Manager: People, Culture & Learning

Job description

The Manager: People, Culture & Learning leads the delivery of an integrated, in-country people function that strengthens organisational culture, builds workforce capability, and enhances employee experience across the employee lifecycle.

The role is responsible for the execution and localisation of people strategies within the Programme, ensuring alignment with m2m’s global frameworks while responding to local context and operational needs.

Working in close partnership with the HR Business Partner (HRBP), this role focuses on in-country implementation, operational excellence, and manager enablement, ensuring that people practices are embedded, effective, compliant, and impactful.

Key Performance Areas

People Strategy, Culture and Employee Experience

• Translate global people strategies into an in-country people plan aligned to programme priorities
• Champion and embed a values-driven, inclusive, and high-performance culture
• Lead employee engagement and employee experience initiatives across the lifecycle
• Analyse engagement and workforce data to inform targeted interventions
• Drive internal communication practices that reinforce organisational culture and alignment

Talent, Performance and Capability Development

• Lead workforce planning, recruitment, on boarding, and succession planning
• Drive effective performance management processes, ensuring consistency and quality
• Build manager capability through coaching, training, and ongoing support
• Design and implement in-country learning and development plans aligned to global frameworks
• Partner with Global Learning and Development on training needs analysis, delivery, and impact measurement

People Operations, Employee Relations and Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with Country labour laws, organisational policies, and m2m standards
• Lead all employee relations processes, including grievances, disciplinary and conflict resolution
• Oversee HR systems, employee records, and data integrity
• Ensure consistent, fair, and timely implementation of HR policies and procedures
• Act as the primary in-country liaison with legal and regulatory bodies

Reward, Benefits and Wellbeing

• Support implementation of compensation structures and pay practices
• Ensure accurate payroll inputs and benefits administration
• Monitor market trends and recommend improvements to remain competitive
• Lead employee understanding of benefits through orientation and communication
• Co-develop and implement the country wellness strategy aligned to organisational priorities

Leadership and Stakeholder Partnership

• Act as a trusted advisor to the Project Lead and country leadership team
• Partner with line managers to deliver people priorities and strengthen leadership capability
• Collaborate with HRBP and Global PCL teams to ensure alignment and consistency
• Manage relationships with external service providers and partners
• Support incident response and risk mitigation processes

Qualifications, Experience and Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field
• Master’s degree and/or HR professional certification is an advantage
• 6-10 years’ progressive HR experience, including culture, learning, and operations
• Experience in NGO or international development environment preferred
• Strong knowledge of Country labour laws and HR best practices

Competencies

• Strategic thinking with strong execution capability
• Influencing and stakeholder management
• Coaching and facilitation skills
• High integrity and sound judgement
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage complexity in a dynamic environment

Reporting & Team Structure

• Reports to: Senior Project Lead (with functional alignment to HRBP / Global People Team)

Work closely with: HR Business Partner, Global People Culture & Learning Teams

Internal: Senior Project Lead, Country Leadership Team, HRBP, Global PCL Teams

External: Service Providers, Legal advisors, Training partners, and Regulatory bodies

Direct Interface: Country Leadership Team, Line Manager, Employees

Working Conditions

• Employment Type: Full-time
• Location: Zambia
• Travel Requirements: May require local and national travel
• Work Requirements: May occasionally require work outside standard hours

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-based incentives
• Comprehensive benefits (health, retirement, leave)
• Opportunities for growth, leadership, and professional development