Regional People and Culture Business Partner

Job Posting Organization:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a prominent international humanitarian non-governmental organization (INGO) founded in 1933 at the behest of Albert Einstein. The IRC operates in over 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities, focusing on responding to the world's most severe humanitarian crises. The organization aims to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and empowerment to individuals affected by conflict and disaster. With a workforce of more than 1200 full-time employees and an additional 1,250+ auxiliary workers in the Middle East North Africa and Ukraine (MENAU) region, the IRC is dedicated to delivering lasting impact and fostering hope and dignity for millions of people worldwide. The IRC's mission is to help individuals survive, reclaim control of their futures, and strengthen their communities, making it a force for humanity.

Job Overview:
The Regional People and Culture Business Partner plays a crucial role in supporting the implementation of People and Culture (P&C) strategies and initiatives that align with the overall business strategy in the MENAU region. This position serves as a vital link between P&C Regional Leadership and core business operations, ensuring that P&C practices across all pillars effectively support the countries within the region. The role involves addressing daily people and culture-related issues, providing guidance, and ensuring effective management of P&C within the region. The position holder is expected to understand business challenges and leverage P&C expertise to design solutions that enhance organizational performance and employee experience. The MENAU region encompasses 8 country programs and 10 geographical countries, making this role integral to the success of the organization in achieving its objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The key responsibilities of the Regional People and Culture Business Partner include:

• Strategic Partnership: Translating and implementing regional P&C strategies into actionable plans aligned with business goals.
• Business Partnering: Leading regional P&C operations, performance management, and data analysis.
• Employee Relations: Conducting thorough investigations for assigned cases and advising on escalated P&C matters.
• Talent Management: Overseeing talent acquisition and retention strategies to attract and retain top talent.
• Compliance: Ensuring adherence to local labor laws and regulations.
• Culture and Engagement: Fostering a positive organizational culture and enhancing employee engagement through various initiatives.
• Learning and Development: Identifying training needs and managing learning opportunities.
• HR Metrics and Reporting: Analyzing P&C metrics and providing insights for decision-making.
• Compensation & Benefits: Supporting compensation benchmarking and analytics. 1
• Organizational Development: Assisting leaders in organizational development decisions. 1
• GEDI: Partnering with advisors to implement inclusive policies and programs. 1
• Employee Experience: Promoting staff well-being and supporting initiatives for a safe working environment. 1
• Duty of Care: Embedding Duty of Care principles within P&C practices. 1
• Safeguarding: Upholding safeguarding standards within people practices. 1
• P&C Partnership for Strategic Projects: Serving as the primary P&C partner for critical regional projects and providing emergency surge support as needed.

Required Qualifications:
The qualifications required for the Regional People and Culture Business Partner position include:

• Education: A Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or a related field is required, with a Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience: A minimum of 7 years of HR experience is required, including at least 3 years in a regional or multi-site role.
• Professional HR Certification: A professional HR certification (e.g., SHRM-CP, PHR) is preferred.
• Cultural Competence: Familiarity with the geographic context and cultural competence relevant to the region is highly desirable.
• Travel: The position requires occasional travel within the region.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or a related field. A Master’s degree is preferred, indicating a higher level of expertise and understanding of complex HR issues.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have a minimum of 7 years of HR experience, with at least 3 years in a regional or multi-site role. This experience should encompass a broad range of HR functions and demonstrate the ability to manage complex people-related challenges effectively.

Languages:
The position requires excellent spoken and written English and Arabic. Proficiency in these languages is essential for effective communication and engagement with diverse teams within the region.

Additional Notes:
This position is an individual contributor role with no direct supervisory responsibilities. It involves working closely with various internal stakeholders, including Country P&C Leads and regional leadership. The role may require travel within the region up to 20% of the time. The IRC emphasizes its core values of Integrity, Service, Equality, and Accountability, and all employees are expected to adhere to these professional standards. The organization is committed to creating a safe environment for all employees and takes necessary actions to prevent and address any harm.