HR and Administration Officer

At Counterpart International, we believe that the people closest to the challenges are best positioned to solve them, but they shouldn’t have to do it alone. For more than 60 years, we’ve partnered with communities around the world to turn local ideas into lasting solutions. We connect local vision with global opportunity, working alongside leaders, organizations, and networks to build inclusive, resilient communities where people thrive. Our programs focus on long-term impact supporting women to lead and grow their businesses, strengthening food systems so families have access to nutritious food and sustainable livelihoods, and creating pathways for economic and social progress. As a trusted steward of development funding, Counterpart is known for transparency, accountability, and measurable results. We bring together the right partners, resources, and ideas to help communities build better lives and more durable futures, generation after generation. For more information on Counterpart, please visit our website at www.Counterpart.org  

Summary: Counterpart International is seeking a Human Resources (HR) and Administration (Admin) Officer to support the USDA Food for Progress (FFPr) Promoting Rural Infrastructure, Modernization, and Efficiency (PRIME) project. The overall objective of the project is to modernize Morocco's slaughterhouse and cold-chain infrastructure across the livestock value chain, contributing to improved food safety, market efficiency, agricultural productivity, and trade. Aligned with Morocco's Generation Green 2030 strategy and USDA Food for Progress objectives, PRIME will strengthen regulatory compliance, build institutional and workforce capacity, facilitate public and private investment, and improve market access through enhanced traceability and consumer awareness.

The HR and Admin Officer has a critical role in ensuring that the organization has proper and compliant human resource management and office operations. HR and Admin Officer responsibilities include managing payroll, benefits, talent, employee exits, employee wellbeing, office operations management, and learning and development. The position requires a combination of HR expertise, office/operations management, and the ability to build strong relationships with senior leadership and employees at all levels. The HR and Admin Officer will report to the Director of Finance and Risk Management.

Key Responsibilities:

·         Lead all matters related to HR, ensuring compliance with local law, US government regulations, and organizational policy.

·         Liaise with key internal stakeholders (project leadership, team leads, US office) to ensure seamless HR procedures and office management operations.

·         Ensure that obligations and deliverables to key external stakeholders (e.g., regulatory authorities, insurance service providers) are met in a timely manner.

·         Mitigate legal risks by consulting local legal counsel on HR-related legal matters and discussing guidance with project leadership and US office team.

·         Collaborate with leadership to develop and implement HR and office policies that support organizational goals and objectives.

·         Work on completing and updating country Social Insurance and Labor Law related documents.

·         Be a champion and custodian of organizational policy ensuring it is applied consistently.

·         Support team cohesion and help create a healthy work environment for employees, working with relevant individuals or teams to bring any employee issues to resolution.

·         Oversee daily office operations, ensuring the office environment is adequate as well as safe and secure for all employees to work in.

·         Manage the staffing process, including recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding; and work with the recruitment panel to ensure a smooth recruitment and hiring process for new employees.

·         Ensure staff job descriptions are up to date.

·         Perform preliminary investigations into employee issues and communicate them to appropriate channels through laid down Counterpart policies.

·         Function as a key focal person for HR-related reviews or audits, and be a champion to promote seamless HR review/audit processes across the project.

·         Maintaining Labor Law related files for the project including but not limited to recruitment files, compensation and benefit plans, labor, labor law and the annual holiday schedule.

·         Coordinate travel logistics, accommodation and transportation services for project staff, HQ staff and technical advisors

·         Work proactively to ensure that information and tools such as organogram, contact details, employee directory, and telephone tree are up-to-date and effective.

·         Maintain employee records in an organized and confidential manner, in line with the organizational HR file checklist, updating employee information as necessary, and ensuring soft copies are saved in the project’s online files (on SharePoint).

·         As needed, communicate with the STTA and conduct the onboarding process, generating consultant contracts, and contract extensions.

·         Work on establishing a pool of consultant CV’s and building a network of local consultants

·         Organize office operations and procedures; provide input to payroll preparation, manage the timesheet completion process, leave schedules, and vendors; ensure project compliance with the organizational filing system; review and approve supply requisitions within the approval limit; assign and monitor clerical functions on the administrative support team.

·         Ensure that office inventory (equipment, supplies and consumables) is secure at all times, and inventory records are up to date.

·         Ensure that office utility bills (electricity, water, waste disposal, etc.) are settled promptly, and supplies and consumables (stationery, fuel, etc.) are monitored and re-ordered to ensure smooth office operations.

·         Organize maintenance services to keep the office clean and safe, and project appliances are in good working order.

·         Ensure security service providers deliver services agreed to in their contracts for the Counterpart office and other premises.

·         Flag any issues and propose solutions to program leadership, with the aim of improving office operations and procedures.

·         Support in training logistics and venue setup for both in-person and online training.

·         Provide input for project cash advance requests, drawdowns, and budget projections.

Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field (master’s degree or HR Certification is a plus).
• Minimum 5+ years of progressive HR experience, with a minimum of 2 years in a senior HR role, preferably on USDA-funded projects.
• Working knowledge of Morocco labor law.
• Strong knowledge of HR best practices and proven experience resolving complex employee relations matters.
• Leadership ability to manage challenges and oversee employees.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to prepare memos and summaries, assign tasks, accept instructions, provide on-the-job training to others, manage vendor contracts, among other tasks.
• Strong proficiency in MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint is required. Should also be able to demonstrate practical knowledge of SharePoint.
• Organization and the ability to multitask to complete a wide variety of tasks; attention to detail to ensure tasks are completed thoroughly and correctly; flexibility in responding to unexpected challenges.

·         Demonstrated ability to communicate fully and effectively, both orally and in writing, in English, Arabic, and Amazigh is required; proficiency in French is preferred.

·         Proficiency of language(s) required will be specifically evaluated during the selection process, which may include written and/or oral assessments. 

Counterpart is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, age, or other legally protected characteristics. 

Accessibility Notice: If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process due to a physical or mental disability, please send an email to recruiting@counterpart.org .

Only finalists will be contacted. No phone calls, please.