People Operations Associate

Highlands Drinks Limited, a pioneer in the East African beverage industry with a 69-year history, is seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented People Operations Associate to support daily human resources operations, employee administration, and workforce governance.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

HR Operations & Employee Administration

• Support day-to-day HR operations and ensure timely execution of employee lifecycle processes including onboarding, confirmations, transfers, exits, and employee documentation.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date employee records, HR databases, personal files, and workforce information in line with company standards and compliance requirements.
• Coordinate preparation, issuance, and filing of HR documents including contracts, letters, employee correspondence, and other HR operational documentation.
• Support employee onboarding processes including induction coordination, documentation collection, system setup coordination, and employee orientation activities.
• Ensure proper administration and tracking of leave, attendance, absenteeism, off-days, overtime records, and other workforce operational data.
• Support payroll preparation processes through timely submission and validation of workforce data including new hires, exits, attendance inputs, and employee changes.
• Coordinate employee medical, welfare, and insurance administration activities in liaison with employees, service providers, and internal stakeholders.
• Support implementation and consistent application of HR policies, procedures, and workforce governance standards across the business.
• Assist in coordination of employee disciplinary processes, investigations, hearings, and documentation while ensuring confidentiality and proper record management.
• Support HR audits, compliance reviews, statutory documentation management, and workforce compliance tracking activities.

Workforce Reporting & Data Support

• Support preparation and maintenance of accurate workforce reports and HR operational trackers covering headcount, attendance, leave, workforce movements, and employee records.
• Maintain and update HR data trackers, employee databases, and workforce reporting templates to ensure data accuracy and operational visibility.
• Support generation of weekly and monthly HR operational reports and workforce updates for management review.
• Assist in maintaining workforce records required for labour reporting, audits, statutory compliance, and operational decision-making.
• Ensure timely filing, tracking, and retrieval of HR operational records and workforce information.

Employee Support & Coordination

• Serve as a first point of contact for routine employee HR queries and support employee communication and coordination activities.
• Coordinate employee engagement, welfare, communication, and HR support activities as assigned.
• Support coordination of employee training logistics, meetings, induction sessions, and HR operational activities.
• Promote professionalism, confidentiality, responsiveness, and positive employee experience in all HR interactions.

Operating Governance

• Support implementation of operational HR controls, process discipline, and workforce administration standards across the organization.
• Identify gaps and support continuous improvement of HR operational processes, documentation standards, and administrative efficiency.
• Ensure confidentiality, accuracy, and proper handling of employee information and HR records at all times.
• Support People & Culture projects, operational initiatives, and other HR activities as may be assigned from time to time.

Working Relationships

Internal Relationships:

• Head of People & Culture: To support day-to-day HR operations, employee administration, and policy implementation.
• Workforce & Operations Lead: To coordinate workforce administration activities, attendance management, and leave tracking.
• People Business Partner: To support employee relations administration and onboarding coordination.
• Finance: To support payroll input preparation and employee data validation.
• Commercial, Manufacturing, Operations, Supply Chain & Distribution Teams: To support workforce coordination and operational HR processes.
• Employees: To provide first-level HR operational support.

External Relationships:

• HRMIS Providers: To support employee data management and system updates.
• Medical and Insurance Providers: To support medical benefits administration.
• Outsourced Workforce Providers: To support outsourced employee administration.
• External Auditors, Regulatory Bodies, and Training Providers: To support audits, statutory compliance, and training logistics.

Knowledge, Experience and Qualifications Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management, Business Administration, Commerce, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• 2–4 years’ experience in HR operations, HR administration, employee records management, payroll coordination, or workforce administration within FMCG, manufacturing, distribution-led, or operational environments.
• Experience supporting employee lifecycle processes including onboarding, employee documentation, leave administration, attendance management, payroll input preparation, and HR operational coordination.
• Good understanding of HR operational processes, employee records management, labour law administration, and workforce governance practices.
• Experience working with HR systems, employee databases, attendance records, and HR documentation processes is preferred.
• Strong organizational, coordination, administrative, and record management capability required.
• Good Excel and reporting capability required, including ability to maintain workforce trackers, employee records, and operational HR reports.
• Strong attention to detail, confidentiality, responsiveness, and ability to manage multiple operational priorities effectively.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills with ability to support employees and work effectively with internal stakeholders across the business.

Technical & Behavioural Competencies

• HR Operations: Strong understanding of day-to-day HR operations, employee lifecycle administration, HR documentation processes, workforce coordination, and operational HR support.
• Employee Records & Data Management: Ability to maintain accurate employee records, workforce trackers, attendance data, leave records, and HR documentation while ensuring confidentiality.
• Payroll & Workforce Administration Support: Understanding of payroll input preparation, attendance validation, employee movement tracking, and workforce administration processes.
• HR Systems & Data Management: Experience working with HR systems, employee databases, and attendance systems.
• HR Reporting & Operational Coordination: Ability to prepare and maintain HR operational reports, trackers, and records.
• Labour Law & HR Compliance Administration: Basic understanding of labour law requirements, statutory compliance, and HR governance.
• Employee Support & Coordination: Ability to handle employee queries, coordinate training, and support onboarding.
• Documentation & Record Management: Strong capability in maintaining organized HR files, documentation, and correspondence.