Senior Officer, HR & Administration, Pan-Africa

Senior Regional Officer, HR & Administration, Pan-Africa, 

Start date: March 1st, 2026 (contingent on signing of project agreement)

Supervisor:  Head of Operations

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

BACKGROUND

World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a leading Canadian international development organization driving positive education and economic change for young people around the world. Our vision is a world where every young person thrives and belongs. We believe all young people should have the opportunity to fulfill their aspirations and create their own futures. To help achieve this goal, we develop initiatives that: deliver lasting, measurable impact; are powered by partnerships across the globe; stay true to our core programming principles; and respond to the priorities and aspirations of the people with whom we work.

WUSC is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, and has offices across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Middle East. Our global team of development professionals bring deep expertise and open minds to identify new solutions to old problems and create a better world together. WUSC offers a dynamic international work environment with a diverse intercultural workforce. We offer employees exciting opportunities to apply their skills and gain experience all while making a difference for youth around the world.  Employees at WUSC work hard to create lasting change in the communities they serve.

Project Description:

Pending approval, WUSC is launching the second phase (2026-2031) of an exciting initiative, which aims to significantly expand efforts to help refugee, displaced, and host community (RDP) youth, particularly young women, secure dignified and fulfilling work and access education opportunities across Africa. Building on prior successes, this Phase II  will deepen engagement in new geographies, strengthen local ecosystems, and equip partners with necessary knowledge and tools for lasting change. A core strategy is emphasizing the engagement and strengthening of Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs) to provide sustainable, locally-led technical assistance. 

Over the next five years, Phase II’s ambitious goals include indirectly enabling one million RDP youth to secure dignified work and 35,000 to access education through the provision of expert technical assistance to a broad ecosystem of actors. Key implementation strategies involve working closely with RLOs through three pathways: providing financial access via an RLO Opportunity Fund, strengthening their capacity to provide technical assistance to partners, and embedding them across Phase II’s functional areas. WUSC will serve as a network orchestrator, facilitating connections for scale and training partners and other stakeholders on RDP inclusion. The initiative will achieve its targets by increasing knowledge among partners, enhancing capacity to develop innovative programming, improving collaboration and inclusive policies, and strengthening the institutional ability of RLOs to design, implement, and sustain RDP solutions.

Role Description:

The Senior Regional HR & Administration Officer, Pan-Africa safeguards people, workplace, and administrative standards across a diverse, multi-country operating context. The role will coordinate, and ensure quality assurance across the HR and administration lifecycle, including workplace administration and compliance, to ensure processes are legally sound, audit-ready, and aligned with WUSC policies and values. Positioned within the Operations Unit, the role works closely with Operations and Program teams and reports to the Head of Operations.

RESPONSIBILITIES

HR Lifecycle 

• Coordinate the administration of the full employee lifecycle for local, regional staff and independent contractors ensuring high-quality support from recruitment through to offboarding;
• Coordinate recruitment and onboarding for staff and consultants, aligning mobilization timelines with project milestones and program needs;
• Support consistent and fair application of HR and administrative policies, in line with applicable employment laws and internal policies.
• Ensure all staff undergo safeguarding training
  
  

Compliance & Quality Assurance

• Execute rigorous quality checks on employment contracts, service agreements, and administrative documentation prior to final execution;
• Champion full adherence to WUSC policies and local labor regulations, maintaining a culture of transparency, accountability, and constant audit readiness;
• Collaborate with the Head of Operations to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate operational and compliance risks within the HR function;
• Ensure data management in strict compliance with internal policies, international data protection standards and local laws
  
  

Office Management & Operational Excellence

• Synchronize office management, facility services, and security protocols to ensure physical and digital environments are inclusive, accessible, and safe for all staff and visitors;
• Monitor administrative performance and office utility, implementing refinements that enhance the overall "user experience" for the team while maintaining cost-effectiveness;
• Drive consistency and efficiency in administrative processes, ensuring that administrative processes effectively support project implementation.
• Conduct regular risk assessments and safety audits to maintain a high standard of workplace security and compliance.
  
  

Collaboration & Thought Partnership

• Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement by providing technical feedback on administrative workflows to ensure they remain lean, transparent, and aligned with project goals;
• Engage as a resource and collaborative partner for the operations team, sharing functional expertise to support team members navigate complex administrative challenges and streamline unit-wide processes;

• Work horizontally alongside other senior officers to identify operational bottlenecks and co-create practical, compliant solutions that improve service delivery for the whole team;
• Serve as a thought partner to the Operations Coordinator and Officers, providing guidance that fosters consistency and professional growth across the HR and Admin function;
• Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement by providing technical feedback on administrative workflows to ensure they remain lean, transparent, and aligned with project goals.
  
  

QUALIFICATIONS AND COMPETENCIES

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred;
• 7+ years of progressive experience in HR and office operations, preferably within the international development sector and multi-country programs;
• In-depth knowledge of regional labor laws, HR best practices, and donor compliance standards;
• Proven experience providing operational supervision in cross-cultural and multi-country contexts;
• Exceptional writing, negotiation, and communication skills in English; professional proficiency in French is a strong asset;
• Strong planning, organizational, and problem-solving abilities, with the capacity to work independently and collaboratively in fast-paced environments;
• Commitment to WUSC’s mission of supporting displaced and refugee youth, ensuring programs are delivered effectively, ethically, and transparently;
• Membership in a recognized national or regional HR or professional management association is a strong asset.
  
  

Other requirements:

• The headquarters of this initiative is located in Nairobi, Kenya; 
• Based on the African continent, and must already possess the relevant work authorizations in the country they are/will be residing in;
• The role may require travel;
• Ability to work a flexible schedule.
  
  

WHY WORK WITH WUSC?

Join Us. Our work is important, cutting-edge, and rewarding. We encourage curiosity, innovation, and flexibility.

WUSC offers a dynamic international work environment with a diverse intercultural workforce. We offer employees exciting opportunities to apply their skills and gain experience all while making a difference in the lives of youth around the world. Employees at WUSC work hard to create lasting change in education, economic opportunities and empowerment.

WUSC’s office in Kenya is located in Westlands, off Waiyaki Way. Here’s some of what you can expect working with us:

• 40-hour workweek, some ability to work flexible hours and a hybrid work arrangement
• 21 days annual leave
• Health insurance coverage
• Free access to an e-learning platform with 350+ courses on various topics
• Get to know and exchange with people from all over the world
• Being part of a friendly, caring and enthusiastic team!

APPLICATIONS

WUSC’s activities seek to balance inequities and create sustainable development around the globe; the work ethic of our staff, volunteers, representatives and partners shall correspond to the values and mission of the organization. WUSC promotes responsibility, respect, honesty, and professional excellence and we will not tolerate harassment, coercion, sexual exploitation or abuse of any form. 

Persons with disabilities who need accommodation in the application process, or those needing job postings in an alternative format, may e-mail a request to [email protected].

WUSC is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and abilities. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. Please note that only the candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. 

If you are interested in this position, please follow this link to apply through our website.