Senior HR Officer - Maternity Cover

Title: Senior Human Resources Officer - Maternity Cover

Program/Center/Department: Operations / People & Culture

Contract Type: Fixed-Term, 6 Months Maternity Cover

The role will be based in the WRI Country Office in Nairobi, Kenya. This is a hybrid position. You will need to be in office at least 8 days per month and living within reasonable commuting distance of the office.

About the Program:

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 W RI 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. 

Job Highlight:

As the Senior Human 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.

You will report to the Senior Regional People & Culture Manager, WRI Africa.

What you will do: 

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 HR documentation.
• Serve as the focal point for Workday-related employee lifecycle processes, including new hires, job changes, transfers, compensation updates, contract changes, terminations, and employee data corrections.
• 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 and procedures.
• 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 supported countries.

Talent Acquisition and Onboarding (10%)

• Support recruitment processes for Kenya 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 system updates.
• Support internship hiring processes.

What you will need: 

Education: You have completed a 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 HR qualification 

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 and effectiveness 
• Experience in HRIS systems preferably WorkDay 
• Strong familiarity with labor laws especially for Kenya
• Ability to handle confidential information discretely 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint) 
• Experience working with proprietary software applications 

Languages: You are proficient in written and spoken English

Requirements: Existing work authorization is required where this position will be based. WRI is unable to authorize visa work authorization.

Salary is commensurate with experience and other compensable factors.

How to Apply:

Please submit a resume with a cover letter by 16th November 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 for 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
• Generous leave days that increase with tenure.

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.

Our culture:

WRI is committed to advancing gender and social equity for human well-being in our mission including equal opportunities in employment. 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.