JOB DESCRIPTION

ROLE PURPOSE:

As a member of the Project Office Management Team (POMT), the Head of Human Resources contributes to the overall leadership, direction, and coordination of the Save the Children Project Office in Sri Lanka. The role holder is accountable for ensuring effective, forward-looking Human Resources and that enable the Project Office to deliver its strategic objectives. This includes providing strategic leadership and technical guidance on all people and culture-related matters — including policy, culture, workforce planning, talent development, and organizational performance.

The Head of HR plays a pivotal role in shaping a fair, inclusive, and value-driven workplace that reflects Save the Children’s mission and principles, ensuring that people’s policies and practices promote transparency, equity, and staff well-being. In the event of a major humanitarian emergency, the role holder will be expected to adapt responsibilities, work beyond normal role parameters, and adjust working hours as required to meet organizational priorities.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: 
Strategic Leadership and Compliance

• As a member of the Project Office Management Team, the Head of Human Resources and Administration contributes to cultivating an organizational culture that reflects Save the Children’s dual mandate and core values. This includes fostering accountability, high performance, and a work environment that encourages learning, creativity, and innovation. The role supports the design and implementation of a coherent organizational structure that aligns with agency standards and responds to program needs.
• The position ensures full compliance with the Country Human Resources Manual and all global Human Resources and People & Culture procedures and practices of Save the Children. During emergencies, the role holder ensures that all required HR and administrative support is provided promptly, at scale, and in line with organizational rules and humanitarian principles, working closely with the Regional Office.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The Head of Human Resources provides strategic oversight of all HR policies and ensures their continuous relevance and alignment with Save the Children’s values, legal requirements, and operational realities. The role:

• Oversee the HR Manual and all related policies, ensuring they are regularly reviewed, updated, and improved based on staff feedback and evolving context.
• Monitors and advice on discipline and grievance matter in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Ensures that conflict, grievance, disciplinary, child safeguarding, and harassment cases are managed promptly, fairly, and in line with organizational standards.
• Ensures that all staff and partners are aware of and adhere to Child Safeguarding Policies, promoting a culture of accountability and protection across all operations.
• Oversees termination compliance, ensuring that all employee separations, contract closures, and benefits settlements comply with national labor laws and contractual obligations.
• Maintains comprehensive HR documentation, including accurate employee records, settlement agreements, and communication logs.

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

The Head of Human Resources provides strategic leadership and advisory support on all people-related matters, ensuring that recruitment, retention, and workforce management practices are aligned with organizational goals and values.

• Provides HR leadership, analysis, and solutions on people issues and challenges across the Project Office, fostering fair and transparent decision-making.
• Ensure that employment terms, conditions, and practices are fair, consistent, and compliant with labor laws, Save the Children’s HR policies, and recognize best practices, while remaining appropriate to the local context.
• Works closely with the Director of Finance to maintain accurate and up-to-date information on staff salaries, allowances, and income tax computations in compliance with current legislation and organizational standards.

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT, ORGANIZATIONAL AND STAFF DEVELOPMENT

The Head of Human Resources drives a culture of performance, learning, and continuous development across the Project Office, ensuring that staff performance and growth are directly linked to organizational effectiveness and mission delivery.

• Promotes a culture of performance management where accountability, recognition, and high standards are embedded in everyday practice.
• Leads the implementation and continuous improvement of a fit-for-purpose performance management system that aligns individual objectives with organizational priorities.
• Ensures that regular performance reviews are conducted by supervisors and that managers are equipped to deliver constructive feedback, set measurable objectives, and conduct fair, unbiased evaluations.
• Analyses the organizational staffing profile and advises senior managers on competency gaps, workforce planning, and skill development in response to evolving operational contexts.
• Provides guidance on staff capacity building, including formulation of the annual HOHRA plan, coordination of in-house training initiatives, performance management workshops, and orientation programs.
• Oversee the talent management strategy and implement structured succession planning to ensure continuity and growth within key roles.

STAFF MANAGEMENT, EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT AND WELL-BEING

The Head of Human Resources provides leadership and direction to the HR team, ensuring it functions as an effective, value-driven partner to the organization while promoting staff engagement, motivation, and well-being.

• Leads, manages, and motivates HR staff, ensuring that each team member has clear objectives, work plans, and opportunities for growth.
• Ensures appropriate staffing levels within the HR function to meet operational and strategic priorities.
• Build team capability so that all HR staff understand their roles and contribute effectively to program delivery.
• Provides ongoing leadership, technical guidance, and performance evaluation for direct reports, fostering a culture of accountability, learning, and collaboration.
• Organise, track and reporting related to all international support including visas and extensions (extended to the families of expatriate employees if required), ID, driving licenses and other permits required by the GoSL.
• Arrange visas for other countries SC employees, SC Consultants, visitors for official travel when required for official business.

SAFEGUARDING — STAFF, BENEFICIARIES, AND COMMUNITIES

The Head of Human Resources provides strategic oversight and accountability for safeguarding across the Project Office, ensuring that all staff, partners, and stakeholders, Save the Children’s commitment to protecting children and adults from harm.

• Oversees the implementation of the Child and Adult Safeguarding Plan and related policies, ensuring alignment with Save the Children’s global standards and national legislation.
• Supports the Chief of Party in providing overall leadership and governance for safeguarding implementation across all program areas.
• Oversee the management of safeguarding cases, ensuring focal points are appointed in every field office and are appropriately trained, supported, and equipped to act on safeguarding concerns.
• Ensures that reporting channels and visibility materials are accessible, up to date, and effectively communicated to staff, partners, and beneficiaries.
• Manages the SCI Safeguarding System (DATIX), assigns investigators as appropriate, and ensures timely and transparent case handling.
• Acts as the lead investigator for all staff-related safeguarding cases entered the system, ensuring confidentiality, due process, and survivor-centered approaches.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Master’s degree in human resource management or a related field, with a minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience.
• Experience: At least 7 years of leadership and management experience demonstrated in Human Resources, ideally within an international or multi-sectoral organization.
• Professional Certification: HR certifications such as SHRM, SPHR, CIPD, or equivalent is highly valued.

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• Minimum of 10 years’ experience in Human Resources, including at least 7 years in managerial or leadership capacity.
• Proven experience in implementing and managing comprehensive HR functions, including recruitment, compensation and benefits, performance management, learning and development, induction, and HR database management.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement HR policies, define procedures, and manage complex disciplinary and grievance cases.
• Experience in setting a strategic vision and people strategy that aligns with organizational goals.
• Strong English communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to meet deadlines and perform under pressure.
• Willingness to travel to field locations and operate in challenging environments as required.
• Strong ability to influence and collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including those without direct line authority.
• Proven people management skills, with the ability to build and motivate effective teams across multiple geographic locations.
• Capacity to make sound, principled, and courageous decisions in complex situations.
• Ability to engage effectively at all levels of the organization, fostering inclusion and respect across roles, grades, gender, and backgrounds.
• Demonstrated commitment to collaboration and partnership, contributing to shared success for children through cross-functional teamwork.
• Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles.
• Willingness and capability to comply with all relevant Save the Children policies and procedures with respect to health and safety, security, equal opportunities and other relevant policies, including the Child Safeguarding Policy

Commitment to and understanding of Save the Children’s aims, values and principles including rights- based approaches.
Desirable

• Familiarity with the political, social, and cultural context of Sri Lanka.
• Fluency on Sinhala and or Tamil languages will be an added advantage