About CRS

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding. For nearly 60 years, CRS has taken the lead in responding to natural and man-made disasters affecting Ethiopia's most vulnerable communities. Moving beyond emergency response, CRS' disaster mitigation and recovery projects in drought and flood-prone areas have rebuilt individual and community assets through non-food aid in the form of agriculture, livestock, health, nutrition, and water and sanitation assistance. CRS's humanitarian work in Ethiopia also provides livelihoods support to farmers and entrepreneurs, promotes equality and inclusion, and mitigates the impact of COVID-19.

As part of CRS family, you will join the more than 5000 strong and vibrant individuals working globally to accomplish the mission of CRS. CRS/Ethiopia invites you, the qualified candidate, to apply for the following position.

Job Title:                        Head of Human Resources

Band:                              X

Required number:        One

Department:                 Operations

Employment Term:      Indefinite term 

Reports To:                    Deputy Country Representative Operations

Country/Location:        CRS Ethiopia/Addis Abba

Job Summary:

The Head of HR will provide overall strategic HR direction and will assist the Country Program’ (CP) efforts in strategic workforce planning, recruitment, talent development, employee relations, retention, and orientation/onboarding in support of high-quality programs serving the poor and vulnerable. This position will technically supervise and work with all in country HR staff to strengthen the HR management capacity throughout the CP and will institute the use of CRS HR management standards and good HR industry systems, processes, and practices.

Roles and Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic guidance and coaching to guide senior management, HR Officers, and supervisors to mitigate risks on complex HR issues, in identifying, understanding and implementing county-program policies and practices related to workforce planning, REDI, safeguarding, performance, discipline, positive employee relations and related topics.  

• Advise CP’s senior management, project leads and HR department on organization and staffing structures, organization effectiveness and change management, inclusion, diversity, HR Reports and Workforce Analytics.

• Lead the development of CRS/Ethiopia’s HR strategies by identifying and researching human resources issues; contributing information, analysis, and recommendations to organization strategic thinking and direction; establishing human resources objectives in line with CP objectives.

• Consult with CP leadership on the Performance Management process, understand and leverage Talent Management, coach employees and managers on employee relations, performance management workplace practice and policy issues.

• Monitor, review, and analyze the impact and effectiveness of HR management programs, processes, and services throughout the CP including all sub-offices and provide expert guidance, advice, coaching, and technical support in the implementation of sustainable improvement solutions.

• Understand CRS’ compensation practices and policies and improve compensation policy understanding across the country program. Lead on assessing professional development needs of HR staff and ensure focused plans for mentoring and capacity building to strengthen HR service quality and career development.

• Lead CP management efforts in ensuring culture alignment with CRS mission and guiding principles, where dignity, diversity, community and rights and responsibilities of all staff are valued.

• Act as the CP liaison with the region and a key point of contact on all HR-related matters. Provide analytical reports on HR data, metrics, and trends. Contribute to the agency’s Human Resources Community of Practice and CRS global HR agenda.

• Perform HR audits to ensure HR systems, policies, processes, and practices meet agency, donor, and local legal requirements and standards and support operational excellence.

• Manage HR processes and activities to ensure they meet latest agency, donor, and local legal requirements and standards and reflect best practices.

• In collaboration with the Regional People Officer, develop and implement trainings to ensure our agency culture exemplifies “respect for human dignity”, embrace compliance to improve employee relations and engagement, enhance team morale and improve agency performance in support of 2030 strategy. 

• Lead training and professional development needs assessment and analysis and ensure the provision of focused and precise development programs for CRS staff and partners.

• Ensure staff retention strategies reflect competitive and equitable compensation and benefits and a work environment that fosters staff engagement, empowerment through proper supervision, and personal and professional growth.

• Act as the CP’s key point of contact, internally and externally, on all HR-related matters. Represent the organization in forums related to HR management issues to stay abreast of standards, local laws, and industry best practices and to maintain peer contacts.

• Oversee record keeping through personnel files and/or Insight that adheres to required CRS, donor, and local law regulations. As needed provide analytical reports on HR-related data, metrics and trends to support decision-making, workforce planning and development.

Job Requirements

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management or Business Administration required. Master’s degree in HR Management, Business Administration or Organizational Development preferred.

• Law degree desirable

• Minimum of seven years’ work experience in HR, including emergency responses, with at least five in a senior management role with an international organization, with strong knowledge of HR best practices and standards. HR Experience outside of Ethiopia with similar International NGOs will be a plus.

• At least three of these years managing an HR function including staff management experience.

•  Strong knowledge of HR best practices and standards.

• Experience with and demonstrated ability to analyze, interpret and advice on employment laws, regulations, policies, principles, concepts, and practices for various countries.

• Proven experience in presenting, facilitating, coaching, and capacity building on HR topics.

• Proven experience in developing talent management strategy

Required Languages – English and Amharic

Travel – must be able and willing to travel at least 50% of the time to field locations in the country.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong relations management abilities. Ability to relate to people at all levels internally and externally. Strategic in how they approach each relationship. 

• Experience in project management and change management (HR projects).

• Experience in safeguarding desired, including investigating safeguarding matters, and training staff on safeguarding

• Excellent strategic and analytical skills with ability to make sound judgment and decisions

• Very good planning, monitoring and organizational skills

• Able to maintain confidential information

• Proactive, resourceful, solutions oriented and results-oriented

• Strong customer service orientation with excellent communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills ‘

Preferred Qualifications

• Additional education may substitute for some experience.

• Experience with and demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret employment laws, regulations, policies, principles, concepts, and practices. Thorough knowledge of the local labor law.

• Strong experience in presenting, facilitating, and coaching on HR topics.

• Experience using MS Windows and MS Office packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Web Conferencing Applications, HRIS.

Agency-wide Competencies (for all CRS Staff)

These are rooted in the mission, values, and guiding principles of CRS and used by each staff member to fulfill his or her responsibilities and achieve the desired results.

• Integrity

• Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Builds Relationships

• Develops Talent

• Strategic Mindset

• Accountability & Stewardship

Supervisory Responsibilities (Deputy HR Manager, Senior HR Officers)

Key Working Relationships:

Internal

External

Disclaimer:  This job description is not an exhaustive list of the skill, effort, duties, and responsibilities associated with the position.

***Our Catholic identity is at the heart of our mission and operations. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. We welcome as a part of our staff people of all faiths and secular traditions who share our values and our commitment to serving those in need. CRS’ processes and policies reflect our commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults from abuse and exploitation.

How to Apply

You should fill the application form through this LINK and attach your up-to-date CV on / before the application deadline January 10, 2023. You will be contacted only if selected for written exam/interview. Phone solicitations will not be accepted. These job opportunities are open to Ethiopian nationals only.

CRS requires its staff to treat all people with dignity and respect and to actively prevent harassment, abuse, exploitation, and human trafficking. 

 ** Qualified women are highly encouraged to apply**

CRS is an Equal Opportunity Employer