Human Resource Officer

Who We Are! 

🌍 Africa has the world’s youngest and fastest-growing population. By 2035, the continent is poised to contribute more young people to the global workforce each year than the rest of the world combined. 

At Educate! we're obsessed with impact. We leverage iterative learning to build highly scalable youth employment solutions aimed at unlocking the potential of the world’s youngest continent. 

Educate! prepares youth in Africa to learn, earn and thrive in today’s economy by: 

1. Introducing an employment-focused school subject into secondary and 
2. Delivering livelihood boot camps for out-of-school youth, with a focus on marginalized rural girls and young women.

To date, more than 500,000 youth have been meaningfully impacted across Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania, and along the way, Educate! has become the largest youth employment and skills provider in East Africa.

Educate! is a team of over 300 largely African staff and 300 volunteer youth mentors. We prioritize building an engaging, fulfilling and growth oriented work environment. 50% of our top 30 leaders have been with us for over 5 years, 10+ alumni have started their own organizations, and 6 current or former team members were Acumen Fund East Africa fellows. 

We have been backed by top foundations such as Imaginable Futures, Livelihood Impact Fund,  Jack Dorsey’s #startsmall, CIFF and Echidna Giving. Educate! won a 2018 Klaus J. Jacobs Prize and a 2015 WISE Award, and has been highlighted by the World Bank’s S4YE's Impact Portfolio, an Al Jazeera documentary, BBC, The Brookings Institution as one of 14 case studies on scaling education, and the Gates Foundation as a Goalkeepers Accelerator. In 2022, we received a catalytic investment from philanthropist Mackenzie Scott to scale our systems change work.

Educate!'s long-term vision is to design solutions that measurably impact millions of youth across Africa each year.

Good to note: To Our Awesome Applicants! 🚀💫

We know that incredible candidates sometimes hesitate to apply if they don’t meet every requirement. If this role excites you, we encourage you to apply! 

We’re looking for passionate individuals who believe in our mission and can bring unique perspectives to our team—not just those who check every box. We value diversity and strongly encourage women and individuals from all backgrounds to apply.

Position Overview 

Educate!, a fast-growing and award-winning social enterprise, is seeking an enthusiastic and self-driven Human Resource Officer to support the Human Resource operations in Uganda. We’re looking for someone who has non-profit experience, delivers results while handling multiple projects, is willing to learn at a faster rate and able to handle change management processes.

The HR Officer will  directly and report to Educate! Human Resource Manager. You will be under the Uganda HR department supporting Talent acquisition/recruitment, Staff Records & Filing, Employee benefits admin + GPA Policy Support, HR Logistics & Events.

Performance Objectives 

Talent acquisition/recruitment (30%)

• Take full ownership of the Field Operations Assistant (FOA) recruitment process, from defining recruitment needs with hiring managers to onboarding successful candidates.
• Collaborate with managers to develop job descriptions, define role specifications, and understand team needs.
• Design and implement sourcing strategies to attract top FOA candidates, including advertising, networking, and using recruitment platforms.
• Manage candidate selection, including CV screening, interview coordination, and communication with hiring teams.
• Provide support in recruiting for other roles across the organization, assisting with job postings, candidate sourcing, and interview coordination.
• Ensure consistency and adherence to the organization's recruitment policies and procedures in all hiring processes.
• Lead candidate evaluation for FOA roles and assist in the selection process for other roles by organizing and conducting structured interviews.
• Gather feedback from interviewers, compile evaluations, and provide recommendations based on objective criteria.
• Lead the offer process for FOA candidates and assist in drafting offers for other roles.
• Ensure a smooth onboarding experience by managing logistics, including document collection and new hire integration.
• Coordinate with the field ops team to update the mentor handbooks to reflect policy changes and best practices.

