Background

The African Youth Action Network (AYAN) is seeking a Human Resource Lead to manage its human resource functions. This role is crucial for strengthening workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, performance management, staff development, employee relations, safeguarding compliance, and personnel administration across both Kampala and AYAN's field locations. The position is based in Kampala, Uganda, with travel to field locations as required. The role reports to the Team Lead and is a full-time, renewable contract position subject to performance and funding.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• HR Strategy, Policies and Compliance: Develop and implement practical HR plans aligned with AYAN’s strategy, programmes and staffing needs. Review and consistently implement HR policies, procedures, employment contracts and staff handbook provisions. Maintain awareness of applicable labour obligations and advise management on compliant employment practices. Ensure personnel decisions are documented, fair, confidential and consistent.
• Recruitment, Onboarding and Records: Coordinate workforce planning, job descriptions, vacancy advertising, shortlisting, interviews, reference checks and offers. Lead structured induction and probation processes for employees, interns and volunteers. Maintain complete, secure and current personnel files, leave records, contract trackers and HR data. Coordinate timely contract renewals, confirmations, role changes and separations.
• Performance, Learning and Staff Well-being: Coordinate objective setting, probation reviews, regular performance conversations and annual appraisals. Work with managers to identify learning needs and implement staff development plans. Support staff welfare, duty of care, respectful workplace practices and referral to appropriate support where needed. Monitor attendance, leave and workplace concerns and provide timely management reports.
• Employee Relations and Organizational Culture: Provide professional guidance on grievances, disciplinary processes, conflict resolution and workplace conduct. Promote teamwork, AYAN’s values of inclusion, transparency, accountability, compassion, integrity and build a safeguarding culture. Support managers to address performance gaps constructively and document agreed improvement actions. Coordinate staff engagement and internal communication initiatives with relevant teams.
• Payroll Coordination and HR Reporting: Provide verified payroll inputs, including staff changes, leave adjustments and approved benefits, to Finance. Prepare periodic HR reports covering staffing, recruitment, turnover, leave, training and compliance actions. Support audits, donor reviews and board or management reporting on human-resource matters.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management, Organizational Psychology, Business Administration, Social Sciences or a related field.
• Professional HR certification or postgraduate training is an advantage.
• At least five years of progressive HR experience, including recruitment, employee relations, performance management and policy implementation.
• Experience in a nonprofit, humanitarian, youth-led or multi-location organization is highly desirable.
• Sound knowledge of Ugandan employment practices and strong HR records-management skills.

Core Competencies

• Strategic and operational HR leadership.
• Confidentiality, impartiality and sound judgement.
• Coaching, mediation and constructive conflict management.
• Strong planning, writing and interpersonal communication.
• Ability to work across diverse cultures, locations and employment categories.
• Commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and respectful workplace standards.

• Develop and implement practical HR plans aligned with AYAN’s strategy, programmes and staffing needs.
• Review and consistently implement HR policies, procedures, employment contracts and staff handbook provisions.
• Maintain awareness of applicable labour obligations and advise management on compliant employment practices.
• Ensure personnel decisions are documented, fair, confidential and consistent.
• Coordinate workforce planning, job descriptions, vacancy advertising, shortlisting, interviews, reference checks and offers.
• Lead structured induction and probation processes for employees, interns and volunteers.
• Maintain complete, secure and current personnel files, leave records, contract trackers and HR data.
• Coordinate timely contract renewals, confirmations, role changes and separations.
• Coordinate objective setting, probation reviews, regular performance conversations and annual appraisals.
• Work with managers to identify learning needs and implement staff development plans.
• Support staff welfare, duty of care, respectful workplace practices and referral to appropriate support where needed.
• Monitor attendance, leave and workplace concerns and provide timely management reports.
• Provide professional guidance on grievances, disciplinary processes, conflict resolution and workplace conduct.
• Promote teamwork, AYAN’s values of inclusion, transparency, accountability, compassion, integrity and build a safeguarding culture.
• Support managers to address performance gaps constructively and document agreed improvement actions.
• Coordinate staff engagement and internal communication initiatives with relevant teams.
• Provide verified payroll inputs, including staff changes, leave adjustments and approved benefits, to Finance.
• Prepare periodic HR reports covering staffing, recruitment, turnover, leave, training and compliance actions.
• Support audits, donor reviews and board or management reporting on human-resource matters.

• Strategic and operational HR leadership
• Confidentiality, impartiality and sound judgement
• Coaching, mediation and constructive conflict management
• Strong planning, writing and interpersonal communication
• Ability to work across diverse cultures, locations and employment categories
• Commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and respectful workplace standards
• Sound knowledge of Ugandan employment practices
• Strong HR records-management skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management, Organizational Psychology, Business Administration, Social Sciences or a related field.
• Professional HR certification or postgraduate training is an advantage.
• At least five years of progressive HR experience, including recruitment, employee relations, performance management and policy implementation.
• Experience in a nonprofit, humanitarian, youth-led or multi-location organization is highly desirable.
• Sound knowledge of Ugandan employment practices and strong HR records-management skills.