GiveDirectly has delivered more than $1B in cash directly to 2+ million people living in poverty across 15 countries since 2011. We believe cash transfers are one of the most scalable, cost-effective, and dignified forms of aid, with the research to back it up. Our work has been covered by The Economist, NPR, TED, and The Washington Post. We are one of Time100’s Most Influential Companies of 2026. We're now preparing to deliver billions of dollars a year to people in extreme poverty, if funding allows. Read our CEO's essay on what that will take.
Our culture is candid, analytical, and non-hierarchical. We support high ownership and real professional growth. Curious about what it's really like to work here? Read our values and hear from the people who do. If they resonate, this could be a great fit!
Job Title: Human Resource Associate
Location: Kampala, Uganda
Reports to: Human Resource Manager
Contract: Fixed-term contract (possibility of extension subject to funding and performance)
Role Overview
The Human Resources Associate will provide professional and operational support across key HR functions, including recruitment, onboarding, employee records management, employee engagement, learning and development, HR administration, and compliance. The role will support the effective implementation of HR policies, procedures, and initiatives while ensuring accurate record-keeping, timely service delivery, and confidentiality in the handling of employee information.
Responsibilities
Recruitment and Onboarding
- Support the end-to-end recruitment process, including preparing job advertisements, coordinating candidate sourcing, screening applications, shortlisting, scheduling interviews and the communication with candidates
- Support with reference checks and other pre-employment verification processes
- Maintain accurate recruitment records and ensure timely communication with candidates throughout the recruitment process
- In charge of the preparation of employment offers, contract extensions letters and other recruitment-related documentation
- In charge of the onboarding processes and the completion of all documents necessary for new employees
- Support the planning and scheduling of orientation for new hires to discuss Kenya’s policies
- Schedule check ins with new hires for an assessment of their well being
- Onboarding all new hires to BambooHR and Payspace
- Follow up on new hires probationary reviews with managers
Payroll and Benefits Administration Support
- Maintain records of statutory deductions, benefits, and other employee-related information.
- Assist in responding to employee queries relating to payslips, leave, benefits, and payroll matters.
- Onboard new staff to the Payspace Self Service portal.
- Assist with processing staff related allowance requests e.g salary advance, L & D, team events.
- Acts as a liaison between the organization and external benefits providers and vendors, which may include health, social security and workmen’s compensation plan providers.
- Ensure that new staff are enrolled to the benefits scheme and exit staff are deleted from the schemes.
- Reconcile the debit and credit notes from the insurance providers.
- Raise the Procurement Request Forms for HR related payment requests
- Offboard all exit employees on BambooHR and Payspace
HR Administrative Work
- Oversee and maintain the Google Drive and BambooHR systems to ensure employee personnel files are accurate, complete, properly organized, and kept up to date.
- Support regular audits of employee files and HR records to ensure completeness, compliance, accuracy, and proper filing.
- Conduct quarterly audits of statutory records and files to ensure that all statutory remittances are accurately recorded and supported by the relevant receipts and documentation.
- Support internal and external audits by coordinating and providing relevant HR documentation and records as required.
- Prepare routine staff letters, end of contract notifications, employee verification letters and visa letters
- Ensure that all newly hired staff have completed their probationary performance review
- Fully own the special pass and work permit application process for all expert staff
- Perform periodic audits of HR files and records to ensure that all required documents are collected and filed appropriately
- Deal with employee requests regarding human resources issues, rules, and regulations
- Fully own the special pass and work permit application process for all expatriate staff
- Plan and coordinate special events such as country wide townhalls, monthly, quarterly and end of year team engagement activities
- Process the training requests for the individual Learning & Development stipend
- Assist in coordinating staff training and development activities
- Maintain training records and monitor participation
- Secretary to the disciplinary committee in the disciplinary hearings ensuring that the proceedings are minuted and signed by everyone present
- Periodically remind staff to utilize their leave days during the year to avoid carry forward of leave days
- Contract Management - Notify relevant managers of approaching the end of contracts and follow up with renewals if need be
- Assist in carrying out exit interviews and one-on-one meetings with staff as required
- Stay abreast of developments in HR trends and best practices; share information with the relevant parties.
