Human Resources Officer, South Africa

Room to Read seeks to transform the lives of millions of children in developing countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Working in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations and governments, we develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children, and support girls to complete secondary school with the relevant life skills to succeed in school and beyond.

We are non-governmental, non-religious and work with many local NGOs and community based organizations to implement our programs. We currently work in Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Vietnam, and Zambia – countries with a desperate lack of resources to educate their children. Since our inception, Room to Read’s worldwide team has impacted over 5 million children by constructing more than 1,400 schools, establishing over 11,000 libraries, publishing 550 new children’s book titles in 22 local languages, and putting over 10,000 girls onto long-term, holistic scholarships.

Room to Read has an annual budget of approximately US$38 million and our global staff numbers over 420. Our global headquarters is located in San Francisco, and we have smaller fundraising offices in Delhi, New York, Hong Kong, London, Mumbai, Sydney, and Tokyo. We have an Asia Regional Office located in New Delhi, a Southern Africa Regional Office in Pretoria, and program offices in Colombo, Dhaka, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Kathmandu, Lusaka, New Delhi, Pretoria, Phnom Penh, Vientiane, and we are setting up operations and hiring staff for a new office in Tanzania.

Position Overview:

The Human Resources Officer is a member of the management team and s/he is required to manage the human resources department, overseeing administration of hiring, retention, staff development, termination, personnel records, legal compliance, compensation, benefits, and long-term staffing strategies. Responsibilities include development and administration of personnel rules and regulations, compensation and job classification structure, and programs for employee training, safety, health, and morale. This position will report to the Country Director and will supervise associates reporting directly to him/her.

Duties & Responsibilities:

A. Development of HR Strategies, Policies, Systems and Plans

• Design, operate, coordinate and monitor operational systems for managing necessary human resource functions to implement the approved policies.
• Review and develop personnel policies and revise as necessary based on the standard Global Office/Regional Officer HR policies,
• Identify labor related legal requirements and government reporting regulations affecting HR functions. Prepare information requested or required for compliance. Approve all information submitted. Act as a primary contact with the concerned department of the Government with respect to the human resource issues.
• Update position descriptions in the organization according to the need in consultation with the respective line managers at the Global and Regional Offices.
• Maintain employee database in Salesforce.com.

B. Planning and staffing for human resource needs

• Develop and maintain human resource information system to utilize and feed information for major human resource decisions in the organization.
• Establish standard recruiting and placement practices and procedures as suggested and directed by Global and Regional Offices.
• Ensure an appropriate level of human resourcing to meet the existing and anticipated business needs of Room to Read South Africa.
• Provide necessary education and materials to line managers and employees including workshops, manuals, employee hand books and standardized reports.

C. Management and development of staff performance

• Review, develop and implement effective employee performance management system and train the line managers / supervisors and provide advice and support for performance management issues and assist them in implementing performance appraisal,
• Implement a training and development process to ensure that appropriate development needs are met on a timely and cost effective basis.
• Organize and coordinate both in house and off-site staff training and development programs to meet the identified development needs.
• Direct a process of organizational development that primarily addresses succession planning throughout the organization,
• Coordinate activities throughout the organization across the department lines.

D. Develop, Effective Employee Relations Program

• Review wage and salary structure, pay policies, employee benefit programs; Security, safety and health program.
• Develop compensation and benefit policy and practices to ensure that staffs are rewarded in line with both general market practice and individual performance level.
• Determine and recommend employee relations practices necessary to establish positive employee-employee relationships and employee-employer relationship
• To ensure that the organizations and the employee’s interests are protected and the policies/ practices of the organization are legally compliant.
• Recommend for disciplinary actions and termination as per the personal policy guidelines
• Reviews employee appeals through compliant procedure.

E. Meetings/Networking

• Participate and conduct meetings with relevant Human Resource Management organizations
• Represent Room to Read at relevant meetings and occasionally assist in hosting key donor visits
• Provide regular updates on HR activities and plans at regular meetings with management staff

Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree with minimum of five years of professional experience in an HR position or Master’s degree (MBA) with minimum of three years of professional experience in an HR position
• Experience in successful implementation of a wide range of responsibilities in a prior administrative or human resources position
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English and local language
• Prior success working closely and building relationships with diverse groups of people
• Effectiveness in working or volunteering in a non-profit organization that is focused on maintaining high quality work and low overhead
• Prior experience in a fast-paced, growth-oriented global or regional organization
• Proven track record of achieving results
• Ability to juggle multiple priorities simultaneously and take initiative

Preferred:

• 3-5 years related experience in Human Resources and accounting experience in a managerial position, preferably in an INGO
• Experience developing and overseeing the Human Resources department in INGO/organization
• Strong planning, supervisory, and management skills

To be successful as a member of the Room to Read team, you will also:

• Have a passion for our mission and a strong desire to impact dynamic non-profit organization
• Be an innovative and creative thinker; you’re not afraid to try something new and inspire others to do so
• Have a very high level of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness
• Have a strong work ethic and require minimal direction
• Work well independently as well as part of a team
• Thrive in a fast-paced and fun environment

Compensation:

The salary range for this position will be determined based upon the experience of the candidate hired. Health benefits are also provided. The non-monetary compensation includes a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, meaningful, fun, and rapidly growing organization that is changing the world through literacy and gender equality in education.

Application Procedure:

Please send a cover letter and resume by email, with “HR Officer” in the subject line (no letters, calls, faxes, or drop-ins) to southafrica@roomtoread.org. Due to high applicant volume you may not receive a response from Room to Read. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. In order to get more information about what we do, please visit our website at www.roomtoread.org.

Room to Read is an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing
the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds.