People and Culture (HR) Officer at Search for Common Ground

Search for Common Ground (Search) is an international non-profit organization that promotes the peaceful transformation of conflict. With headquarters in Washington, DC, and Brussels, Belgium, Search’s mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict—moving away from destructive approaches and towards cooperative solutions. With more than 700 staff worldwide, Search implements projects in more than 30 African countries, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and North America.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: People and Culture (HR) Officer

Location: Port Harcourt, Rivers
Employment type: Full-time
Reports to: Head of People and Culture
Department: Operation

Position Summary

• We are seeking an experienced People and Culture Officer for its operations in the Niger Delta Region.
• The role is expected to contribute to the delivery of human resource support for the Niger Delta Region and the Country program. The role is expected to infuse organizational values into all work.
• The role will report to the Head of the People and Culture unit and is expected to work with the People and Culture team, Niger Delta, and the entire Country team.
• The position holders will be based in Rivers State.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Reinforce Search for Common Ground’s regulations, policies, processes, procedures, and standards to uphold Human Resources compliance and confidentiality.
• Maintain knowledge of Search for Common Ground’s policies, procedures, standards,  Code of Conduct, country-specific labor laws, and Human Resources best practices.  
• Contribute to the maintenance and accuracy of employee data for metrics, data analysis, reporting, and other People and Culture programmatic and decision-making activities
• Reinforce effectiveness of labor law compliance and processes supporting HR programs including but not limited to onboarding, performance management, change management, management, recruitment, offboarding, learning and development, benefits, pay, and offboarding. 
• Ensure payroll process flow is integrated with the Finance department

Contributions - People and Culture Operations:

• Respond to routine Human Resources requests including benefits administration, compensation, recruitment and selection, employee relations, performance management, policies and procedures, etc. with limited supervision.
• Relay non-routine requests to the manager. 
• Conduct periodic checks on Human Resources operations systems, processes, and procedures for effectiveness and efficiency.
• Recommend corrective actions to Human Resources operations systems, processes, and procedures to improve effectiveness and efficiency. 
• Participate in the review of Human Resources policies and procedures, guidelines, and processes to improve effectiveness and efficiency.
• Ensure employee information is accurate and updated in the Human Resources Information System (HRIS) including contract end dates, line managers, salaries, position titles, etc.
• Ensure accurate paper and electronic files are maintained including, employee files, recruitment files, performance management, leave tracking, letter/contract management, etc.
• Participate in employee relations, performance management, compensation, and benefits administration matters, etc. with supervision

Human Resources Programs and Initiatives:

• Partner with the Regional People and Culture  Business Partner for work processes that support pay reviews for internal equity and market trend monitoring and resulting recommendations, as well as collaboration for following guidance for promotions, transfers, and position reclassifications.
• Facilitate a full recruiting process, including and not limited to advertising open positions, shortlisting candidate resumes, distributing relevant information, scheduling interviews, collecting interview notes/feedback, and reference checks. 
• Collaborate on creating new employee contracts, 
• Facilitate new employee orientation and onboarding, including and not limited to collaborating with other departments, announcements, orientation schedules, and orientation packets.
• Collaborate on a full performance review process including and not limited to announcements, tracking completed reviews, collecting final reviews, etc. 
• Participate in identifying staff development and training opportunities. 

Payroll Process Flow:

• Collaborate with Finance department on payroll process flow including but not limited leave reconciliation, salary adjustments, and adding/removing employees to/from the payroll systems
• Review payroll for accuracy including but not limited to salary adjustments and leave requests. 

Competency Behavior Indicators (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Initiates brainstorming or problem-solving meetings. With time in the job, develops skills for analyzing and communicating program successes and failures; reports lessons learned to the team and other members.
• Represents Search at local and international events and meetings for professional organizations, vendors, partners, and funders. Develops skills to independently initiate and maintain relations with vendors, partners, and funders. Articulates Search program/project goals and objectives within Search and to external audiences.
• Demonstrates appreciation for the diversity of thought. Builds cross-functional relationships with other functional departments.
• Demonstrates ability to be adaptable and willing to confront and change own ideas and preconceptions with the resiliency and flexibility to make changes based on hearing a diversity of thoughts.
• Draft team documents, briefing materials, and presentations. Articulates program/project objectives and how they fit into a team’s goals and/or Search’s mission and adapts to the communications setting.
• Applies standards, identifies areas for standardization, and coordinates across functions from a multicultural perspective that reflects consideration of other cultures, other viewpoints, and other ways of doing things.
• Takes into account the environmental landscape, assesses one's own and others' viewpoints in their environment, and proposes solutions from an ethical perspective.
• Recognizes the options available for solving problems, conducts analyses, and calculates metrics and other technical tools to support informed decision-making.
• Conducts Quality Control of team documents, briefing materials, presentations, and systems data. Carefully reviews and checks the accuracy of information in work reports, management information systems, or with other individuals and groups. Checks the accuracy of one’s own and others’ work. Proactively informs management of potential risks and concerns; suggests resolutions.
• Independently prioritizes time to reach deadlines and reaches end results of assignments with the ability to accomplish multiple steps with limited to no supervision.

Coordination, Representation and relations with HQ:

• Routinely coordinates with colleagues and consultants on-site and in the field and resolves problem situations with tact.
• Represents, as assigned, selected programs or projects and other organizations, including donors, vendors, and international and local partners.
• Interacts with the US office, country office, and regional staff.

Educational Qualification and Experience

• A Degree in Conflict Resolution, Peace Studies, Peacebuilding, Conflict Management, or a relevant field;
• Strong command of the English language, with excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal communication skills;
• A demonstrated commitment to high professional ethical standards and a diverse workplace; and
• Ability to prioritize, plan and organize workflow to tight timeframes, handle multiple tasks, and be flexible with changing priorities.
• At least three (3) years of experience in supporting the delivery of Human Resource functions in the non-profit and NGO sector
• Some level of experience with using HR software and tools;
• Ability to work under extreme pressure in a highly stressful environment;
• Willingness to keep abreast of new developments in the Human Resource field;
• Basic financial management skills;

Supervisory and Budget Responsibility:

• May supervise one or more interns.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply

Important Information and Notice

• Interested candidates should send their Current resume and Cover Letter (which includes expectations of compensation and projected start date)
• Only applicants invited for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please. 
• As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.

Application Deadline 25th August, 2023