Human Resources Manager

About Mercy Corps

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions
into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Now, and for the future.

Program / Department Summary

Mercy Corps works in places of transition, where conflict, disaster, political upheaval, or economic collapse present opportunities to build more secure, productive, and just communities. Providing emergency relief in times of crisis, we move quickly to help communities recover and build resilience to future shocks, and promote sustainable change by supporting community-led and market-driven initiatives. Recognizing both the great potential and the complex challenges faced by the Middle East, since 1989 Mercy Corps has been implementing a range of humanitarian assistance and development programs tailored to the specific needs of the region and of those communities where we work.
Mercy Corps has worked across Iraq’s 18 governorates since 2003, implementing relief and development programming, more than a third of which has focused on the specific needs of refugees and displaced persons. Mercy Corps Iraq current goal is to work with new and existing civil society, public and private sector partners to meet immediate and long-term needs by strengthening communities’ ability to rebuild amidst increasing crisis. Mercy Corps Iraq focuses on (1) a relief-to-resilience pathway to meet the needs of conflict-affected communities leveraging agency expertise in conflict management and civil society development (2) a humanitarian response that empowers conflict-affected populations to meet their own needs (3) partnering with conflict-affected adolescents to address their diverse needs, promoting leadership and linkages with civil society

General Position Summary

Provide oversight to the management of human resources for Mercy Corps programming in Iraq; Assist in the achievement of MC program objectives with the facilitation of recruitment, remuneration and staff development issues in the Human Resource Development.

Essential Job Responsibilities

STRATEGY & VISION
• Identify weaknesses in current HR systems. Advise supervisor on outstanding issues and assist in designing and implementing, as required.
• Review department development needs and recommend to supervisor on next steps as needed
• Build effective working relationship with all departments and managers to ensure value of trust, delivery on time and shared value
• Develop proactive ways to ensure team diversity in the work place.
• Set up a more realistic performance framework to ensure that performance reviews for staffs are completed on time and individual staff development needs are being met.
• Identify and develop new core capabilities in attracting and retaining top talents
• Review the organization structure and advise on actions require to ensure success
• Consolidating country level data and analyzing trends
• Create and execute strategies and plans necessary to lead and communicate change with in the organization

PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

• Responsible for maintaining personnel files for all staff – including recruitment documents, CVs, valid contracts, PAFs, timesheets, employee data sheets, disciplinary papers and performance evaluations.
• Ensure the recruitment of national staff adheres to the standing Recruiting Policies and Procedures of MC Iraq.
• Support to addressing of and/or investigation of complaints and grievances as requested,
• Ensure participation of HR Department in interviews for new staff.
• Ensure Salaries and benefits adhere to Mercy Corps salary scales and standing protocols.
• Ensure Mercy Corps personnel policies strictly adhere to Country labour law as applicable. This includes payment of appropriate taxes, benefits etc.
• Maintain a tracking system for all types of leave for all employees.
• Maintain up-to-date staffing lists by program and department.
• Ensure that employee performance evaluations are completed as scheduled.
• Ensure that all national staff have an up-to-date relevant job description.
• Maintain annual holiday schedule including determination of exact holidays in advance of the holiday (as possible) and inform all staff.
• Coordinate coverage for operations during annual leave of key national staff with Head of Office or Operations Manager.
• Oversee the monthly procedure of timesheets for all staff including collection, review and compilation into payroll; train new staff on timesheet procedure.
• Process monthly payroll in conjunction with Payroll Coordinator and finance staff and ensure payroll is delivered in a timely manner to all provinces.
• Maintain national staff I.D. cards.
• Assist with operational budget for staff coverage as requested.
• Responsible for the orientation of all new, national staff on Mercy Corps Country systems, policies and procedures.
• Ensure all new staff receive copies of the Country National Staff Policy Handbook and are alerted to benefits. Continue with support and advice on policies, as required.
• Advise staff (national and international) on disciplinary procedures.
• Advise staff (national and international) on raise policies and procedures.
• Assist Head of Office in conducting or arranging for trainings and/or other human resource development activities.
• Oversee the clearance of terminated employees, as per MC policies and procedures.
• Participate in disciplinary, hiring and termination meetings with program staff upon request.
• Maintain confidentiality of all national staff personnel issues including disciplinary procedures and contracts/ pay rates.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

TEAM MANAGEMENT
• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Promote accountability, communicate expectations and provide constructive feedback via regular performance reviews.
• Supervise, hire and orient new team members as necessary.
• Provide team members with information, tools and other resources to improve performance and reach objectives.
• Contribute to country team-building efforts, help team members identify problem-solving options and ensure the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

SECURITY .
• Proactively ensure that team members operate in a secure environment and are aware of policies.

ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING
• As part of our commitment to organizational learning and in support of our understanding that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities they serve, we expect all team members to commit 5% of their time to learning activities that benefit Mercy Corps as well as themselves.

ACCOUNTABILITY TO BENEFICIARIES
• Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically
to our beneficiaries and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging beneficiary communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.
Supervisory Responsibility
Senior HR Officers
Accountability
Reports Directly To: Operations Director
Works Directly With: All Department heads/managers

Knowledge and Experience
• A relevant university degree.
• A minimum of 4 years’ experience in administration and HR Experience in working with non-governmental sector.
• Advance knowledge of written and spoken English is essential.
• Ability to translate letters, reports and meetings as required.
• Proven ability to provide oral and written translation from Kurdish/Arabic to English and vice versa.
• Knowledge of Sphere standards and other training in humanitarian response preferred.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, ability to follow procedures, meet deadlines and work independently and cooperatively with team members and a proven ability to solve problems independently without direct supervision.
• Must have strong organizational skills and demonstrated experience in detailed scheduling and multi-tasking.
• Excellent negotiation, representation, skills and the ability to work comfortably with an ethnically diverse staff.
• Sound computer skills (MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access) and knowledge of and experience in inventory, human resource, procurement procedures, etc.

Success Factors
The most successful Mercy Corps staff member has a strong commitment to teamwork and accountability, and makes effective communication a priority in all situations. Flexibility about work assignments and processes is necessary in a dynamic and fast-paced work environment, coupled with the ability to respond to many new and unpredictable challenges in a demanding program.
Mercy Corps Team members represent the agency both during and outside of work hours. Staff are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct eLearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCES:

Successful candidates should meet the education and experience requirements in the position descriptions for the vacant positions. S/he must be self- motivated, creative, tolerant, and able to work in difficult, stressful environments and follow Mercy Corps procedures. S/he must respect diversity and gender equality at the workplace.

Interested candidates should apply before the deadline indicated below on the below Link:

Apply Here

ALL APPLICATIONS/ CVs SHOULD BE RECEIVED BY 1st of February , 2025

Potential candidates for the post will be contacted for an interview and processed according to Mercy Corps Human Resources policies and procedures. As soon as qualified candidates are identified the positions will be closed automatically. Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for potential interview.

Any documents submitted will remain with Mercy Corps and will not be returned to candidates.

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer. Females are highly encouraged to apply.

Female Candidates are encouraged to apply for This Position. Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global Impact.

Mercy Corps Iraq offers a variety of arrangements that enable women to excel in their careers. Mercy Corps Iraq ensures a safe and inclusive working environment for women and men through field security training and measures to provide secure working arrangements on-site and in the office.