In addition to the specific skills required for the role, we’re looking for candidates who are aligned with our Values, and who actively demonstrate our core competencies: emotional intelligence, problem solving, project management, follow-through, and fostering inclusivity.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field
- Relevant post graduate degree in HR or a related field of study is an added advantage
- Minimum 3 years generalist HR experience preferably gained within the NGO sector
- Must be adept at problem-solving, including being able to identify and resolve issues in a timely manner
- Must be able to communicate clearly, both written and orally, as to communicate with employees, members of the senior management team, and in group presentations and meetings
- Strong interest in advancing the values and mission of GiveDirectly
- Comprehensive understanding of the Uganda employment law
- Strong ethics, reliability and integrity
- Ability to coordinate and prioritize conflicting assignments
- Prior experience in HR operations and knowledge of best practices
- Familiarity with current employment laws and regulations and their application
- Hands on experience with HR software (HRIS)
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Proficiency in Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Drive, Google Meet, Calendar, Docs)
This is a fixed term (2 years, renewable subject to funding) contract
Working at GiveDirectly
GiveDirectly is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to the person’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Flagging for US applicants: We invite you to "Know Your Rights" as an applicant.
Commitment to Safeguarding
As a global organization working with communities to eliminate extreme poverty, GiveDirectly takes the safeguarding of its recipients, staff, and partners seriously. To that end, GiveDirectly is a member of the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, and will systematically check with previous employers about any abuse or misconduct related matters involving potential new hires. We may also employ other robust pre-hire screens, including in-depth reference checks, criminal background checks, and sanctions screens.
These efforts help us continue to build and maintain trust with the communities we work with, and prevent abuse to our recipients and staff.
**GD is committed to observing all local, national and international laws that protect people and basic human rights of all. GD is committed to a policy of “zero tolerance when it comes to preventing, reporting, or responding to any form of abuse or exploitation.” and expects anyone who works for GD to uphold the protection and safeguarding of our recipients as a priority.**
Reasonable Accommodations
We are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment. If you require any accommodations during the application or interview process, or to perform the essential functions of the role, please email us at [email protected] with the email subject “Accommodation Needed”. We will work with you to ensure reasonable accommodations are made to support your needs.
Want to put your best foot forward on your GiveDirectly application? Take a look at our Candidate Application Prep Guide!
ReferralsKnow the right person for this role? Please consider referring them. We offer a reward of $3,000 for a Senior Manager or above role, and $500 for a Manager role, paid if we end up hiring your referral. Thank you for sending great people our way!
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in a relevant field
- Minimum 3 years of generalist HR experience, preferably in the NGO sector
- Problem-solving ability and timely issue resolution
- Clear written and verbal communication skills
- Strong interest in advancing GiveDirectly's values and mission
- Comprehensive understanding of Uganda employment law
- Strong ethics, reliability, and integrity
- Ability to coordinate and prioritize conflicting assignments
- Prior experience in HR operations and knowledge of HR best practices
- Familiarity with current employment laws and regulations
- Hands-on experience with HR software or HRIS
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Proficiency in Google Workspace, including Gmail, Google Drive, Google Meet, Calendar, and Docs
- Relevant postgraduate degree in HR or a related field
What We Do
GiveDirectly (GD) aims to reshape international giving – and millions of lives – by allowing donors to provide cash grants directly to the world’s poorest. We believe in elevating recipient choice and committing to transparency around metrics and evidence, taking rigorous, impact-driven approach to accelerating the end of extreme poverty.
Why Work With Us
We are a values-driven, multinational team committed to empowering those living in poverty. $70B in cash transfers would be required to eliminate the poverty gap; the aid sector currently spends $135B each year, much of which is allocated to evidence-free interventions. GiveDirectly wants to change that and accelerate the end of extreme poverty.
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