Title:Senior Human Resources Officer - Maternity Cover

Program/Center/Department:Operations / People & Culture

Region:Rwanda

Contract Type:Fixed-Term, 6 Months MaternityCover

Reports to:Senior Regional People & Culture Manager, WRI Africa

About theProgram:

Our vision for Africa is an inclusive transformation so Africa’s people and landscapes flourish. WRI Africa generates actionable knowledge across three strategic pillars: vital landscapes, thriving and resilient cities, and institutional and economic transformation.https://www.wri.org/wri-africa WRI Operations team supports the crucial front-line work of the organization, they directly interact and work with Donors, Partners, Government agencies, Statutory bodies, Trustees, Vendors, and Consultants in fielding their inquiries, providing support at all the fronts and solving problems. So that the WRI programs can be implemented without any hurdles and the program staff and researchers can develop high quality research documents, plans and implement the programs at the field level. WRI Operations team strive for operational excellence across all functions starting with the recruitment, retention and management of WRI’s staff, our most important asset. We manage our endowment, the contributions entrusted to us, and our facilities in ways that are in line with our values and advance our mission. We maintain strict budgetary planning and financial controls to ensure that all contributions are managed in compliance with donors’ wishes.

JobHighlight:

As the SeniorHuman Resources Officer - Maternity Cover, you will provide seamless HR operational support to WRI staff and managers. You will support the delivery of core People & Culture services, including HR administration, recruitment coordination, onboarding, employee lifecycle support, HR policy guidance, employee relations, and Workday data management. This six-month role requires a detail-oriented, discreet, and service-driven HR professional who can work independently, collaborate across a regional and global matrix, and maintain accurate HR information and processes during the maternity cover period.

What you willdo:

HR Operations and Administration(45%)

Provide day-to-day HR administration, including employee records, personnel files, leave administration, benefits coordination, and contract documentation.
Prepare employment contracts, contract extensions, offer letters, promotion letters, confirmation letters, and other HR correspondence as required.
Coordinate onboarding, changes, transfers, contract renewals, and offboarding documentation in line with WRI policies and country-specific requirements.

Liaise with medical, pension, benefits, legal, consultant, and Employer of Record partners where applicable, ensuring timely follow-up and accurate documentation.
Maintain confidentiality and ensure accurate, complete, and up-to-date HRdocumentation.
Serve as the focal point for Workday-related employee lifecycle processes, including new hires, job changes, transfers, compensation updates, contract changes, terminations, and employee datacorrections.
Maintain accurate HR data in Workday and ensure transactions are completed on time, routed correctly for approvals, and aligned with internal HR processes.

Regional Coordination and Stakeholder Support(30%)

Collaborate effectively with regional People & Culture colleagues, Operations, Finance, Talent Acquisition, global HR teams, and country teams.
Support remote and multi-country HR service delivery, ensuring consistent communication and timely follow-up with stakeholders.
Contribute to continuous improvement of HR processes, tools, templates, and documentation during the maternity cover period.

HR Policies, Compliance and Employee Relations(15%)

Provide first-line guidance to employees and managers on HR policies, procedures, benefits, leave, and employee lifecycle processes.
Support the implementation and communication of HR policies andprocedures.
Support employee relations matters by providing timely, accurate, and confidential HR support, escalating complex cases appropriately.
Monitor contract, probation, leave, and compliance timelines and support follow-up actions with managers and employees.
Support alignment with applicable labor laws and internal policies across the supportedcountries.

Talent Acquisition and Onboarding(10%)

Support recruitment processes for Rwanda and Congo Basin roles, including job posting coordination, candidate screening, interview scheduling, documentation, reference checks, and offer preparation.
Work closely with the Talent Acquisition team and hiring managers to ensure timely recruitment processes and a positive candidate experience.
Coordinate new hire onboarding, orientation logistics, HR policy briefings, documentation, and systemupdates.
Support internship hiringprocesses.

What you will need:

Education:A completed bachelor's degree in HR, business or non-profit management, public administration, or related field with HR qualification at a diploma level or a professional HRqualification
Experience:You have 5+ years of relevant professional experience working in Human Resources administrative roles, ideally within an international non-profit matrixed organization

Experience in the development of HR related new systems and policies to improve efficiency andeffectiveness
Experience in HRIS systems preferablyWorkDay
Familiarity with labor laws
Ability to handle confidential informationdiscretely
Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access,PowerPoint)
Experience working with proprietary softwareapplications
Languages:You are proficient in written and spoken English &French
Requirements:Existing work authorization is required where this position will be based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization

Potential Salary: Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply: Please submit a resume with a cover letter by August 4, 2026. Internal applicants should submit their application through the Jobs Hub portal in Workday. External applicants must apply through the WRI Careers portal to be considered. We may close applications sooner if we receive a high volume of applications from qualified candidates.

What we offer:

Access to the WRI global network with the opportunity to exchange with and learn from passionate colleagues working at the cutting edge of their fields across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the US
The chance to have an impact and to develop your career within a mission driven organization with access to varied learning and training opportunities
A workplace that strives to put diversity and inclusion at the heart of our work
The opportunity to join and get involved in different working groups and affinity groups to shape the future of WRI
Commitment to hybrid working model with flexible working hours

About Us: World Resources Institute works to improve people's lives, protect and restore nature and stabilize the climate. As an independent research organization, we leverage our data, expertise and global reach to influence policy and catalyse change across systems like food, land and water; energy; and cities. Our 2,000+ staff work on the ground in more than a dozen focus countries and with partners in over 50 nations.

Our mission and values: WRI's mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth's environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations. Our values are shared ideals that bind us together: Independence, Integrity, Impact, Partnership and Care. These values shape how we work with one another as well as what we work toward, and they call on all of us to help create an environment where people are welcomed, respected, and able to contribute as their full selves.

Our culture: At WRI, we believe that a more inclusive, equitable, and respectful workplace helps all of us do better work and better serve our mission. We are committed to advancing gender and social equity and to fostering an environment where people of all identities and backgrounds feel they belong, are valued, and are treated with dignity and respect. Creating this kind of culture is a shared responsibility across WRI. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, caste, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or protected Veteran status.

Our People team carefully reviews all applications.

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Senior Human Resources Officer - Maternity Cover