Human Resource Manager

Job Purpose

The HR Manager will lead and manage all human resources functions covering both teaching and non-teaching staff (100+ employees). The role ensures effective recruitment, on-boarding, staff development, performance management, employee relations, compliance with Kenyan legislation and safeguarding requirements, and delivery of a positive working environment that supports high-quality teaching and learning.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic HR leadership
• Develop and implement the school’s HR strategy aligned to the school’s vision, strategic plan and annual objectives.
• Advise senior leadership and the Board on workforce planning, salary structure, staff budget and HR cost control.
• Recruitment & selection
• Lead end-to-end recruitment for teaching and support roles (job design, adverts, shortlisting, interviewing, offers).
• Ensure safer-recruitment checks for all staff and volunteers (Certificate of Good Conduct/police checks, ID verification, qualification checks, references).
• Support succession planning and internal talent pipelines.
• On-boarding & induction
• Manage induction programmes for new hires (school culture, safeguarding, policies, role expectations).
• Ensure timely preparation and issuance of contracts, appointment letters, and staff records.
• Coordinate CPD, in-service training and career development pans; maintain training records and measure impact on teaching quality.
• Compensation & benefits/Payroll coordination
• Maintain up-to-date pay records; work with Finance or payroll provider to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing.
• Ensure statutory deductions and contributions (PAYE/KRA, NSSF, NHIF/SHA) are correctly applied and remitted.
• Advise on salary benchmarking and benefits packages as required.
• Employee relations, wellbeing & staff engagement
• Promote positive staff relations; provide confidential HR advice to managers and staff.
• Manage disciplinary, grievance and capability processes fairly and in accordance with police and Kenyan law.
• Proactively lead staff engagement and welfare activities, including;
• A regular staff bulletin (e.g. weekly or fortnightly) communicating important news, policy updates, training opportunities and recognition.
• Designing, implementing and coordinating staff happiness and welfare initiatives (wellness programs, recognition schemes, staff support mechanisms).
• Conducting an annual staff happiness/wellbeing survey, analyzing results and presenting action plans to senior leadership and the Board.
• Maintain and report on staff welfare metrics and follow-up actions.
• HR Policy, compliance and governance
• Develop, review and maintain HR policies and procedures (including Safeguarding/Child Protection, Code of Conduct, Leave, Maternity / Paternity, Absence Management).
• Ensure compliance with Kenyan employment legislation and education sector requirements.
• Prepare HR reports for the Principal and Board (staff establishment, turnover, absenteeism, training metrics and engagement outcomes).
• Employee records & HR systems
• Maintain accurate personnel records (electronic and paper) in compliance with data protection / confidentiality standards.
• Implement and maintain an HRIS or personnel database to manage staff information, contracts, leave, appraisals and training.
• Health &safety and safeguarding
• Work with the designated Child Protection Officer and Site/ Operations team to ensure staff compliance with safeguarding and H&S requirements.
• Ensure all staff receive appropriate child-protection training and refreshers.
• Exits & off boarding
• Manage resignation, termination and redundancy processes including exit interviews, clearance, final payments and return of school property; use exit data to inform retention strategies.
• Line management
• Manage and develop direct HR staff (e.g. HR Officer, HR Administrator), ensuring consistent, responsive HR service delivery through the academic year.
• Qualifications & experience
• Bachelors degree in HRM, Business Administration, Education Administration or related field.
• Professional HR qualification preferred (CPID, SHRM or recognized local equivalent).
• Minimum 5-7 years HR experience, including at least 2 years in a supervisory/ managerial role.
• Prior experience in the education sector or organizations of similar scale (100+ employees) desirable.
• Sound knowledge of Kenyan employment law, statutory deductions and compliance.
• Experience with HRIS and payroll systems; strong MS Office skills.
• Key skills & attributes
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to engage with teaching staff, parents, management and external stakeholders.
• High integrity, confidentiality and professional judgment – child centered and safeguarding focused.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize multiple tasks.
• Good negotiation, conflict-resolution and coaching skills.
• Analytical and data-driven; able to present HR metrics and engagement survey findings.
• Proactive, solutions-focused and calm under pressure.
• Performance indicators
• Time-to-fill for key teaching vacancies.
• Annual staff turnover rate.
• Percentage of staff with completed annual appraisals.
• Compliance rate for statutory remittances and background checks.
• Number of staff CPD hour per term/year and training satisfaction.
• Staff bulletin frequency and distribution metrics.
• Annual staff happiness survey response rate and improvement on key wellbeing indicators year-on-year.
• Number and impact of staff welfare initiatives implemented.