.
Demonstrated understanding of complex operating environments, related security concerns and appropriate responses.
Demonstrated attention to detail, following procedures, meeting deadlines and working and problem solving independently and cooperatively.
Excellent negotiation and representation skills.
Effective verbal and written communication, organizational, prioritization and Microsoft Office applications.
Excellent oral and written in French and English skills required.
Ability to work effectively with an ethnically diverse team in a sensitive environment.
Success Factors
The successful HR & Admin Director will be good at problem solving and have the ability to work out methods to deliver successful programs while demonstrating excellent stewardship of donor funds and compliance with Mercy Corps and donor regulations. S/he will maintain strong cooperative relationships with other departments and interact effectively with international and national personnel both in a managerial as well as training and mentoring capacity, while demonstrating the ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities. S/he will be able to live and work closely with a diverse team of individuals in a highly intense and fluid work and security environment and be willing to travel regularly to Mercy Corps field offices and project sites. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.
Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions
The HR & Admin Director is a national position and will be based in either Niamey, Niger or Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
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 because 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 meet 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.**