HR Manager

Job Description

Job Title: Human Resources (HR) Manager

Department: HR Department

Location: UWS Nepal Office, Kathmandu

Reports To: Country Director

Contract Type: Full-time

Role Summary

The Human Resources (HR) Manager provides strategic and operational leadership to UWS Nepal’s HR functions. The position ensures effective management of recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, performance systems, HR compliance, and staff wellbeing. The HR Manager plays a key role in strengthening organisational culture, safeguarding standards, and the development of a motivated, high-performing workforce. This role supports managers with HR advisory services, ensures legal compliance, and contributes to organisational effectiveness through continuous improvement of HR systems and processes. The HR Manager contributes to a positive, inclusive and values‑driven culture across UWS Nepal and works collaboratively with colleagues across the organisation to ensure People & Culture practices are coherent, values‑aligned and supportive of staff. The role reflects the specific needs and context of Nepal while contributing local insights that strengthen shared organisational approaches.

Key Responsibilities:

Recruitment and Onboarding – 25%

• Lead and manage the full recruitment cycle, including job description development, vacancy announcements, shortlisting, assessments, and interviews.

• Work closely with line managers to ensure recruitment is timely, transparent, and aligned with UWS ToRs and safeguarding protocols.

• Prepare approval memos, reference checks, salary negotiation notes, and final hiring documentation.

• Oversee onboarding and induction to ensure new staff understand organisational culture, policies, safeguarding, and program approaches.

• Regularly review and update job profiles, recruitment guidelines, and selection procedures to ensure fairness and consistency.

• Ensure recruitment and onboarding practices uphold UWS values, including safeguarding and DEIB principles, and contribute to coherent People & Culture approaches across both Nepal and the wider organisation.

Employee Engagement, Performance & Development – 25%

• Design and implement employee engagement initiatives to strengthen staff morale, motivation, wellbeing, and positive organisational culture.

• Identify capacity gaps and coordinate professional development, internal learning, and mentoring opportunities.

• Oversee the performance management system, ensuring timely goal setting, mid-year reviews, annual appraisals, and continuous feedback.

• Maintain secure and confidential HR databases, personnel files, and digital records.

• Lead and coordinate staff events such as orientations, trainings, retreats, and team-building activities.

• Champion wellbeing, belonging and a supportive organisational culture by ensuring staff voice, positive relationships, and inclusive practices are embedded into engagement and development initiatives.

Policy Implementation, Compliance & HR Governance – 20%

• Ensure consistent implementation, maintenance and timely updating of HR policies, the employee handbook, safeguarding policies and the code of conduct, including contributing to drafting and revisions to ensure these reflect both organisational values and the Nepal context. Monitor compliance with Nepal’s labour laws, tax requirements, and other statutory regulations.

• Oversee contract management, leave administration, and benefits documentation.

• Support the revision, development, and rollout of HR systems, policies, and organisational reforms.

• Ensure safeguarding, gender inclusion, and anti-harassment standards are embedded across teams.

Payroll & Benefits Administration – 15%

• Coordinate with the Finance Department to ensure accurate payroll processing, including attendance verification, leave reconciliation, and salary adjustments.

• Manage staff benefits, insurance, allowances, and respond to HR-related queries.

• Maintain updated attendance and leave records, ensuring consistent application of policies.

• Support salary mapping, pay scales, and HR budgeting as required.

Employee Relations & Conflict Resolution – 15%

• Serve as the primary focal person for employee concerns, grievances, and disciplinary matters.

• Provide HR advisory support to managers and staff on policy interpretation, behaviour expectations, and performance management.

• Lead investigations on misconduct, safeguarding concerns, or policy violations, ensuring fair and confidential processes.

• Promote an inclusive, respectful, and safeguarding-oriented organisational culture.

• Foster psychological safety and strong, transparent communication between staff and senior leadership, ensuring issues can be raised and addressed in a constructive way.

 Please note, this is not an exhaustive list and other duties may be required in agreement with your line manager.

Qualifications:

Professional Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in human resources management, Business Administration, Organisational Development, or related field (Master’s preferred).

• Minimum 4–5 years of progressive HR experience, ideally within NGOs, INGOs, or the education/development sector.

• Experience managing HR functions, policy implementation, and employee relations at supervisory or managerial level.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong understanding of HR best practices, Nepal labour law, compliance standards, and safeguarding principles.

• Commitment to modelling UWS values and fostering a positive, inclusive workplace culture.

• Understanding of DEIB principles and ability to apply them sensitively within HR practices.

• High emotional intelligence, cultural sensitivity and the ability to work relationally with diverse teams.

• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and conflict-resolution skills.

• Skilled in HR documentation, data systems, and HR information software.

• High integrity, confidentiality, and professionalism in handling sensitive information.

• Strong organisational and analytical abilities, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.

• Proven ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams, partners, and stakeholders.

How to apply:

To apply for this position, please send a comprehensive CV (max two pages) and a cover letter (no more than two pages) to info.nepal@uwsglobal.net. The deadline for applications is 5 p.m. on Feb 25, 2026.

UWS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We can only accept applications from candidates with the permanent right to employment in Nepal. UWS is committed to safeguarding children, and ensuring we recruit safely is central to this commitment. All applicants will be required to undergo a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check as a condition of employment.