Asia Regional Office Human Resource & Administrative Officer.

Vacancy Notice

Position: Asia Regional Office Human Resource & Administrative Officer.
Duty Location: New Delhi, India
Deadline for Application: November 15, 2008
Date of Issue: November 1, 2008

Organization Profile:

Room to Read partners with local communities throughout the developing world to provide quality educational opportunities by establishing libraries, creating local language children’s literature, constructing schools, providing education to girls, and establishing computer labs. We seek to intervene early in the lives of children in the belief that education empowers people to improve socioeconomic conditions for their families, communities, countries, and future generations. Through the opportunities that only education can provide, we strive to break the cycle of poverty, one child at a time.

We are non-governmental, non-religious and work with many local NGOs and community based organizations to implement our programs. We currently work in Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Zambia – countries with a desperate lack of resources to educate their children. In 2007, we began our expansion into Bangladesh.

Since our inception, Room to Read’s worldwide team has impacted over 1.3 million children by constructing over 400 schools, establishing over 5,000 libraries, publishing over 220 new children’s book titles in 11 local languages, and putting over 4,000 girls onto long-term, holistic scholarships. We are one of ten non-profits to have won the Fast Company / Monitor Group Social Capitalist award five years in a row and have been featured in a variety of media including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNN, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and PBS.

Room to Read has an annual budget of approximately US$22 million, and our global staff numbers over 175; both of these figures will continue to grow rapidly in 2008. Our global headquarters is located in San Francisco, our Asia Regional Office is located in New Delhi, and we have program offices in Colombo, Ho Chi Minh City, Kathmandu, Lusaka, New Delhi, Pretoria, Phnom Penh, and Vientiane. Our long-term goal is to help 10 million children to gain the lifelong gift of education.


Position Overview:
Human Resource and Administrative Officer is required to manage a human resources department, overseeing administration of hiring, retention, termination, personnel records, legal compliance, compensation, benefits, and long-term staffing strategies and overall administrative management of the organization including day to day administrative and logistic support management, procurement management etc. Responsibilities include development and administration of personnel rules and regulations, pay and job classification structure, and programs for employee training, safety, health, and morale. This position will report to the Human Resource and Administrative Director and will supervise all administrative and office associates reporting directly to him/her.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:


A. Development of HR Strategies, Policies, Systems and Plans

• Operate, coordinate and monitor operational systems for managing necessary human resource functions to implement the approved policies.
• Review and develop a personnel policy and revise as necessary based on the standard RO HR policies,
• Identify legal requirement and government reporting regulation affecting human resource functions. Prepare information requested or required for compliance. Approve all information submitted. Act as a primary contact with the concerned department of Nepal Government with respect to the human resource issues.
• Update the position description in the organization according to the need in consultation with the respective line managers, HRAD and GO.

B. Planning and staffing for human resource needs

• Develop and maintain human resource information system and utilize and feed information for major human resource decisions in the organization,
• Establish standard recruiting and placement practices and procedures as suggested and directed by GO,
• Ensure an appropriate level of human resourcing to meet the existing and anticipated business needs of Regional Office.
• Provide necessary education and materials to line managers and employees- workshops, manuals, employee hand books and standardized reports.

C. Management and development of staff performance

• Review, develop and implement effective employee performance management system and train the line managers / supervisors and provide advice and support for performance management issues and assist them in implementing performance appraisal,
• Implement a training and development process to ensure that appropriate development needs are met on a timely and cost effective basis.
• Organize and coordinate both in house and off-site staff training and development programs to meet the identified development needs.
• Direct a process of organizational development that primarily addresses succession planning throughout the organization,
• Coordinate activities throughout the organization across the department lines.

