REGIONAL PEOPLE & CULTURE LEAD

Position Summary

The Regional People & Culture Lead is a key leadership role as well as hands-on role that provides strategic and day to day HR advisory and technical support to the West & Central Africa (WCA) and East & Southern Africa (ESA) Regions.

In this role, the position primarily focus will be on the implementation of HR strategies, processes and policies, as well as work to proactively strategize business solutions while ensuring the day-to-day HR operational needs are met in the region.

RESPONSIBILITIES

HR Business Partnering 40%

• Establish and manage relationships with Regional Directors and Country Manager(s) within assigned region to support MEDA’s overall business and P&C strategy/objectives.
• Provide advice and guidance to regional leadership in meeting their business goals from a P&C perspective, including leading end-to-end recruitment, onboarding and related administrative tasks.
• Provide guidance to leadership as it relates to employee relations issues, e.g., disciplinary actions, etc. May also support Director, P&C with their Business Partnering responsibilities.
• Coach managers on their duties and opportunities in P&C matters including performance management, employee engagement, turnover, etc.
• Owns and manages end-to-end employee life cycle.
• Perform employee onboarding and offboarding processes, including documentation, orientation, and exit interviews.
• In consultation with people leaders, address employee concerns and conflicts, escalating complex issues to Director, P&C or VP, P&C.
• Collaborate with P&C team members to foster positive employee relations and maintain a conducive work environment.
• Support ongoing global employee engagement initiatives within the Region, such as employee surveys and other mechanisms to “listen” to staff and identify improvement areas for the business.
• Partner across the P&C team and with clients to apply effective performance management, learning and compensation practices to impact engagement, and ensure Country P&C Lead(s) are trained and encouraged to drive these initiatives locally.

HR Leadership 30%

• Provide leadership, guidance and direction to Country P&C Lead(s) around HR programs, policies, and practices, ensuring compliance with organization, country, donor and legal requirements.
• Stay up to date on changes in employment laws, etc., within assigned region(s)
• Collaborate with Director P&C and VP P&C on files or projects as required

P&C Operations 15%

• Ensure HRIS data accuracy and timeliness for assigned regions/country offices by coordinating prompt updates for hires, changes, transfers, and separations.
• Collaborate with P&C team members to prioritize, develop and deliver services and products that add value to MEDA departments, regions and countries offices, in support of MEDA’s strategy
• Contribute to P&C budgeting process
• Manage employee relations cases end-to-end in partnership with the VP, People & Culture, ensuring confidentiality, rigor, fair process, and thorough documentation.

Compliance and Policy Implementation 15%

• Ensure compliance with P&C policies, procedures, and legal regulations across region(s)
• Respond to line manager and employee inquiries and provide guidance on P&C policies, procedures, and programs.
• Implement and communicate P&C policies and programs including updates to the employee handbook.
• Support country-level policy updates and rollout, and track employee policy acknowledgements/sign-offs to ensure completion and audit-ready records (HRIS and/or personnel files).
• Stay updated on employment laws and regulations to provide accurate information and support to employees.

REQUIREMENTS 

Education:  Bachelor’s degree in human resources management or post-grad certificate in Human Resources Management from an accredited university or college

Experience:  

• 7 to 9 years of progressive HR/People & Culture experience, with increasing responsibility in HR business partnering, employee relations, and HR operations.
• Demonstrated experience supporting senior leaders and coaching people managers.
• Proven track record managing the full employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and employee relations casework.
• Experience navigating multi-country or regional HR environments and ensuring compliance with diverse legal frameworks.
• Prior experience leading or supporting HR teams (e.g., Country P&C Leads) is an asset.
• Strong background in implementing HR policies, processes, and engagement initiatives.

Skills and Competencies: 

• Must be fluent in English written and spoken with an added advantage if they are also fluent in French written and spoken. 
• Strong knowledge of HR operations, employment laws, and employee relations.
• Skilled in performance management, engagement, compensation, and learning processes.
• Proficient in coaching leaders and resolving workplace issues.
• Experience leading HR teams and implementing policies across multiple regions.
• Familiarity with HR systems, documentation, and compliance management.
• Must have intermediate experience in MS office programs, including Excel and PPT 
• Appreciation of and commitment to MEDA’s mission, vision, and values 
  
  
• Understanding and appreciation of business principles, international development and MEDA’s approach of creating business solutions to poverty