HR & People Operations Officer

Department: Global Human Resources & People Strategy Reports To: Head of Global Human Resources & People Strategy Location: Kenya Role Level: Operational / Individual Contributor Job Summary Own the timely, accurate execution of day-to-day HR operations in Kenya as the first point of contact for employees and managers. Coordinate recruitment, employee records, payroll inputs, performance cycles, employee relations and compliance in line with company policies and global standards. Work independently on routine matters, exercise sound judgment and escalate significant risks promptly. Key Responsibilities HR Operations & Employee Administration Administer contracts, employee records, leave, attendance, probation, confirmations, renewals and exits; maintain confidentiality and data accuracy. Track deadlines and outstanding HR actions proactively; resolve routine issues and improve administrative processes. Recruitment, Onboarding & Offboarding Coordinate approved hiring: advertising, screening, interviews, reference checks, candidate communication and documentation. Manage induction, system-access coordination, 30/60/90-day onboarding checkpoints, probation tracking, exit clearance, interviews and final-pay inputs, subject to approvals. Employee Relations & Workplace Standards Provide first-level HR support; document concerns and support grievances, investigations and disciplinary processes fairly and confidentially. Assist managers on workplace standards; promptly escalate sensitive, complex, potentially unlawful or high-risk matters to Global HR. Performance Management & Accountability Coordinate monthly KPI reporting, quarterly Balanced Scorecard reviews, probation assessments and performance improvement documentation. Follow up overdue manager reviews and action items; maintain evidence and exception reports while managers retain responsibility for their teams. Payroll, Attendance & Benefits Prepare and validate payroll inputs with Finance, including attendance, leave, overtime, employee movements and approved adjustments. Coordinate benefits and statutory records; resolve discrepancies and confirm appropriate authorization for changes and deductions. HR Compliance, Policies & Governance Maintain Kenyan employment and statutory compliance records; coordinate filings, audits and local implementation of approved global policies. Identify compliance risks, protect employee data and escalate matters requiring specialist or senior review. Engagement, Culture & Development Coordinate approved company recognition, engagement, learning and wellbeing initiatives; monitor participation and feedback. Support managers in improving communication, employee experience, teamwork and accountability. HR Reporting, Systems & Improvement Maintain timely reports and trackers for headcount, turnover, hiring, attendance, performance, employee relations, compliance and overdue actions. Use approved HR platforms, Teams and SharePoint; improve documentation, standardization and responsible automation. Global HR Coordination Collaborate with the Head of Global HR and the other remote HR & People Operations Officer on shared templates, reporting and initiatives. Provide assigned support to other markets; Kenya remains the primary remit, without regional oversight or independent cross-market authority. Authority, Accountability & Escalation Own routine execution and follow-through, but do not independently approve recruitment, pay changes, formal disciplinary sanctions, terminations, redundancies or material policy exceptions. Obtain documented approvals through the company's decision-rights framework before implementation. Global HR leads the function; country and functional leaders remain accountable for managing their teams. Qualifications & Experience Bachelor's degree in HR, Business Administration or a related field; at least four years of hands-on HR generalist experience. Appropriate IHRM registration in good standing and applicable professional practicing compliance; CHRP-K. Working knowledge of Kenyan employment law, employee relations, compliance, payroll, recruitment and performance administration. Strong Excel and HR-systems proficiency; logistics, e-commerce, warehousing or multisite experience is an advantage. Key Competencies Ownership and follow-through; sound professional judgment; integrity and confidentiality; attention to detail; clear communication; initiative and problem-solving; adaptability; cross-functional collaboration. Key Performance Indicators Accuracy and timeliness of payroll inputs, employee records, statutory documentation and HR responses. Timely completion of recruitment, onboarding, probation, offboarding and monthly KPI / quarterly BSC cycles. Appropriate escalation and resolution of employee matters; closure of compliance gaps and overdue actions. Implementation of process improvements and effective coordination with managers and Global HR. Role Scope Country-focused operational HR position within a centralized global function. Global HR retains policy, governance and decision rights. Support to other markets is administrative and assigned, not regional leadership. Other reasonable HR-related duties may be assigned by the Head of Global HR.