Admin and People Support Officer

About Pharo Foundation

Pharo Foundation is a mission-driven, impact-oriented organization working to build a vibrant, productive, and self-reliant Africa. Our development efforts are focused on three core pillars:

• Education – Providing access to high-quality, affordable education that equips students for success in a rapidly changing world.
• Water – Ensuring that communities across Africa have access to clean, safe, and affordable water.
• Productivity – Removing barriers to employment and increasing economic opportunity for individuals and families.

Our for-profit arm, Pharo Ventures, operates sustainable businesses across Ethiopia and Somaliland to drive job creation and economic growth. With over 700 employees across Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Somaliland, Pharo Foundation is headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, with a liaison office in London, UK.

Position Summary

Pharo Foundation is seeking a reliable, proactive, and people-oriented Administration & People Support Officer to support the School Principal and the People & Culture team in ensuring smooth school operations and a positive employee experience.

The role will have a strong focus on employee relations and staff support, serving as a first point of contact for employees on day-to-day workplace matters. The post holder will help build a respectful, supportive, and engaged working environment by listening to employee concerns, providing appropriate guidance, facilitating communication, supporting the resolution of workplace issues, and escalating sensitive matters to the People & Culture team when required.

In addition, the role will support recruitment, onboarding, training and development, HR administration, employee engagement, and general administrative activities for the school. The position will work closely with the School Principal and People & Culture teams in Homosha and Addis Ababa.

Role: Administration & People Support Officer

Reporting to: School Principal

Based in: On campus at Homosha boarding school

Functional Relationships: All teaching and non-teaching staff, People & culture and Deputy School Principal.

Key Responsibilities

Employee Relations & People Support

• Serve as a first point of contact for employee HR queries, workplace concerns, and day-to-day people matters.
• Build positive relationships with staff and promote an open, respectful, and supportive workplace culture.
• Listen to employee concerns, provide appropriate guidance, and ensure timely follow-up and resolution.
• Support grievance handling, conflict resolution, disciplinary processes, and workplace investigations in coordination with the People & Culture team.
• Maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive employee matters.
• Conduct staff check-ins and support employee well-being, engagement, and retention initiatives.
• Escalate complex or sensitive employee relations matters to the People & Culture team.

Recruitment & Onboarding

• Support recruitment activities, including candidate communication, interview coordination, documentation, and reference checks.
• Assist with onboarding and induction of new employees and provide follow-up support during their initial period.
• Maintain organized recruitment and employee records.

Training & Development

• Support training needs identification and coordinate training sessions, workshops, and staff development activities.
• Support performance management, employee engagement surveys, and staff development initiatives.

HR Administration & Compliance

• Maintain accurate and confidential employee files and HR system records.
• Track attendance, leave, benefits, and other employee information and prepare relevant reports.
• Support HR audits, policy implementation, and compliance activities.
• Assist with employee lifecycle processes, including transfers and offboarding.

Administrative Support

• Support the School Principal with scheduling, meetings, correspondence, reports, minutes, filing, and general administrative coordination.
• Act as a liaison between the Principal, staff, and the People & Culture team.

What we offer

• Competitive remuneration, commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• Fully furnished accommodation and meals (while school is in session).
• Health & Life insurance.
• A variety of opportunities for training.
• Very safe, caring and positive work environment.

Qualifications & Experience

The successful candidate will have/be:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Management, or a related field.
• Minimum 3 Years previous experience in HR, employee relations, administration, or a people-support role.
• Experience handling employee concerns, workplace issues, or staff support matters is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of HR practices and Ethiopian labour law is an advantage.
• Strong communication, active listening, interpersonal, and conflict-resolution skills.
• High level of confidentiality, integrity, empathy, and professionalism.
• Strong organizational and follow-up skills.
• Good written and verbal English communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and HR information systems.