Director of Talent Operations

About Us

Fika exists to innovate cost-effective rural infrastructural solutions through advocacy, evidence and technical assistance to promote safe access for geographically isolated communities through partnership with governments and donors.

We provide flexible work arrangements, comprehensive mental and physical wellness support, and annual salary reviews aligned with our compensation policy. Additionally, we offer opportunities for professional growth, allowing individuals to shape their own career paths through targeted development programs.

Job purpose:

The Director of Talent Operations is responsible for leading the operational delivery of Fika's global Talent function, ensuring excellence, consistency, and compliance across all people operations. Reporting to the Vice President of Talent, this role oversees the day-to-day execution of the employee lifecycle, HR operations, people analytics, compliance, HR systems, vendor management, and employee services across multiple countries.

The Director of Talent Operations translates Fika's people strategy into scalable, efficient, and employee-centered operations. While the Vice President of Talent focuses on organizational strategy, leadership development, workforce planning, and organizational effectiveness, this role ensures the Talent function has the operational foundation, governance, systems, and data needed to support Fika's continued growth and impact.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Talent Operations Leadership

• Lead the day-to-day operations of Fika's global Talent function, ensuring efficient, high-quality, and consistent service delivery.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and performance management to Regional Talent Managers.
• Establish and monitor Talent operational goals, service standards, and key performance indicators.
• Standardize Talent policies, processes, templates, and employee lifecycle practices across all countries.
• Foster a culture of operational excellence, continuous improvement, accountability, and customer service within the Talent team.

Employee Lifecycle Management

• Oversee the operational delivery of the employee lifecycle, including recruitment administration, onboarding, probation, performance management, promotions, transfers, leave administration, offboarding, and employee records.
• Ensure a seamless and consistent employee experience across all countries and employment models.
• Continuously improve Talent processes to increase efficiency, scalability, and employee satisfaction.

HR Compliance and Governance

• Ensure compliance with employment legislation, labor regulations, safeguarding requirements, and organizational policies across all countries of operation.
• Maintain and continuously improve HR policies, employee handbooks, standard operating procedures, and governance frameworks.
• Partner with legal counsel and Employer of Record (EOR) providers on employment compliance matters.
• Lead internal HR audits and ensure accurate, compliant employee documentation.

HR Systems and Operational Excellence

• Serve as the business owner for BambooHR and other Talent systems.
• Lead the implementation, optimization, and continuous improvement of HR systems and digital workflows.
• Identify opportunities to automate processes, improve reporting, and streamline Talent operations.
• Develop and maintain operational documentation, templates, and process guides.

People Analytics and Workforce Insights

• Lead Fika's people analytics function, ensuring accurate and timely workforce reporting.
• Develop executive dashboards and reports covering headcount, turnover, recruitment metrics, diversity, engagement, compensation, and workforce planning.
• Analyze workforce trends and provide actionable insights that support strategic decision-making.
• Monitor Talent operational KPIs and recommend improvements based on data.

Compensation and Job Architecture Operations

• Partner with the Vice President of Talent to operationalize Fika's compensation philosophy and job architecture.
• Lead the administration of salary reviews, job evaluations, salary benchmarking, and pay band implementation.
• Maintain position control, organizational structures, and workforce planning data.

Vendor Management and Employee Services

• Lead relationships with Employer of Record (EOR) providers, payroll providers, healthcare and insurance providers, pension administrators, wellness partners, HR technology vendors, and other people service providers.
• Monitor vendor performance through service level agreements (SLAs) and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Partner with Finance and Procurement on vendor selection, contract renewals, budgeting, and procurement processes.
• Oversee the administration of employee benefits and ensure high-quality employee support across all countries.
• Identify opportunities to improve service delivery, consolidate vendors, and increase operational efficiency.

Talent Project Management and Continuous Improvement

• Lead cross-functional Talent projects, including HR systems implementations, policy reviews, process redesign, compensation initiatives, organizational change efforts, and operational improvements.
• Drive a culture of continuous improvement through innovation, simplification, automation, and operational excellence.
• Ensure Talent initiatives are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with organizational priorities.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Psychology, or a related field.
• Master's degree or relevant postgraduate qualification preferred.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive Human Resources experience, including at least 4 years in a people leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience leading HR operations across multiple countries or regions.
• Strong knowledge of employment legislation, HR compliance, employee relations, and HR governance.
• Experience managing HRIS platforms (preferably BambooHR) and driving HR systems optimization.
• Demonstrated experience managing Employer of Record (EOR) providers, healthcare providers, payroll vendors, or other HR service providers.
• Strong analytical skills with experience developing executive dashboards, HR metrics, and workforce reporting.
• Experience leading operational transformation, process improvement, and organizational change initiatives.
• Excellent project management, stakeholder management, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders across multiple levels.
• Experience working within international development, multinational organizations, or geographically distributed teams is highly desirable.

Working conditions

• The Director of Talent Operations must self-manage, setting an example for other members of the team in how to prioritize, execute, and support other team members in their objectives. The position may require availability on some evenings and weekends when tight deadlines call for it.
• Candidates who have worked in Africa, are currently based in Africa or have any experience working in any of our program countries including Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Zambia, or Kenya are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to candidates based in East or Central Africa, given the collaborative nature of the role and regular engagement with Fika's country programs.
• The employee will be required to regularly work at a computer. We function under hybrid and in some instances fully remote working conditions. Where feasible, the employee will visit Fika’s community sites which are often rural, remote, and hilly. For candidates based in one of Fika’s program countries, there will be an opportunity to work in a Fika office.
  

Matrix relationships: This role collaborates extensively with the Fika Finance, Systems and Programs extensively, as well as the Business Development team and executive.

Direct reports: 

Talent Managers

Application Guidelines

Fika is committed to creating an inclusive work environment. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds and strive to provide accommodations for individuals with disabilities during the application and employment process. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in our hiring process or to perform the essential functions of your job, please include this information in your application and we will work with you to ensure your needs are met.

To apply we require 

• A max one-page motivation letter 
• A CV following these guidelines:
  • Length: Maximum 2 pages.
  • Education: Highlight relevant diplomas, degrees and recognized certifications 
  • Exclude: personal information (photos, gender, religion, marital status, number of dependents), non-certified training.