Senior People & Culture Officer

JOB PURPOSE

• The Senior People & Culture Officer coordinates and delivers human resource activities across Sentinel Africa's operations in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, covering the employee lifecycle, HR administration and compliance with applicable employment laws.
• The role provides practical HR guidance to management and ensures consistent implementation of people policies and processes across the Group.
• The successful candidate will be a proactive HR professional who can work independently and provide practical support across the Group.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Recruitment and Onboarding

• Coordinate end-to-end recruitment and selection.
• Develop and update Job Description s.
• Manage employee onboarding and induction.
• Coordinate probation reviews and confirmations.
• Maintain recruitment plans and records.

Performance Management

• Coordinate performance planning, KPI setting and appraisals.
• Monitor completion of performance reviews.
• Track performance improvement plans.
• Support managers in addressing underperformance.
• Maintain performance management records.

Employee Relations and Engagement

• Address employee queries, grievances and concerns.
• Coordinate disciplinary and grievance procedures.
• Advise managers on employee relations matters.
• Coordinate employee engagement and welfare initiatives.
• Conduct exit interviews and support conflict resolution.

HR Administration

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date employee records.
• Administer employment contracts, renewals and staff movements.
• Manage leave, attendance and absence records.
• Maintain HR systems, trackers and calendars.
• Coordinate employee separation and clearance processes.

HR Compliance and Policies

• Monitor compliance with employment laws in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.
• Develop, review and implement HR policies and procedures.
• Maintain required employment and statutory documentation.
• Ensure compliance with employee data protection requirements.
• Identify and report HR compliance risks.

Learning and Development

• Coordinate training needs assessments.
• Develop and implement employee training plans.
• Organise training and development programmes.
• Maintain training records and evaluate effectiveness.

Compensation, Benefits and Payroll

• Coordinate and validate monthly payroll inputs.
• Administer employee benefits and welfare programmes.
• Maintain compensation and benefits records.
• Address payroll and benefits queries in liaison with Finance.
• Support salary reviews and compensation benchmarking.

Organizational Development

• Maintain organisational structures and reporting lines.
• Support workforce planning and staffing assessments.
• Develop and improve HR systems and processes.
• Support organisational change initiatives.
• Promote a positive, accountable and high-performance culture.

HR Reporting and Regional Coordination

• Coordinate HR activities across Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.
• Prepare monthly HR reports and dashboards.
• Track HR performance indicators and action plans.
• Provide HR guidance and support to country managers.
• Escalate significant HR risks and employee matters to management.

EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management, Business Administration, Social Sciences or a related field.
• A recognised professional qualification in Human Resource Management, such as CHRP or an equivalent qualification.
• Good understanding of employment legislation and HR best practices.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in Human Resource Management.
• Proven generalist HR experience covering recruitment, performance management, employee relations, HR administration and advisory support to management.
• Experience supporting HR operations across multiple entities, locations or countries is an added advantage.
• Experience in a professional services, consulting or service-oriented organisation is desirable.

BEHAVIOURAL COMPETENCIES AND PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Integrity and Confidentiality: Demonstrates high ethical standards and discretion in handling sensitive information.
• Ownership and Accountability: Takes responsibility for deliverables and follows through on commitments.
• Planning and Organisation: Effectively prioritises work, manages deadlines and maintains accurate records.
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Builds positive working relationships and communicates effectively at all levels.
• Sound Judgment: Handles sensitive employee matters objectively, fairly and professionally.
• Problem-Solving: Identifies challenges and develops practical solutions.
• Initiative and Independence: Works proactively with minimal supervision.
• Attention to Detail: Maintains accuracy in documentation, reporting and HR administration.
• Adaptability and Flexibility: Responds effectively to changing organisational priorities.
• Business Acumen: Understands the relationship between people management and organisational performance.