HR Manager

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps’ Ukraine crisis response seeks to meet the humanitarian needs of vulnerable Ukrainians and other conflict-affected people where they are: displaced inside Ukraine, refugees in Poland, Romania and Moldova, or trapped behind frontlines. We aim to reach 500,000 vulnerable people with multi-purpose cash assistance, in-kind humanitarian support, and protection services across four countries. Almost all of our impact will be delivered in partnership: with Ukrainian, Polish, Romanian and Moldovan civil society organizations through a granting program that matches humanitarian action with capacity strengthening, and with peer international NGOs through a consortium in Ukraine. Mercy Corps is responding to the Ukraine crisis with large-scale consortium programming with a focus on Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA). The Consortium is a partnership between four international humanitarian aid agencies to model and deliver innovative, effective cash and other humanitarian assistance programs to support people affected by the Ukraine crisis within Ukraine.

General Position Summary

Human Resources Manager is responsible to provide oversight to the management of human resources for Mercy Corps programming in Ukraine.

Assist in the achievement of MC program objectives with the facilitation of recruitment, remuneration and staff development issues in Human Resource Development.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Strategy & Vision

• Identify weaknesses in current HR systems in Ukraine. Advise supervisor on outstanding issues and assist in designing and implementing, as required.
• Play a full role in crafting Mercy Corps strategy in Ukraine, with a particular focus on people operations considerations.
• Develop and implement human resources policies that ensure Mercy Corps is competitive in the Ukrainian labor market for non-profit organizations, and that our staff care package is supportive and offers flexibility to employees.

Program Management

• Responsible for maintaining personnel files for all staff – including recruitment documents, CVs, valid contracts, PAFs, timesheets, employee data sheets, disciplinary papers and performance evaluations.
• Ensure the recruitment of national staff adheres to the standing Recruiting Policies and Procedures of MC Ukraine
• Ensure participation of HR Department in interviews for new staff.
• Ensure Salaries and benefits adhere to Mercy Corps salary scales and standing protocols.
• Ensure Mercy Corps personnel policies strictly adhere to Ukraine labor law as applicable. This includes payment of appropriate taxes, benefits etc.
• Ensure that HR Officers maintain a tracking system for all types of leave for all employees.
• Maintain up-to-date staffing lists by program and department.
• Ensure that employee performance evaluations are completed as scheduled.
• Ensure that all national staff have an up-to-date relevant job description.
• Maintain annual holiday schedule including determination of exact holidays in advance of the holiday (as possible) and inform all staff.
• Coordinate coverage for operations during annual leave of key national staff with Head of Office or Operations Manager.
• Oversee the monthly procedure of timesheets for all staff including collection, review and compilation into payroll; train new staff on timesheet procedure.
• Process monthly payroll in conjunction with Finance Manager and finance staff and ensure payroll is delivered in a timely manner according to the law of Ukraine.
• Maintain national staff I.D. cards.
• Assist with operational budget for staff coverage as requested.
• Responsible for the orientation of all new, national staff on Mercy Corps Country systems, policies and procedures.
• Ensure all new staff receive copies of the Country National Staff Policy Handbook and are alerted to benefits. Continue with support and advice on policies, as required.
• Advise staff (national and international) on disciplinary procedures.
• Advise staff (national and international) on raise policies and procedures.
• Assist and advise SMT in training priorities for staff, prepare annual training plans
• Oversee the clearance of terminated employees, as per MC policies and procedures.
• Participate in disciplinary, hiring and termination meetings with program staff upon request.
• Maintain confidentiality of all national staff personnel issues including disciplinary procedures and contracts/ pay rates.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

Team Management

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
• Supervise, hire and orient new team members as necessary.
• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

Security

• Ensure compliance with security procedures and policies as determined by country leadership.
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

Supervisory Responsibility

HR Officers

Accountability

Reports Directly To: People and Culture Director

Works Directly With: RSMT, HR staff, Operations team

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in HR, Economics,Law
• At least 5 years of experience in HR Management is a must
• Advance knowledge of written and spoken English, Ukrainian and Russian are essential.
• Knowledge of the local legislation and taxation
• Good communication, and conflict-resolution skills
• Experience in start-up activities is an advantage
• Certification in leadership program is an advantage
• Knowledge of Sphere standards and other training in humanitarian response preferred.

Success Factors

The successful HR Manager will be good at problem-solving and have the ability to work out methods to deliver successful programs while demonstrating excellent stewardship of donor funds and compliance with Mercy Corps and donor regulations. They will maintain strong cooperative relationships with other departments and interact effectively with international and national personnel both in a managerial as well as training capacity while demonstrating the ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and process information in support of changing program activities. The successful HR Manager must have a human approach to human resource problems. Regardless of the problems faced by the employees, they must have a sympathetic attitude while dealing with them. The most successful Mercy Corps staff members have a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, thrive in evolving and changing environments, and make effective written and verbal communication a priority in all situations.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based in Ukraine,Lviv and is eligible for Hardship and R&R benefits. Accommodation is provided in shared housing and access to services – medical, electricity, water, etc is in place but may change depending on the situation. This position requires travel to surrounding countries, as security permits. Given the emergency context, this position requires exceptional work schedules, including evenings and weekends.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to theInteragency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and

values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.