D. Develop, Effective Employee Relations Program

• Review wage and salary structure, pay policies, employee benefit programs, and safety and health program.
• Develop compensation and benefit policy and practices to ensure that staffs are rewarded in line with both general market practice and individual performance level.
• Determine and recommend employee relations practices necessary to establish positive employee-employee relationships and employee-employer relationship
• To ensure that the organizations and the employee’s interests are protected and the policies/ practices of the organization are legally compliant.
• Recommend for disciplinary actions and termination as per the personal policy guidelines
• Reviews employee appeals through compliant procedure.

E. Day to day management of Office Administration

• Manage Room to Read’s legal compliance in India, navigating procedures for expansion and complying with all governmental standards, requirements, and regulations
• Oversee all administrative and operational matters in compliance with Regional and Global Office policies
• Maintain employee records, including contracts, agreements, policies, etc.
• Ensure full functionality of Room to Read office functions at all times (e.g. electricity, utilities, internet, plumbing, pest control, insurance, office set-up)
• Organize all program related travel and/or transportation needs
• Manage retirement fund (provident fund), insurance and benefits for employees
• Manage program and office related procurement as per the approved procurement policies,
• Ensure appropriate level of compliance by all staff and corner for adopting and following administrative policies and procedures. In order to do so, educate and provide ample information and time to time update and follow up with each staff members and to make them to fully understand the operational policies and processes. And also guide them through these policies and procedures as and when required. Also carry out all the necessary stuff and requirement as spelled out in these policies.
• Ensure appropriate level of working and sound environment at all its office and always make attempts to prevent the staff burn out,
• Guide and coach the administrative staff (associates) in maintaining office equipments and management of the vehicle movement and also all the administrative issues and supports.
• Assist and provide all the necessary guidelines to the program staff in recruiting consultants and their contract procedures,
• Communicate with HRAD and GO office directly related to the administrative and operation policies and requirement and report them as and when needed,
• Participate in any other activities which may be required to be undertaken to fulfill the objectives of the organization

Meetings/Networking
• Participate and conduct meetings with relevant Human Resource Management organizations
• Represent Room to Read at relevant meetings and occasionally assist in hosting key donor visits
• Provide regular updates on HR activities and plans at regular meetings with management staff

Qualifications:
Required:
• Bachelor’s degree with minimum of five years of professional experience in HR or administrative position or Master’s degree (MBA) with minimum of three years of professional experience in HR or administrative position
• Experience in successful implementation of a wide range of responsibilities in a prior administrative or human resources position
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English

Preferred:

• 5 years related experience in Human Resources and accounting experience in a managerial position, preferably in an INGO
• Experience developing and overseeing the Human Resources department in INGO/organization
• Strong planning, supervisory, and management skills


Other Experience

• Prior success working closely and building relationships with diverse groups of people
• Effectiveness in working or volunteering in a non-profit organization that is focused on maintaining high quality work and low overhead
• Prior experience in a fast-paced, growth-oriented global or regional organization
• Proven track record of achieving results
• Ability to juggle multiple priorities simultaneously and take initiative

To be successful as a member of the Room to Read team, you will also:
• Have a passion for our mission and a strong desire to impact an up-and-coming non-profit organization
• Be an innovative and creative thinker; you’re not afraid to try something new and inspire others to do so
• Have a very high level of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness
• Have a strong work ethic and require minimal direction
• Work well independently as well as part of a team
• Thrive in a fast-paced and fun environment

A. Compensation:

The salary range for this position will be determined based upon the experience of the candidate hired. Benefits including health and a retirement plan are also provided. Additional benefits include a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, meaningful, and rapidly growing organization that is changing the world through the lifelong gift of education.

Application Procedure:
Please submit your resume and cover letter by email (no calls, faxes, or drop-ins, please) to asiahiring@roomtoread.org with “Asia Regional Office Human Resource & Administrative Officer” in the subject line.

Due to the high volume of applicant response, not all applicants may receive a response from Room to Read.

Room to Read is an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds. Applicants from the countries in which Room to Read operates are encouraged to apply.

Last date for applications: November 15, 2008