Human Resource Officer

About the Organization

The Aga Khan Education Service, Kenya (AKES Kenya) manages five schools throughout Kenya, offering educational programs from nursery to senior secondary levels under both national and international curricula. As part of the larger Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), AKES is committed to enhancing living conditions and opportunities for diverse populations in developing regions.

Position Summary

We are seeking a well-organized, proactive, and client-focused Human Resource Officer to join our Nairobi-based team. Reporting to the Head of HR, the incumbent will provide comprehensive HR operational support throughout the employee lifecycle, ensuring smooth, compliant, and positive HR service delivery. Key focus areas include employee relations, performance management, benefits administration, personnel records, attendance monitoring, legal compliance, recruitment, onboarding, and learning and development assistance.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in implementing and supporting performance management cycles and improvement plans.
• Manage disciplinary, grievance, and employee relations processes in alignment with organizational policies and employment legislation.
• Handle all employee separations including resignations, retirements, contract completions, and conduct exit interviews to gather actionable insights.
• Provide frontline HR advice to management and staff on policies, procedures, employment laws, and HR best practices.
• Ensure adherence to Employment Act, Labour Relations Act, OSH Act, Data Protection Act, and other statutory laws.
• Maintain confidentiality and fairness in all HR functions and uphold professional standards.
• Support the planning and administration of training programs, workshops, and other learning initiatives, including coordination of logistics and participant communication.
• Maintain accurate training records and assist in evaluating the effectiveness of learning interventions.
• Administer employee benefits such as medical insurance, pension schemes, Group Life Assurance, Group Personal Accident coverage, and benefits under the Work Injury Benefits Act (WIBA).
• Coordinate enrollments, changes, claims, and resolutions with service providers.
• Engage with insurers, pension administrators, trustees, fund managers, and other external entities as needed.
• Monitor expatriate documentation and ensure immigration and statutory compliance.
• Track attendance and absenteeism, investigate anomalies with supervisors, and organize necessary follow-up actions.
• Oversee leave management processes to ensure compliance with policy.
• Prepare timely monthly reports on time and attendance metrics.
• Assist in recruitment activities including vacancy coordination, job advertisement preparation, interview scheduling, candidate communications, and documentation management.
• Support interview panels by organizing assessment materials, documenting outcomes, and maintaining records.
• Facilitate pre-employment background checks, reference verification, and employment documentation formalities.
• Assist with the preparation of job offers, contracts, and onboarding paperwork for new hires.

Candidate Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management, Business Administration, Psychology, or related discipline from a recognized institution.
• Professional HR certification such as CHRP, IHRM-K, SHRM, CIPD, or equivalent.
• Membership with the Institute of Human Resource Management Kenya (IHRM-K).
• At least 3 years of practical experience in HR generalist or operational roles.
• Experience in an educational setting or multi-site organization is advantageous.
• In-depth knowledge of HR functions, employment law, and best practices in Kenya.
• Competence in managing employee benefits including pensions, insurance, and regulatory compliance.
• Proficiency in employee relations, performance management, and disciplinary procedures.
• Ability to analyze HR data, identify trends, and interpret performance metrics.
• Excellent organizational skills with keen attention to detail and time management.
• Integrity, confidentiality, and commitment to ethical conduct.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills capable of building trust across all levels of staff.

Additional Information

The position is based in Kenya under the social development sector. The salary is competitive and will be set to attract the best qualified candidate. The role is full-time and located onsite in Nairobi.