Human Resources, Head /Deputy Director LLC at British Council

The British Council in Ukraine, a leading international cultural organization, is recruiting a full-time Human Resources Manager.

Purpose of Role:

The role  will support the Regional HR director by providing operational HR expertise across the board spectrum of HR activity, to support efficient and effective business operations.  This role supports the cluster leadership team during the transition period  with  development of strategies, plans, budgets, projects and timelines to deliver the cluster people and business plan. The role will be key to ensuring that the HR services provided in the cluster and region are consistent with global HR policies and processes, are fully compliant with local legislation, and are high quality and efficient. In the absence of a lasting peace in Ukraine, the role holder will be a strategic partner to the Country Director and to the Senior Leadership Team in advising support for staff and be responsible for bıilding support mechanisms. The role holder will be a key player in shaping the people plan of the future operating model by advising the decision makers.

The role acts as an adviser to cluster leadership, HR and business leads. Interfaces with English, Education & Society and Arts Strategic Business Units (SBUs) and HR Centre of Expertise (CoE) colleagues to deliver corporate, regional and country/cluster results. Key focus will be on interpretation and tactical application of policy to suit local business needs as well as resolution of complex problems.

The role holder will have formal responsibility for duties as Deputy Director of the Limited Liability Company.

Role context

The role is a business critical one that requires experience in managing complex situations and people issues.

This role is key in ensuring that delivery of any Transformation plan is successful in the country and they are consistent with global strategies, guiding principles, policies and procedures, processes and practices, and where necessary, adapt them to reflect local market needs and conditions, e.g. legal, regulatory, social and culture frameworks. The global CoE’s include:

• Reward
• Resourcing
• Employee Relations
• Talent and Development

The role  reports to the HR Director  Wider Europe  and will work closely with other members of the regional HR team, who provide senior HR expertise to the region. The role holder will act as a trusted advisor across the region. The role  will also need to engage with HR leaders in the global Centres of Expertise and Strategic Business Units to ensure alignment of frameworks, policies, casework and core standards and ensure HR/business insights and knowledge is shared.

External stakeholders include;

• Ukrainian government authorities including MFA, Social Security Fund, Employment Service, State Labour Service, etc.
• HR services providers, contractors and private entrepreneurs
• British Council Ukraine Partners

Main Accountabilities:

1. Consultancy and high quality HR service

• Deploy a range of HR approaches to support the provision of high quality services and advice
• Lead and co-ordinate the annual people cycle for performance management, talent management, succession planning, learning and development etc., engaging and communicating key stakeholders to deliver in line with British Council timelines, policies and processes.
• Lead on recruitment / on-boarding / exit activity liaising with regional Resourcing & Reward leads, e.g. interviews, selection, assessment, induction, transfer/transition, extensions and exit/termination procedures).
• Provide advice on Ukrainian labour legislation
• Manage health and wellbeing of employees.
• Work with the regional CoE team to organise support for globally mobile staff in region, e.g. mobility packages, employee tax support, cultural awareness training etc.
• In conjunction with Country Leadership Team, manage emergency planning and contingency and execute on withdrawal policy and procedures.
• Scope, plan, deliver and evaluate HR/OD and change projects / initiatives, working closely with regional leads as required.
• Work in partnership with the Regional Talent Director, Learning & Development to build people management and coaching capabilities of managers in country /region
• Provide an overall assurance role that the people processes are fair, equitable and conducted consistently in accordance with our values and EDI (Equality Diversity Inclusion) principles across the region

2. Leadership and business partnering – Internal customer focus

• As a member of the Cluster Leadership Team, contribute to the delivery of the country/cluster plan through the HR strategy, budgets and people plans
• Build an in-depth understanding of the particular operational context, opportunities and challenges facing operations and management, to ensure the development of new policies and practices based on informed business insight and joined-up thinking.
• Consult closely with internal customers and other stakeholder to understand current and future business needs, and plan work activities accordingly to ensure the services and advice they provide meets those demands
• Apply advanced HR generalist knowledge to solve a range of complex business issues. Devise non-standard or bespoke analytical approaches to understand complex problems and enable informed business-planning, decision-making and/or the development of new or improved policies and practice
• Provide expert HR advice, support and challenge to internal customers and other stakeholders to support the development of high quality, effective and continuously improving business practices within their area of expertise, ensuring high quality service is delivered to maximise performance and minimise risks and costs
• Partner with business leaders to create, implement and deliver the country people plan. Tracking, monitoring and evaluating the impact and value achieved via related budgets, projects, activities, teams and other resources.
• Act as a senior HR partner to country leadership team, providing professional advice, guidance and coaching, to optimise people, culture and business impact at country/cluster level.
• Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of all people related costs in cluster, rigorously manages budgets and expenditure and provides data and analytics to enable effective business decision making.

3. Service improvement

• Identify and makes recommendations to HR Director for improvements to ways of working that enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the corporate functional discipline, as well as the operational effectiveness of their internal customers
• Explain to customers and colleagues the need for compliance with agreed HR corporate and regional procedures. As required, collate compliance data within standard monitoring and reporting systems.
• Participate as part of a team to support implementation of corporate and/or regional HR change projects (Activities could include: providing technical guidance to less experienced colleagues on new systems/procedures/ways of working; developing or delivering staff training and familiarisation activities; participation in project steering or practice groups etc)

4. Line management and functional expertise

• Provide formal line management to the in-country HR professionals
• Provide professional mentoring/guidance to internal customers and HR colleagues, to manage non-routine HR issues or guidance to implement project and change plans.
• Develop peer/personal networks within and outside the British Council to enhance own knowledge and expertise, update knowledge of developments in external policy, practice and regulation
• Build a network of external suppliers/providers/contacts to support effective service provision and knowledge exchange

What we offer

• official employment
• 13th salary – annual bonus
• 14th salary as Terminal Gratuity
• Medical insurance fully paid for employees + coverage for family members
• Mental health support – Employees Assistance Programme
• 34 calendar days of annual leave
• Paid sick leave, special leave for volunteering

Contract Type – Fix Term Contract / 2 Years

Location – Ukraine or Poland

Requirements – Locations will be Ukraine or Poland. Candidate must have the legal right to work in Ukraine. In case Warsaw is the preferred temporary location, then permit to live and work in Poland is required additionally.

Candidates wishing to apply should fill out the on-line application form in MyHR system.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 10 October 2022.

The British Council is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community. We work to ensure that people are not unjustifiably discriminated against on the basis of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, religion or belief, sexual orientation or any other irrelevant grounds. We guarantee an interview to disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria

The British Council believes that all children have potential and that every child matters – everywhere in the world. The British Council affirms the position that all children have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse as set out in article 19, UNCRC 1989

2022-09-29T18:26:22.000 2022-10-10T23:59:59.000 Full time / Повна зайнятість British Council in Ukraine