Position Description
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Position Title: European Human Resources DirectorPrimary Location: Edinburgh or London (with regular European and International travel)
Position Status: Full time, regular
Salary Level: Dependent on location, skills and experience
Reports to: Executive Director, Europe (with a dotted reporting line into the Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources)
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Purpose
Following a successful period of stabilisation and growth of Mercy Corps in the UK, the organisation is embarking on a strategic growth strategy in Europe, with a view to elevating our profile, influence and breadth of partnerships on the continent, which will in turn contribute to greater impact at scale in the countries where we work.
This planned growth must be supported by robust and efficient talent acquisition and management, in full alignment with the global Mercy Corps Agency. To ensure this growth is both sustainable and efficient, it must be robustly supported by visionary people and organisational development programmes to attract and develop and retain top talent across our country locations while ensuring that there is a unified culture and cohesive employment practices.
The role will have the scope to shape and build the Agency People Culture within Europe integrating closely with and complementing the Global Mercy Corps Agency. The role is key to the future growth and success of the agency’s strategic plan ensuring that we build and develop teams with the right talent to support the agency.
Main Duties & Responsibilities
Influence in Europe
1. Define and lead talent acquisition and talent management programmes across Europe, liaising with the Senior Director of Global Talent Acquisition and the Senior Director, Global Human Resources to ensure standardisation, efficiency and adherence with UK/other European country laws.
2. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team in Europe, input into determining and achieving the European growth strategy and to lead and inspire others around this strategy.
3. Leadership of HR functions for Europe-based staff and UK expatriate employees in compliance with UK and other Country locations’ legislation.
4. Support the building of the capabilities and culture in the European organisation that will be needed in order to deliver on the European strategy.
5. Represent Mercy Corps to key stakeholders (both internal and external) with a view to recruiting and retaining talent.
6. Responsible for ensuring that there is a robust and visionary formalised Succession Planning programme for the European Agency.
Interface and alignment with Mercy Corps globally
7. Mentor and support the development of Mercy Corps Europe staff – both in Europe and expatriates. Doing this effectively will require inputting into the design of agency-wide development programmes and developing a network of mentors and training institutions in Europe.
8. In support of the global Leadership and Organisational Effectiveness team, engage in the creation and delivery of expatriate HR training materials in coordination with other LOE Directors (e.g. Code of Conduct, Performance Management, Supervisor training)
9. In support of global capacity building priorities, support the capacity building of a cadre of field-based HR professionals
Technical and Administrative
10. Oversee the efficient hiring, on-boarding and ongoing development of Europe-based staff and UK-nationals working oversees, streamlined with our global systems and processes
11. Design and establish consistent HR administrative procedures to ensure an accurate and efficient HR function in accordance with the policies of Mercy Corps Europe and UK law. This includes all new employee documentation, employee files, sickness records and payroll information. Coordinate appropriate documentation and information with the HR department in Portland and facilitate a co-ordinated HR function to allow the organisation to operate on a global platform.
12. Keep up-to-date with changes in UK/European employment law and make necessary adjustments to policies and terms and conditions of employment to ensure compliance.
13. Ensure that all policies and procedures are in place, standardised as much as possible and in alignment with the Global Mercy Corps Agency Culture and Practices.
14. Oversee all queries from Mercy Corps Europe employees regarding HR issues, providing efficient, credible and caring support services.
15. Provide advice to supervisors/leadership on expat and UK based disciplinary issues and involuntary termination of UK hired expatriate and UK based employees
16. Ensure policies, remuneration and terms and conditions of employment of Mercy Corps Europe are competitive and as aligned as legally possible with the global agency.
17. Define, agree and manage the budget and other financial measures of the Human Resources Department in Europe
18. Provide advice to all management throughout Mercy Corps on UK employment law, including disciplinary and grievance procedures, to ensure the organisation meets all legal requirements in respect of Mercy Corps Europe employees, ensuring fair and reasonable treatment.
Person Specification
In addition to a strong track record of delivery in relevant roles, a strong HR generalist background is essential (CIPD qualified or equivalent qualification) with significant experience and proven track record in designing and implementing talent acquisition, talent management and succession planning programmes across different geographies and cultures. Experience of operating in a geographically and culturally diverse platform with the ability to lead on standardising HR practices and policies across the organisation.
The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate the potential to be effective in the following leadership capability areas:
· Passion and high level of self-motivation for creating a more secure, productive and just world
· Coaching and communication
· Emotional leadership: empathy, self-awareness, emotional energy, organisational insight and influence
· Humanitarian and development industry knowledge and insight
· Tolerance for ambiguity and skilled at functioning effectively within matrixed structures
· Strong relationship building skills
· Able to operate effectively for short periods in harsh and/or remote environments
· Travel regularly within Europe and to the US several times per annum and to Mercy Corps country offices as required.
· Language skills in both English and one other European language (with French preferred)
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Reporting relationships
The Director of HR, Europe will report to the Executive Director, Europe with a dotted line reporting to the Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources.
Other key working relationships:
· The Senior Leadership Team in Europe
· The Global Leadership and Organisational Effectiveness team in Portland, US
· A small UK based HR team with potential for growth.
Remuneration to be agreed based on skills, experience and work location