Staff Records & Filing, (20%) 

• Maintain and organize all employee documents both in HR Driver and BambooHR systems. Ensure all documents are complete, up-to-date, and organized for easy retrieval.
• Regularly review staff files to ensure that all necessary documents are collected and properly stored, including contracts, job descriptions, performance reviews, disciplinary records, and certifications. This includes ensuring the proper version of documents is in the system and that all fields are populated with current information.
• Ensure BambooHR is consistently updated with any changes to personal or employment information, such as address changes, salary adjustments, promotions, or contract extensions.
• Track and manage various types of leave, including annual leave, sick leave, maternity leave, bereavement leave, days in lieu, and study leave. Ensure accurate documentation of each leave type, including dates, reasons (where applicable), and supporting documentation (e.g., medical certificates for sick leave).
• Ensure staff are fully aware of their leave entitlements, application procedures, and deadlines. This could include sending reminders or creating easy-to-follow guides for employees on leave policies.
• Monitor leave applications within BambooHR, ensuring that leave data is entered correctly and promptly. Track balances to ensure that leave accruals and usage are in line with company policies.
• Review leave reports monthly to ensure accuracy in the system. These reports can help identify trends, potential issues with leave management, or employees with unusually high or low leave balances.
• Proactively follow up with teams to ensure that any leave taken is properly recorded in BambooHR. Encourage staff to apply for leave through the system promptly when they are off, ensuring the process is smooth for both staff and HR.
• Consistently update BambooHR to reflect any changes in staff status, leave balances, or employee details. This will ensure the system remains accurate and up-to-date, avoiding errors during reporting or decision-making processes.
• Conduct regular audits of both physical and digital files to ensure they are complete and in compliance with data protection policies. Check that all necessary documents are included and filed properly to meet organizational and legal requirements.
• Ensure all employee data is treated with the utmost confidentiality and stored in compliance with data protection regulations. Safeguard sensitive information and ensure it’s accessible only to authorized personnel.
• Maintain a process for disposing of outdated or irrelevant staff records in line with company retention policies and applicable laws.

Employee benefits admin + GPA Policy Support (30%)

• Communicate benefits  to all staff, management, and mentors, ensuring they are fully informed about available perks and entitlements.
• Keep staff updated on any changes or enhancements to employee benefits, ensuring clarity and transparency.
• Manage and coordinate bereavement support for both staff and mentors, ensuring a compassionate and efficient process. This may include arranging for condolences, support packages, or other appropriate assistance.
• Coordinate the distribution of baby hampers for staff, ensuring the timely and thoughtful delivery when babies are born.
• Support the planning and execution of the end-of-year Tenets Awards, recognizing staff who embody the organization's core values. This includes coordinating nominations, organizing the award ceremony, and managing logistics.
• Provide support to staff with medical insurance-related queries and issues, including claims and coverage inquiries.
• Ensure accidents or incidents are promptly reported to Sanlam, ensuring compliance with policies and timely responses.
• Offer support to both staff and mentors in navigating the claims process with Sanlam, ensuring claims are processed efficiently and accurately.
• Coordinate the processing of scholarship requests for staff, ensuring timely and accurate submission of necessary documentation. Provide guidance to staff on eligibility and the application process.
• Assist staff with wedding-related support, providing necessary guidance and coordination, and ensuring any related benefits are provided as per company policy.
• Support with the printing and distribution of staff IDs and business cards, ensuring that employees have the necessary tools for professional engagement.
• Manage and process payments to external HR service providers, including GPA, medical insurance companies, and other vendors. Ensure timely and accurate processing of invoices and coordinate with the finance team for payments.
• Prepare and send monthly updates on GPA coverage to the HR Manager for review & Approval before sharing with Sanlam.

HR Logistics & Events (20%)

