International NGO Safety Organisation Job Vacancy for Director of Human Resources-United Arab Emirates

Founded in 2011, the International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) has grown from innovative start-up to become a globally recognised charity and a valuable pillar of the humanitarian coordination architecture.

Today the organisation provides daily support to more than 800 NGOs across a dozen of the world’s most insecure countries and has earned a strong reputation for performance, principles & professionalism.

As we continue to grow in organisational size and complexity, we are now seeking a qualified and experienced individual to join our Headquarters team as Director of Human Resources overseeing global policy and procedures for our +600 national and international personnel.

This is a very exciting opportunity to help build a global humanitarian initiative from the ground up and will suit highly motivated HR professionals driven by creativity and innovation.

The ideal candidate will currently be working as a senior HR director/manager in the NGO sector but perhaps looking to take on more decision-making responsibility and work with more autonomy and creativity alongside like-minded colleagues in a friendly and innovative environment where you can really make a difference.

As a relatively new organisation, the environment is one of a ‘start-up’ where the Director will be required to work without a script to conceptualize, draft and implement policies and regulations that match the organisations principles and intent.

With guidance from the Executive Director, the Director of HR will be expected to take a firm lead in the strategic development of an HR Department including setting objectives, targets and indicators, developing and implementing relevant policies and procedures, setting and staffing an organisational structure and orienting, training and supervising HR functions across the whole organisation.

The Director of Human Resources post is being offered on a 2-year renewable basis and is based out of our Operational Support Office (OSO) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates with occasional travel to field sites as mandatory (30% of time minimum). The position reports to the Executive Director, will oversee one HR Manager Manager and co-ordinates HR personnel in each country office.

Main Areas of Responsibility:

  • Lead the regular review and updating of INSO International Personnel Regulations to take account of organisational learning, legal requirements and best practices.
  • Design and write a new INSO National Staff Regulations document incorporating organisational principles and intent as well as national regulations.
  • Oversee the application and implementation of National and International Personnel Regulations in each INSO Country Office.
  • Design and roll out an HR Training and Orientation package to induct new employees into INSO procedures.
  • Develop and directly implement innovative organisational recruitment strategies and processes to find the right candidate for the right post at the right time.
  • Develop and implement holistic policies and procedures for staff (national & international) professional capacity development to improve both performance and retention.
  • Lead exit/change management procedures to ensure positive transition for departing/transferring employees.
  • Manage the production, collection, retention and use of HR related documentation and materials for use in audit and reporting as required.
  • Identify policy and systems gap and develop new regulations and policies to fill them as required.
  • Co-ordinate with technical staff to develop and maintain an online Employee Portal and HR newsletter to improve organisation-wide communications and visibility on HR issues.
  • Establish and maintain a principled, transparent, communicative and creative ‘atmosphere’ on human resource management.
  • Provide timely, professional support services to Country Offices and other Sections as required including; preparation of contracts, vacancy postings, applicant screening and interviews, reference checks, pre-deployment orientations and policy interpretations/advice as needed.
  • Coordinate with Finance Department in production of staff payroll and taxation.
  • Where available, manage staff benefit plans.
  • Oversee compliance with UAE labour law and employee registration for all UAE based employees.
  • Devise and implement metrics (KPI) for the effective monitoring and reporting on key HR indicators for presentation to Executive and Board.
  • Other HR-related duties as assigned time to time by the Executive Director.

Ideal Requirements:

First and foremost, INSO is looking for strategic intelligence and commitment to purpose. While the following represent the most likely ideal candidate, we are happy to hear from anyone who sees a strong alignment between this and their personal goals.

  • MSc/MA level of education in a field relevant to humanitarian action
  • Specialised degree/diploma/certificate in Human Resource Management (Current member of an HR association SHRM, HRMA, HRMI, etc. is preferable)
  • >5 years experience in the humanitarian/NGO sector in any field/role.
  • >3 years experience specifically in NGO Human Resources at a senior level (2 years with other NGO senior management experience)
  • Experience conceptualizing, writing and implementing organisational policy documents and systems.
  • Fluent in English both written and spoken
  • Experience in management of international and national staff
  • Experience of major donor regulations (ECHO, DFID, USAID) in relation to HR
  • Demonstrable understanding of, and personal commitment to, humanitarian ethics and common personnel principles
  • Willingness and ability to travel occasionally to INSO field sites in conflict and post-conflict settings.
  • Organised, solution-oriented, emotionally mature and easy going personality.

Added Advantages:

  • Fluent in another language (ideally French or Arabic)
  • Existing knowledge of INSO and its mission
How to apply:

INSO is a unique organisation and we are looking for the ultimate people person.

You should be experienced, smart, organised, considerate, emotionally mature and with a genuine commitment towards INSO’s humanitarian safety mission. In return we offer rewarding and engaging work in a relaxed yet professional setting with a real sense of accomplishment, purpose and teamwork.

If this sound like what you are looking for, then please send your CV and cover letter to:

Please include “Director HR” in the subject line of your email.

Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Closing date: 17 Nov 2017