View Vacancy - Regional HR Manager (Maternity cover) - 19/19 PTA

Main purpose of job:

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has a Regional Finance, Human Resources, and Procurement Hub based in Pretoria overseeing services for 46 High Commissions, British Embassies and Consulates in 38 countries in the Africa region.

The Regional HR Hub is an integral part of the global HR team serving staff working in the overseas network for the UK Government.  The role of Regional HR Hub is to provide key HR services (recruitment, pay and reward, talent and performance management, HR enquiries, employee relations and learning & development through regional teams) to customers in the region and to provide a strategic and professional HR capability to support Regional Senior Leaders in delivery of business objectives.   

The Regional HR Manager is responsible for the operational delivery of key HR services and processes and provide HR Advisory services and support to locally employed staff working at British High Commissions, Embassies and other Offices located in the Region.  

This is a HR Generalist role that provides HR advisory services by exercising sensible judgement and discretion in the interpretation and application of HR procedures and policies to ensure that HR processes are globally consistent but locally appropriate. The role reports to the Deputy Head of HR, working closely with their London based HR Policy leads to develop and manage HR policies and processes, which requires leading and managing high-level engagement with senior stakeholders and partners in the region.

The role will have line management responsibility for 1 x A2 HR Officer

Roles and responsibilities:

• HR Manager for a group of countries within the Region – servicing a range of countries  (small-med-big Posts)
• Lead and Manage HR Officer for that particular group of countries or region
• Oversee and handle HR enquiries (Level 2, 3 and 6 enquiries) and complex HR casework in the HR Direct operation by providing expert advice to post management and guide decision making. This includes monthly reporting and analysis of key trends/issues, ensuring high standards of customer service aligning with the regionalisation model and defined SLA’s .
• Engage with a wide network of external contacts i.e. Legal Advisors to understand and keep up-to-date with workforce regulations and HR compliance policies to ensure TACOs, local staff policies and procedures are consistent with local labour law and practices across the region.
• Provide expert HR advice and share best practice to line managers of locally employed staff on managing performance, grievance procedures, tackling BHD, employee relations cases and other HR practices;
• Provide expert advice and share best practices on TACOS, staffing strategies and other HR practices. Support revision, update and interpretation of Local Staff TACOS (participate in discussions with senior stakeholders, participate in staff sessions to provide guidance and advice on TACOS clauses and reviews;
• Ensure local staff policies and procedures are consistent with FCO policy and advise posts on implementation methods to update to local terms and conditions.
• Liaise with HR Direct UK, Local Staff Policy Team and with other HR hubs on HR projects and issues pertaining to Local Staff HR policies; actively contributing and providing input in discussions in the review of policies, processes, local legal compliance in collaboration with Local Staff Policy team
• Handle customers’ complaints and escalations regarding HR Direct enquiries in liaison with Deputy Head of HR or Hub Senior Management team;
• Supervise Prism HR Management activities. Liaise with HRD Prism super Users team on prism updates and improvement areas for HR Prism administrators
• Lead delivery of regional HR processes (exit interviews, probation, fixed term processes) in alignment with FCO guidance and policies;
• Support and monitor appraisal/review cycles with Line Managers and Senior Management at posts
• Consult with all levels of Post Management concerning strategic and proactive implementation of various HR programmes to ensure compliance with ongoing initiatives such as Global People Principles, Good Line Manager Campaign and general country/province/state compliance.
• Ensure updates on the RCSH HR SharePoint – recent activity, performance management communication;
• Prepare and deliver appropriate communications to support the delivery and correct management of HR in the region.
• Drive and manage operational HR projects under Hub Senior Management supervision
• Support elaboration of business cases and provide data for recommending decisions
• Handle operational bottlenecks
• Adjust operation and implement decisions taken at a senior level
• Provide assistance to Post on restructuring and/or organizational change guidance
• Deputise during absence of the Deputy Head of HR;
• Build strong engagement and relationships of trust with post management Information Management
• Manage centralised HR Advisory database for country and network – ensure accurate collation of information and prepare quality checks;
• Record and produce reports on customer satisfaction, complaints and escalations
• Provide HR Advisory monthly reports (UK metrics, Hub metrics and coordinate Posts’ metrics).
• Analyse HR Management Information data, delivering reports, recommendations and conclusions.
• Analysis of key HR trends/issues arising from enquiries from staff locally employed by posts
• Deliver presentations to the network and stakeholders on HR Advisory services;
• Provide status reports and manage stakeholders
• Manage HR related administration and reporting – headcount and turnover reports
• Ensure updates on the RCSH HR SharePoint – recent activity, performance management communication;

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

Line management responsibility for one A2 HR Officer for a particular group of countries in the region

• Qualification in HR, Social Science or a business-related field or in progress is preferred
• Excellent oral and written communication skills as well as organizational skills is essential
• Outstanding interpersonal skills;
• Ability to work with people at all levels of seniority in an international environment and within a fast paced, results oriented organisation.
• Able to adapt to a quick changing and evolving policy framework and present solutions in an autonomous and efficient manner
• Excellent collaboration and team management skills  
• 3 – 5 years in a HR generalist/advisory role is desired  
• Experience in a shared service environment will be an advantage   
• Good command of spoken and written English is essential  
• Excellent standard of IT skills are required, including Microsoft Excel, SharePoint and Word and the ability to use these systems to produce reports, charts, graphs etc.