Senior People & Culture Officer

The 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

The role independently delivers and coordinates key P&C processes, provides professional guidance to employees and line managers, handles more complex employee matters, analyses workforce information, and supports the Head of People & Culture in ensuring consistent application of P&C policies, processes and employment practices.

Key Responsibilities

People & Culture Operations

• Independently coordinate and deliver assigned P&C processes, including recruitment, onboarding, employee lifecycle administration and offboarding.
• Maintain accurate, complete and confidential personnel records, employee data and P&C systems, and review documentation for quality and compliance.
• Support workforce planning and recruitment by reviewing staffing requirements, coordinating recruitment processes and providing relevant workforce information to the Head of P&C and hiring managers.

Employee Relations & Performance

• Provide professional guidance to employees and line managers on P&C policies, procedures, employment practices and routine employee-relations matters, escalating complex or high-risk matters to the Head of P&C where appropriate.
• Support disciplinary, grievance and other employee-relations processes by reviewing documentation, advising on process requirements and ensuring matters are consistently and properly documented.
• Coordinate performance-management processes, follow up on completion and quality of performance documentation, identify recurring issues and provide relevant analysis to the Head of P&C.

Learning, Engagement & Development· 

• Coordinate learning and development activities, consolidate development needs, monitor implementation and maintain relevant training and development records.
• Support employee engagement, culture and organizational initiatives and provide feedback and analysis on recurring employee concerns or workplace issues.
• Provide technical guidance and support to junior P&C colleagues where required, including reviewing work and helping ensure consistency and quality of P&C processes.

Compliance, Reporting & Process Improvement

• Support consistent implementation of P&C policies, procedures and systems across the organization and identify areas requiring clarification or improvement.
• Prepare and analyze workforce information and P&C reports, including recruitment, turnover, headcount, absence, performance, training and other relevant people indicators, highlighting trends or issues requiring management attention.
• Support P&C audits and compliance reviews and follow up on agreed corrective actions.
• Identify opportunities to improve P&C processes, documentation, systems and employee service and recommend practical improvements to the Head of P&C.
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment when handling sensitive employee and organizational information.

Core Competencies

• Professional judgment and confidentiality
• Employee relations and problem-solving
• P&C technical knowledge
• Analytical and reporting capability
• Planning and organization
• Communication and stakeholder management
• Attention to detail
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to guide and support colleagues

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, Management or related field.
• 4–6 years of relevant and progressively responsible HR/P&C experience.
• Good knowledge of HR/P&C practices, employment practices and employee lifecycle processes.
• Practical experience in employee relations, recruitment, performance management, learning and development, HR reporting and policy implementation.
• Ability to analyze workforce information and prepare clear P&C reports and recommendations.
• Experience providing professional HR/P&C guidance to employees and line managers.