HR Business Partner - EKN Regional Programme

The HR Business Partner provides dedicated strategic and operational Human Resources support to the EKN Regional Programme across six countries. The role serves as the primary HR advisor to programme leadership and is accountable for workforce planning, recruitment, employee relations, performance management, organisational effectiveness, people risk management and HR compliance across the programme.

The role acts as the HR focal point for the Technical Assistance countries and provides functional guidance, coaching and support to the HR Managers and HR Officers supporting the Direct Service Delivery countries. Working closely with the Project Director, Project Leads, Country Leadership Teams and Head Office Centres of Excellence, it ensures the programme has the people, capabilities and support required to achieve its objectives. The role carries no direct reports and delivers through influence rather than line authority.

Key Performance Areas

Strategic HR Advisory and Workforce Planning

• Act as the primary HR advisor to the Senior Project Director, Project Director, Project Leads and programme leadership teams.
• Provide strategic HR guidance on workforce planning, organisational effectiveness and people-related decision-making.
• Support workforce planning, staffing strategies and organisational design across programme countries.
• Identify emerging workforce risks, organisational challenges and HR priorities, and recommend practical solutions.
• Advise programme leadership on the people implications of programme growth, change initiatives and organisational transitions.
• Support localisation and workforce sustainability objectives through talent and capability planning.
• Ensure alignment between programme workforce needs and organisational people strategies.

Recruitment, Talent Acquisition and Workforce Mobilisation

• Lead recruitment and selection processes for EKN-funded positions within the Global Support Hub and Technical Assistance countries.
• Support and guide HR Managers in implementation countries on recruitment planning and execution.
• Ensure compliance with organisational recruitment policies, procedures and donor requirements.
• Support the mobilisation and onboarding of programme staff throughout implementation phases.
• Partner with managers to forecast workforce needs and staffing priorities.
• Ensure effective onboarding and induction processes for programme staff.
• Promote a positive candidate and employee experience throughout the recruitment lifecycle.

Employee Lifecycle Management, HR Operations and Compliance

• Provide end-to-end HR generalist support to the Technical Assistance countries.
• Support employee lifecycle processes including recruitment, onboarding, employment changes, contract management and exits.
• Ensure HR records, employee documentation and HR data are accurate and up to date.
• Monitor compliance with employment legislation, organisational policies and donor requirements.
• Support HR audits, reporting activities and compliance reviews.
• Collaborate with HR Operations and specialist HR functions to ensure high-quality HR service delivery.
• Support the implementation of HR policies and procedures across programme countries.

Performance Management, Employee Relations and Staff Support

• Support the implementation of performance management processes across programme countries.
• Coach managers on performance management, employee engagement and people leadership practices.
• Provide guidance on employee relations matters and workplace challenges.
• Support the effective resolution of employee concerns, grievances and workplace conflict.
• Advise on disciplinary processes, labour relations matters and performance improvement plans.
• Promote employee wellbeing and retention initiatives.
• Ensure fair, consistent and legally compliant people management practices.

Learning, Development and Organisational Capability

• Coordinate programme learning and development activities.
• Consolidate training and capability-building requirements across programme countries.
• Support the implementation of leadership and management development initiatives.
• Promote knowledge sharing and learning across programme teams.
• Monitor completion of mandatory learning and compliance training.
• Support talent development and succession planning initiatives as required.

Cross-Country HR Leadership, Coaching and Strategic Problem Solving

• Provide functional guidance, coaching and support to the HR Managers and HR Officers supporting implementation countries.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to Country Project Leads and programme managers on complex people challenges.
• Facilitate collaboration between country HR teams, programme leadership and Head Office HR specialist functions.
• Support Country HR Managers in resolving complex employee relations, workforce planning and organisational effectiveness issues.
• Promote consistency of HR practice while recognising country-specific requirements and contexts.
• Identify emerging people risks and implement practical solutions.
• Build alignment, collaboration and shared accountability across programme teams and countries.
• Support programme leadership in solving strategic workforce and organisational challenges.

Qualifications, Experience and Competencies

Must Have

• Degree or Diploma in Human Resources Management, Industrial Psychology, Human Resource Development, Business Administration or a related field.
• Minimum eight years' progressive Human Resources generalist experience.
• Experience providing strategic HR advisory support to senior managers and leadership teams.
• Demonstrated experience across the full employee lifecycle, including recruitment, employee relations, performance management and HR compliance.
• Experience supporting multi-country or regional programmes.
• Experience operating in matrix-managed environments.
• Experience coaching managers and supporting organisational change initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to coach, guide and support managers on complex people challenges, and to build capability in HR Managers and HR Officers through mentoring and practical support.
• Ability to influence without direct authority and to create trust, accountability and shared ownership across geographically dispersed teams.
• Strategic thinking, sound judgement and decision-making, with strong relationship building, stakeholder management, influencing and cultural awareness.
• Depth across strategic HR advisory, workforce planning, recruitment and talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, HR compliance and employment practice, organisational effectiveness, change management and HR risk management.

Nice-to-Have

• Relevant HR professional certification or professional registration.
• Experience within NGOs, INGOs or development-sector organisations.
• Experience working across multiple countries and cultures.

Reporting & Team Structure

• Reports to: Chief People Officer; matrix reporting relationship to the Project Director (EKN Regional Programme)
• Collaborates with: Internally: Chief People Officer; Senior Project Director; Project Director; Project Leads; HR Managers and HR Officers in Mozambique and Zambia; Global HR Team; HR Operations; Reward & Benefits; HR Analytics; EKN Programme Leadership Team. Externally: recruitment service providers; learning and development providers; professional HR bodies; employment and labour specialists; relevant regulatory institutions
• Supervises: None. Functional leadership of the HR Managers and HR Officers supporting the Mozambique and Zambia implementation teams

Working Conditions

• Employment Type: Full-time
• Location: Global Support Hub, Cape Town, South Africa
• Travel Requireme