Senior Officer, HR & Administration, Pan-Africa,
Start date: 1 August, 2026
Supervisor: Head of Operations
Location: Nairobi, Kenya
This role is being re-advertised to reach a wider pool of candidates. If you previously applied, please note that you do not need to reapply, as your application remains on record and will be considered as part of the recruitment process
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
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:
WUSC has launched 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.
Positioned within the Operations Unit, the role works closely with Operations and Program teams and reports to the Operations Lead.
Role Description:
- Provide technical and operational support across the employee lifecycle, including recruitment coordination, onboarding, contract administration, HR records, and offboarding.
- Ensure HR and administrative processes are applied consistently, fairly, and in line with applicable policies, donor requirements, and local labour requirements.
- Work closely with the Operations lead, Program Leads, Finance, Procurement, and other functional teams to identify operational gaps and support practical solutions.
- Contribute to a positive, inclusive, safe, and well-organized work environment that enables teams to deliver effectively.
RESPONSIBILITIES
People and Culture Support
- Coordinate and support recruitment, onboarding, staff documentation, contract tracking, and offboarding processes.
- Support the consistent application of HR policies, procedures, and templates across staff and consultants.
- Maintain accurate employee and consultant records, ensuring documentation is complete, up to date, and audit-ready.
- Support safeguarding-related HR processes, including documentation, acknowledgements, onboarding requirements, and follow-up tracking.
- Provide first-level guidance to staff and managers on routine HR and administrative processes, escalating complex issues as required.
HR Compliance and Documentation
- Support the preparation, review, and tracking of employment contracts, consultancy agreements, amendments, and related HR documentation.
- Help monitor compliance with internal policies, donor requirements, and applicable country-level labour requirements.
- Maintain organized HR files and data systems in line with confidentiality and data protection expectations.
- Support audit preparation by ensuring HR and administrative records are complete, accurate, and accessible.
- Flag potential HR, contracting, or compliance risks to the Operation lead for review and action.
Administration, Facilities, and Workplace Support
- Support the coordination of office administration, facilities, logistics, and workplace arrangements.
- Help maintain safe, inclusive, and functional office environments across assigned locations.
- Support workplace safety checks, emergency preparedness processes, and duty-of-care documentation.
- Coordinate administrative workflows to reduce delays and improve service delivery to project teams.
- Liaise with vendors, service providers, and internal teams to support smooth office operations.
Process Improvement and Team Support
- Identify gaps or inefficiencies in HR and administrative workflows and propose practical improvements.
- Support the implementation of tools, templates, trackers, and standard operating procedures.
- Work collaboratively with Operations, Finance, Procurement, and Program teams to resolve routine operational bottlenecks.
- Provide technical guidance and day-to-day support to officers and coordinators where relevant, without carrying full line-management responsibility.
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!
How to apply
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 hr-rh@wusc.ca.
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.
Please click on the link to submit your application.