The Regional Human Resources Manager role at the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) provides tactical leadership and ensures effective implementation of HR operations across the region. The Alliance, established in 2019, was created to address critical global crises, maximizing impact for change at key points in the food system.
The primary purpose of this role is to align HR processes, policies, and service delivery with organizational priorities and regulatory requirements. The manager will lead and support a regional HR team to maintain operational consistency, resolve complex employee relations matters, and sustain workforce readiness, including union interactions where applicable.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
- Execution of the performance management cycle, including goal setting, reviews, feedback, development plans and disagreements between staff and supervisors.
- Participate and/or oversee the end-to-end recruitment process including job postings, interviewing, selection, and both global and/or regional onboarding.
- Support the implementation and communication of compensation structures and employee benefits programs.
- Ensure HR compliance with occupational health and safety legislation and internal safety protocols.
- Support the implementation of HR components of the Alliance’s emergency response framework, ensuring workforce readiness and compliance with internal crisis management protocols.
- Lead or contribute to cross-functional HR projects, change initiatives, and policy development and update accordingly regional manuals to align with global policies.
- Support managers in identifying employee development needs and creating individualized career development plans in alignment with the organization’s talent, learning, and career development strategies.
- Contribute to managers training on effective performance conversations and talent development strategies.
- Ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion principles are embedded in the hiring process.
- Serve as the first point of contact for complex employee relations issues, including grievances, conflict resolution, and disciplinary actions and ensure systematic monthly report to the Ethics Office.
- Advise managers on consistent and fair application of HR policies and procedures.
- Coordinate with the Health & Safety team on incident reporting, workplace risk assessments, and injury management.
- Collaborate with the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and Security teams to ensure alignment of HR practices with the organization’s overall emergency preparedness and response plans.
- Collaborate closely with Legal and Employee Relations teams to prepare for and conduct collective bargaining and labour discussions.
- Provide guidance and support to the Managing Director and site HR teams on collective agreement administration, grievance handling, and labour-related issues.
- Monitor progress and effectiveness of development programs and performance interventions.
- Monitor and report on recruitment metrics (e.g., time-to-fill, cost-per-hire, quality-of-hire).
- Respond to employee inquiries related to pay, bonuses, and benefits with accuracy and confidentiality.
- Collaborate with payroll and finance to ensure accuracy in compensation-related transactions.
- Conduct investigations into employee complaints and recommend appropriate resolutions.
- Promote and cultivate a respectful culture that encourages growth, innovation, and change through proactive engagement initiatives aligned with the Culture and Engagement strategies.
- Support health and wellness initiatives and contribute to creating a psychologically safe workplace.
- Deliver or coordinate OHS training and awareness programs as required.
- Supervise, coach, and develop HR Associate Operations to ensure high-quality service delivery and professional growth.
Required Qualifications and Experience
- Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development or related field.
- Professional-level proficiency in English (spoken and written) is required.
- Minimum 7 years of progressive HR experience, including at least 3 years in a supervisory or regional HR role. Experience in multinational or matrixed organizations is an asset.
- Solid knowledge of labor laws and HR compliance frameworks across multiple countries.
- Strong skills in employee relations, performance management, talent acquisition, compensation, recruitment and occupational health and safety.
- Experience in union negotiation or collective bargaining is highly desirable.
- Effective communication and relationship building.
- Conflict resolution and problem-solving.
- Strategic thinking and operational execution.
