HR and Operations Specialist

DAI works at the cutting edge of international development, combining technical excellence, professional project management, and exceptional customer service to solve our clients’ most complex problems. Since 1970, DAI has worked in 150 developing and transition countries, providing comprehensive development solutions in areas including crisis mitigation and stability operations, democratic governance and public sector management, agriculture and agribusiness, private sector development and financial services, economics and trade, HIV/AIDS, avian influenza control, water and natural resources management, and energy and climate change. Clients include international development agencies, international lending institutions, private corporations and philanthropies, and host-country governments.

1.Project Background:

The Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Program is a cross-ministry and multi-donor program to reduce stunting in Zambia. The National Food and Nutrition Commission (NFNC) implements SUN as part of the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) 1,000 Most Critical Days Program.  SUN 2.0, the second phase of the program, has three major components: (1) Pooled Multi-Donor SUN Fund, (2) SUN Technical Assistance (SUN TA), and (3) SUN Learning and Evaluation. Working in parallel with the SUN Fund, the USAID/Zambia SUN TA program will provide support and direct technical assistance to sub-national local government officials in target districts to plan, implement, coordinate, and monitor integrated nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific activities to significantly reduce the rate of stunting among Zambian children under two.

2. Location: Lusaka, Zambia

3. Objective:

The HR and Operations Specialist will oversee human resources and manage Lusaka office facilities for the SUN TA project.

4. Tasks and Responsibilities:

Human Resources

• Oversee human resources operations on the project, including recruitment, hiring, employee on‐boarding, staff orientation, performance reviews, and disciplinary action in compliance with USAID rules and regulations, DAI policies, and local labor laws.
• Manage recruitment and the hiring process including the advertising of vacancies, shortlisting of resumes, scheduling and observing interviews, collection of required documents, reference checks, and salary history verification.
• Coordinate and supervise the preparation of employment agreements for staff.
• Train supervisors charged with conducting evaluations of staff members in their units and monitor compliance with the process.
• Mitigate and resolve human resource conflicts and issues, seeking assistance and guidance from the Director of Finance and Administration or other senior staff members as needed.
• Develop and oversee the Human Resources Management section of the SUN TA Field Operations Manual, ensuring on-going updates as needed and that HR policies are effectively communicated to staff.
• Ensure personnel files are stored in TAMIS for all long-term and short-term project staff.
• Work with Chief of Party to fill surge capacity technical needs, including identifying and hiring long‐term and short‐term technical experts in a timely fashion.

Office Administration

• Oversee the day-to-day administration of the SUN TA Lusaka office operations and logistics needs, including event and conference planning and project staff travel.
• Manage equipment maintenance with the relevant departments and the procurement of office supplies.
• Manage inventory of office property.
• Inspect goods or verify services, confirm delivery and receipt of goods, and monitor the use and disposition of goods.
• Oversee fleet and vehicle management, as required.
• Other office administration duties as may be assigned by the Director of Finance and Administration.

5. Reporting and Supervision:

The HR and Operations Specialist directly reports to the Director of Finance and Administration and supervises the HR and Administration Assistant and the Lusaka-based Drivers.

6. Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• At least 6 years of work experience in human resources, recruitment, office administration, and other relevant areas.
• Working knowledge of local laws and USAID rules and regulations related to labor, personnel management, inventory management, and compliance.
• Previous supervisory experience of office/HR teams required; training experience preferred.
• An individual with high ethical standards and ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters
• An extremely well organized and self-directed individual with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, and strong operational focus
• Excellent writing, speaking, and reading skills in English.

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