Job Opportunity at Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) - Human Resource and Administration Manager

Human Resource and Administration Manager 

Wildlife Conservation Society

Job Summary

Under the general supervision of the Country Director, the incumbent shall facilitate the achievement of organizational objectives by providing organizational development services, sourcing, developing, managing and retaining quality human resources for the operations of WCS-Tanzania.

Job Description/Requirements

Reports to: Country Director, Tanzania

Location: Mbeya, Tanzania

Country Program/Sector: Tanzania, East Africa, Madagascar& West Indian Ocean region

Position Type: Fulltime

Application deadline: 25 November 2020

Internal liaison: Country Director, managers and all staff

Expected travel: Approximately 30%. As required within the country

Organization Background:

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is a US non-profit, tax-exempt, private organization established in 1895 that saves wildlife and wild places by understanding critical issues, crafting science-based solutions, and taking conservation actions that benefit nature and humanity. With more than a century of experience, long-term commitments in dozens of landscapes, presence in more than 60 nations, and experience helping to establish over 150 protected areas across the globe, WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding and partnerships to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. Working with local communities and organizations, that knowledge is applied to address species, habitat and ecosystem management issues critical to improving the quality of life of poor rural people whose livelihoods depend on the direct utilization of natural resources.

Program Overview:

WCS has been working in Tanzania since 1956 with a unified country program since 2006. WCS has carried out a vast range of activities encompassing training, research, monitoring, institutional and community support, education and creation, extension and management of key protected areas. Parallel Tanzania has un-paralleled wildlife and natural resources. Perched on the crossroads of many of the extensive biomes that cover Africa, it also boasts of the highest and lowest points of the continent; top of Mt. Kilimanjaro and the bottom of Lake Tanganyika. Whilst recognized for its unmatched concentrations of large herbivores, the remarkable diversity of habitats from reefs to montane forests all combine to make Tanzania one of the most biodiverse and natural resources rich nations in Africa.

Main Responsibilities:

• HR Management.
• Manage and coordinate Human Resources activities for the Country Office and Field Offices.
• Contributes to overall policy formulation, strategic planning and organizational development
• Develops HR policies, strategies, tools for effective management of human capital
• Interprets labor laws and other relevant pieces of legislation to ensure that WCS-Tanzania is in compliance with the law
• Develops HR annual plans and work objectives, work plans and individual targets and use them as a basis for assessment of performance and identifying of capacity development needs
• Provide information and advice to project staff regarding HR policies and procedures HR and Organizational Development
• Develop and execute plans for recruitment to meet the operational requirements of WCS-Tanzania
• Maintain organization staff by establishing a recruiting, testing and interviewing program training managers on candidate selection; conducting and analyzing exit interviews recommending changes.
• Provide HR support to Heads of departments for the management of people in accordance with the law and good practice to create an environment where staff are motivated to perform
• Develop and execute effective induction program to ensure that new staff feel welcome and become productive within the shortest period of time
• Develop need-based annual training and development plans and budgets to improve staff performance, and effectively manage their execution during the year to ensure value for money; manage training vendors to ensure quality services
• Develops and supports the implementation of performance management system for planning, monitoring and objectively evaluating the performance of staff and provides guidance for career management
• Manage and provide guidance for the management of employee relations in support of a conductive working environment and culture in WCS-IP
• Manage an appropriate and basic Human Resource Information System (HRIS) to support effective human resources practice
• Maintain the work structure by updating job requirements and job descriptions for all positions
• Review organizational structures based on Job Description and other systems to aid effective people management and organization development activities
• Initiates and manages change to create a good environment within WCS-Tanzania
• Coordinate staff training and development initiatives including mobilization of staff for trainings and mobilizing staff to make use of WCS-U online training opportunities
• Managing leave, time sheets and employee absence

Compensation and Benefits.

• Conduct Job Analysis & Job Grading program based on current job descriptions.
• Modify compensation and benefits policies to establish competitive programs and ensure compliance with legal requirements
• Prepares salary and benefit structures aligned to market levels and WCS-Tanzania policy and provide input for the payroll
• Review monthly payroll and make all necessary changes. Co-ordinate to make a smooth and efficient operation (variable compensation, overtime, special payments). Ensure that accurate statutory deductions and other receivable are collected from staff.
• Review all data needed for the annual salary review, and the annual performance appraisal Employee Relations and Compliance
• Identify and handle complaints, disputes and grievances of all staff and report them to the appropriate supervisor and to the Country Director
• Serve as a link between management and employees by handling questions, and interpreting related to human resource matters
• Conduct exit and grievance interviews for all staffs.
• Through liaison with WCS OGC, retain a local law firm ensuring Program legal compliance by monitoring and implementing applicable law requirements and amendments of Tanzania and Zanzibar labor laws and incorporating them into the relevant WCS policies
• Work closely with Grants & Compliance Manager to Ensure compliance with donor agreements regarding human resource and with local labor laws

Other duties

• Maintain records and prepare statistical reports concerning personnel related data such as hires, transfers, performance appraisals and absenteeism rates.
• Represent WCS-Tanzania to public, NGOs, Government and donors as required
• Carryout any HR related tasks that the Country Director may ask from time to time

Administration Responsibilities

• Ensure that expatriates staff have relevant documents e.g. work permit;
• Administrative management of projects infrastructure, i.e. leases/rent, insurance policies, registration, agreements, procurement, inventories, (vehicles, housing, office, boats, etc.).
• Assisting Logistics Manager in management of country office infrastructure;
• Prepare and update inventory list/register for WCS Tanzania Program.
• Working with the Country and Finance Director, ensure that all project/activities in the Tanzania Program are in compliance and respecting national legislation regarding customs, NGO registration and GoT reporting, IP rights and laws etc.
• Ensure all in country registration documentation is in place and up to date for both Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar (TIN certificates, Certificates of Registration, MoUs with GoT/Z, business license etc.)

Position Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration or a related field;
• At least five (5) years of progressively responsible HR experience working on donor-funded projects or INGO.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills;
• Demonstrated knowledge of Tanzanian labor law;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office;
• Verbal and written working fluency in English required.
• Experience in administering benefits and compensation programs and other human resources recognition and engagement programs and processes.
• Evidence of the ability to practice and train managers of organizations in managing staff performance.
• Excellent organizational management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to initiate, organize, negotiate and manage complex issues independently and solve complex problems that involve programs of multiple areas.
• Active membership in appropriate human resources networks.
• Excellent presentation and written/oral communication skills

Application Process:

Interested candidates, who meet the above qualifications, should apply with an application letter and CV via: globalrecruitment@wcs.org by November 25, 2020. Please include “HR and Admin Manager-Tanzania” in the subject line of your email.

In addition, please note that all candidates must also apply online via the WCS career portal at:

WCS is an equal opportunity employer and the organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process. We are dedicated to hiring and supporting a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value

WCS provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. WCS does not discriminate for employment based on age, color, disability, gender identify, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by laws and regulations

Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted for interview