• Oversee the processing and tracking of work permits, special passes, and NGO permits for staff members as needed. Ensure that all necessary documentation is completed and submitted in a timely manner to avoid delays in staff deployment.
• Monitor and ensure that all staff with applicable work permits have their documentation renewed on time, complying with local labor laws and regulations.
• Take the lead in announcing, coordinating, and overseeing the execution of key Educate! events such as MMMM, mid-year retreats, and end-of-year parties.
• For MMMM (Monday Monthly Morning Meetings), assist in the logistics, ensuring everything from venue arrangements to communication with attendees is handled smoothly.
• For the mid-year retreat, support the planning process, including coordinating venues, transportation, and team-building activities.
• For the end-of-year party, help coordinate all aspects from venue selection to entertainment and catering, ensuring that staff feel celebrated and appreciated.
• Plan and coordinate department dinners for May and June, ensuring that team members have an opportunity to connect in a relaxed and informal environment. Manage venue booking, RSVPs, and any other logistical needs.
• Organize and celebrate employee birthdays, ensuring that staff feel recognized on their special day. This may include coordinating with relevant departments for small celebrations or birthday presents, as appropriate.
• Coordinate and facilitate regular happy hours or informal team gatherings to promote camaraderie and morale among staff members.
• Organize termly achievement celebrations, acknowledging milestones, targets met, and individual contributions. This can include organizing recognition events, certificates, or small team celebrations to ensure staff feel appreciated for their contributions.

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in human resources or a related subject.
• At least 3 years of professional experience, with at least 2 years of directly working in the HR Department or related field.
• Passion for recruiting and developing top talent
• Some experience working in a startup or social enterprise environment is strongly preferred.
• Proficiency with Google Suites and MS Office Suite, with excellent MS Word and Excel skills, etc.
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills, strategic Skills, Project Planning, and Problem-solving skills
  Should be systems-oriented, have high integrity with experience in multitasking in a fast-paced environment, set priorities, work independently, as well as thrive as a team.
• Passion for Educate! the mission is a must, but past work in education or youth development is not required. We value diverse perspectives and encourage applications from people with a variety of backgrounds. Background working with and promoting youth agenda in a non-profit set-up is an asset.
• Fits our Five Cultural Tenets (see What is Educate! About? below); Learn more by looking at Educate!’s culture deck here

What We Offer 💼

• A vibrant, mission-driven environment with a supportive and fun team.
• Flexibility— Hybrid work environment to empower you in your mode of work. 
• Competitive salary based on experience.
• Healthcare coverage for you and your dependents, work laptop, Internet & call stipend
• Learning & growth opportunities
• This is a Fixed term  contract with a possibility of extension based on performance

Application Process: Rolling basis, interviews happening soon!

Our Culture & Tenets(Values) 🌱

We’re ambitious. Are you? Educate! is growing fast, so new opportunities are opening up and expanding all the time. We’re inspired by people with drive, and we love to help them reach their full potential. We expect everyone at Educate! to contribute above and beyond their job description, grow their skills, and advance their careers, and we are committed to supporting our staff members on that journey of their careers, and we are committed to supporting our staff members on that journey. 

1. We put Youth First, Impact-Obsessed - We are purpose-driven, focused on impact, and prioritize what truly matters. We listen to youth, design our efforts around their needs, and ensure every dollar creates transformative experiences they value.
2. We Exceed Expectations - We take pride in going above and beyond to achieve the best results—proactively identifying problems and seeking solutions without waiting or stopping at what's requested.
3. We Are Always Learning - We are committed to seeking and applying new knowledge and ideas. We stay open-minded and continuously try new things, experiment, grow, and improve. We invest in learning for ourselves and our teams.
4. We are One Team, Many Views - We value all individuals, believe diverse ideas and open dialogue drive excellence, foster a supportive and respectful environment where everyone can freely express themselves. We work as one team and prioritize the organization's mission over personal or team interests.
5. We have the Startup Mindset - We innovate relentlessly to grow our impact, we never think “we have arrived” or “we’re done.”We constantly challenge the status quo, embrace change, and move quickly toward our vision. Unafraid of failure, we question anything that hinders progress.

Every person at Educate! — from interns to the executive director — is evaluated by how they live up to these five cultural tenets. They are at the core of how we achieve our mission and why we work as well as we do.  Educate is committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all who interact in our community. In creating this environment, we encourage people from a variety of cultures, backgrounds and life experiences to join our diverse team. 

We’re committed to ensuring all candidates are screened for child and youth safety. As part of the process, you’ll need to provide a Certificate of Good Conduct. Educate! reserves the right to withdraw employment offers if any risks to youth are identified.