Human Resources Manager

About the role

This position is for an experienced HR leader to oversee people operations from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, while also contributing to broader international HR support. The role covers the entire employee journey, from hiring and onboarding through performance management, employee relations, and exits. It also includes maintaining compliance with Ethiopian labour requirements, supporting international employment matters, coordinating payroll, and handling contractor administration across several countries.

The person in this role will work closely with management as a trusted HR partner, helping ensure smooth daily operations, strong employee experience, and compliance with both local and cross-border employment obligations.

HR operations in Ethiopia

• Take charge of everyday HR activities for the Ethiopian team.
• Lead hiring, onboarding, performance management, employee relations, and exit processes.
• Ensure all practices align with Ethiopian labour legislation, relevant regulations, and internal policies.
• Keep employee files and HR records accurate and well maintained.
• Advise managers and staff on HR policies, processes, and employee matters.

International HR support

• Assist with HR operations in other locations by working with leadership and external partners.
• Help prepare, review, and administer employment contracts and related HR documents for international staff.
• Support compliance with employment laws and HR standards in overseas jurisdictions, including the UK, UAE, and/or USA.
• Work with external legal, payroll, and HR vendors when needed.

Payroll and benefits administration

• Contribute to monthly payroll preparation and processing for employees and contractors.
• Check that payroll information is complete, correct, and delivered on time.
• Coordinate with payroll providers and finance teams to fix payroll issues.
• Support benefits administration, leave tracking, and statutory obligations.

Contractor management

• Handle contractor onboarding, administration, and offboarding across multiple countries.
• Maintain contractor agreements and ensure they stay updated and compliant with local rules.
• Coordinate contractor invoicing, payments, and contract renewals.
• Partner with internal teams to support proper contractor classification and engagement practices.

Employee relations and HR development

• Support initiatives that improve employee engagement, wellbeing, and retention.
• Assist with disciplinary actions, grievances, and performance-related processes.
• Help shape and implement HR policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Contribute to a positive, inclusive, and high-performance workplace culture.

Required experience and skills

This role calls for a seasoned HR professional with at least 5 years of experience, ideally at HR Manager or Senior HR Generalist level. You should have a solid grasp of Ethiopian employment law and practical HR standards, along with experience supporting international people operations, payroll coordination, and contractor management. Strong organisation, communication, stakeholder handling, and confidentiality are essential, as is comfort using HRIS and payroll platforms.

Desirable background

• Exposure to employment contracts and compliance requirements in at least one of these regions: the UK, UAE, or USA.
• CIPD qualification or an equivalent HR certification.
• Experience in technology, consulting, or professional services settings.
• Background supporting remote or distributed teams.

Personal attributes

• Proactive and focused on solving problems.
• Strong at building relationships and communicating clearly.
• Able to work independently while managing several priorities.
• Well organised and highly attentive to detail.
• Flexible, collaborative, and comfortable in a fast-moving international environment.