Back HR Manager

1. Context

Relief International (RI) is an international non-profit organization that partners with communities impacted by conflict, climate change and disaster to save lives, build greater resilience and promote long-term health and wellbeing.

Our team of more than 7,000 staff and local volunteers work in 15 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, providing Health and Nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Education and Livelihoods programming that creates the foundation for community resilience.

We do this by working with local actors to develop safe and inclusive local programming that is evidence based, conflict sensitive, climate smart, and reaches those in need.

Relief International is an alliance of four organizations with one shared mission, comprised of Relief International, Inc., Relief International-France, Relief International-UK and Relief International-Europe, which operate under a one-team concept under a single senior leadership team.

2. About our Country Program

Relief International was operational in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) starting in 2007, and after entering a hibernation period in 2017, has recently reactivated its operations at the end of 2023. Relief International is actively working to respond to the current and evolving situation in both Gaza and the West Bank through both a direct implementation and partnership approach. Relief International’s programming in oPt follows Relief International’s global strategy with Health as a central focus with components linked to our work in Health through the sectors of WASH, Protection, Education and Livelihoods. The context in OPT is extremely dynamic and requires focus on nexus programming that brings together both humanitarian service delivery combined with systems strengthening and longer-term programming.

3. Job Profile

The Palestine HR Manager is a key leadership role is responsible for guiding and implementing human resource strategies in compliance with RI policies and local labor laws. The HR Manager ensures the effective management of HR functions, including recruitment, employee relations, compensation and benefits, learning and development, and compliance.

Your role will provide high-quality HR support and oversight to ensure RI’s human resource management strategy and functions are effectively implemented across the oPt country office. You will play a pivotal role in aligning HR policies and procedures with RI’s global framework while ensuring adaptability to local contexts. Your expertise will contribute to RI’s ability to attract, retain, and develop talent while maintaining a supportive and legally compliant work environment.

4. Key Responsibilities

Accountability and Complexity

• Develop and implement a comprehensive HR strategy aligned with RI’s policies and local labor laws.
• Ensure HR systems and procedures are standardized and harmonized across oPt operations.
• Oversee and ensure compliance with labor laws, employment standards, and RI policies.
• Support recruitment, compensation analysis, learning and development, performance management, and talent acquisition.
• Provide expert HR guidance to senior leadership on key people management issues.

  Talent Acquisition and Workforce Management

  • Lead transparent and efficient recruitment processes for the oPt country office.
  • Ensure salary offers and hiring decisions comply with RI policies and labor laws.
  • Oversee contracts, promotions, extensions, and status changes for staff.
  • Monitor workforce trends and provide strategic workforce planning guidance.

    Compensation, Benefits, and Employee Relations

    • Coordinate payroll preparation and social security payments to ensure accuracy and timeliness.
    • Monitor leave tracking and support salary reviews to enhance employee well-being.
    • Lead employee relations initiatives, including conflict resolution, disciplinary processes, and grievance management.
    • Respond promptly to employee queries, ensuring a fair and respectful workplace.

      Training, Development, and Culture

      • Collaborate with the Director of Training and Development to implement capacity-building initiatives.
      • Foster an inclusive and collaborative work culture that values diverse perspectives.
      • Provide guidance to managers and staff on navigating HR policies and responsibilities.
      • Promote a culture of ethical leadership, trust, and accountability.
      • Support initiatives related to staff well-being, work-life balance, and mental health.

        Management and Leadership

        • Serve as a role model for high ethical standards and integrity.
        • Navigate HR-related challenges in a conflict-affected region with resilience and adaptability.
        • Ensure HR initiatives are aligned with organizational objectives and measure key HR performance indicators.
        • Support the oPt Incident Management Team in safeguarding, HR-related investigations, and follow-ups.

          Behavior and Conduct

          • Will ensure the highest standards of behavior inside and outside of work promotes the values in RI’s code of conduct and safeguarding policies
          • Will be a model for ethical conduct standards for other team members
          • Will ensure own actions and the actions of the teams’ members they manage do not impact the safety of the RI team and the vulnerable communities we serve
          • Will ensure external stakeholders are aware of RI conduct and reporting mechanisms
          • Report any concerns

            5. Person Specification

            Skills, knowledge and expertise required for the role.

            Essential Criteria

            • Previous HR strategic experience in the Middle East region.
            • Minimum of 5 years of HR experience in the NGO sector.
            • Proven experience developing and implementing HR strategies in compliance with local labor laws.
            • Proven experience in leading HR-related nivestigations.
            • Ability to navigate complex and challenging situations in conflict-affected regions.
            • Strong organizational, analytical, and administrative skills with attention to detail.
            • Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
            • Strong problem-solving skills and an innovative approach to HR challenges.
            • Willingness to travel, sometimes on short notice, for HR-related duties.
            • Excellent communication skills, including negotiation, presentation, and relationship management.
            • Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic.

              RI Values

              Guided by the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence, as well as “Do No Harm,” Relief International Values:

              • Integrity
              • Adaptability
              • Collaboration
              • Inclusivity
              • Sustainability