HR Manager CRI - Caribbean locations (Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Puerto Rico)

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.

In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions

into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.

Now, and for the future.

The Program / Department / Team

Mercy Corps is implementing the Preparedness, Resilience and Impact for those Most Excluded (PRIME) in the Caribbean Resilience Initiative (CRI). As part of the project, Mercy Corps is developing four Resilience Hubs (RHs), one each in Jamaica, US Virgin Islands, Saint Kitts, and Saint Lucia over the coming four years. RHs serve vulnerable and remote communities where basic health services are often limited. During a disaster, RHs function as shelters, resource distribution centers, and even command centers, empowering communities to sustain their well-being. Hub components will likely include solar energy, refrigeration, potable water, connectivity, and on-site food gardens to provide life-saving resources for people with chronic medical conditions, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

These existing community centers already serve as key gathering points, aid distribution sites, and places for community events. With our support, they will be able to do even more to support families in need, providing access to basic services and building resilience.

The People Team function ensures that Mercy Corps has the people who will enable it to be a world-class, cutting edge, humanitarian organization, creating transformational change in the world. We do this through the recruitment, retention, and development of the best global talent. Our aim is to drive strategic thinking and planning at all levels of the organization; create a robust body of research to guide us internally and externally and steward the organizational culture. To achieve this, we align conversations on learning; keep the organization focused on what has the greatest impact; leverage our comparative advantages in the crowded and competitive international relief and development landscape; and assure we are constantly learning from our work and the external environment.

The Position

The Caribbean Resilience Initiative Program (CRI) - Human Resources Manager is a strategic HR leader responsible for overseeing all human resources functions across Mercy Corps’ Caribbean program locations outside of U.S. territories. This role provides leadership, guidance, and operational support to program management and staff while ensuring compliance with local labor laws, organizational policies, and HR best practices. Serving as the HR focal point within the Program, the position coordinates with the U.S. HR team for employees based in the United States and Puerto Rico, while maintaining full accountability for HR operations in other Caribbean jurisdictions, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, payroll, employee relations, and talent development. The role is a key member of the Program Leadership Team, contributing to strategic decision-making and fostering a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement across the Program.

Essential Responsibilities

STRATEGY AND VISION

• Develop and implement HR policies and procedures for non-U.S. locations in compliance with local labor laws.
• Act as a trusted advisor to program leadership on HR-related matters, including workforce planning, and employee engagement.
• Influence and guide managers on HR best practices, ensuring alignment across the CRI Program.
• Contribute to the Program Leadership Team by providing HR insights that support strategic decisions.

REPRESENTATION & STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

• Serve as the primary HR leader for Caribbean program locations, ensuring consistency in HR strategy and execution, and providing strategic guidance to Director and leadership team.
• Serve as the HR focal point in the Program for the implementation of global initiatives related to the People Team function.
• Coordinate with US HR team for employees U.S., US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico hired assigned to the Program. The US HR team retains primary responsibility and decision-making authority for these employees, while the Program HR lead serves as liaison and operational support to ensure alignment and timely execution.

HR MANAGEMENT IN CARIBBEAN JURISDICTIONS

-Outside of United States Territories-

• Ensure compliance with local labor laws, employment regulations, and MC policies in Caribbean jurisdictions.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, retention, wellbeing and engagement strategies for Caribbean personnel.
• Responsible for maintaining personnel files for all staff – including recruitment documents, CVs, valid contracts, PAFs, timesheets, employee data sheets, disciplinary papers and performance evaluations.
• Ensure the recruitment of national staff adheres to the standing Global Minimum Recruitment Standards.
• Ensure participation of HR Department in interviews for new staff.
• Ensure Salaries and benefits adhere to Mercy Corps salary scales and standing protocols.
• Ensure Mercy Corps personnel policies strictly adhere to Country labour law as applicable. This includes payment of appropriate taxes, benefits etc.
• Maintain a tracking system for all types of leave for all employees. Ensure proper configuration in Databasics in accordance with jurisdictional requirements.
• Maintain up-to-date HCM system, staffing lists and org chart by Program and Department.
• Ensure consistent performance management practices and career development support.
• Ensure that employee performance evaluations are completed as scheduled.
• Ensure that all national staff have an up-to-date relevant job description.
• Maintain annual holiday schedule including determination of exact holidays in advance of the holiday (as possible) and inform all staff.
• Coordinate coverage for operations during annual leave of key national staff with Program Director.
• Oversee the monthly procedure of timesheets for all staff including collection, review and compilation into payroll, train new staff on timesheet procedure.
• Process monthly payroll in conjunction with Finance staff, Employer of Record and/or external HR service provider to ensure payroll is delivered in a timely manner to all jurisdictions.
• Maintain national staff I.D. cards.
• Responsible for the orientation of all new, national staff on Mercy Corps Country systems, policies and procedures, according to onboarding matrix.
• Ensure Country National Staff Policy Handbook is prepared and reviewed periodically and remains consistent with the latest labor regulations and Mercy Corps Policies.
• Ensure all new staff receive copies of the Country National Staff Policy Handbook and are alerted to benefits. Continue with support and advice on policies, as required.
• Assist Director in conducting or arranging for trainings and/or other human resource development activities.
• Oversee the clearance of terminated employees, as per MC policies and procedures.
• Manage employee relations, including conflict resolution, disciplinary actions, and grievance procedures.
• Participate in disciplinary and termination meetings with program staff upon request.
• Ensure end of service procedures are properly implemented.
• Monitor HR metrics and report on workforce trends, turnover, and other key indicators.
• Partner with other departments (Finance, Operations, Legal, etc.) to ensure HR policies and practices support program goals.
• Maintain confidentiality of all national staff personnel issues including disciplinary procedures and contracts/ pay rates.
• Conduct himself/herself both professionally and personally in such a manner as to bring credit to Mercy Corps and to not jeopardize its humanitarian mission.

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

• Actively learns safeguarding and integrates it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work.
• Practices the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members.
• Encourages openness and communication in their team; encourages team members to submit reports if they have any concerns using reporting mechanisms e.g., Integrity Hotline and other options.

Supervisory Responsibility

None.

Accountability

Reports Directly To: CRI Director

Works Directly With: CRI Senior Management Team, Finance Manager, Operations and Procurement Manager, Program Manager, CRI team members (national employees, US and Puerto Rico based employees, international consultants, others), Employer of Record representative in present and future jurisdictions, external HR service provider representative in present and future jurisdictions, US HR Services team, HR LAC Manager.

Accountability to Participants and Stakeholders

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our program participants, community partners, other stakeholders, and to international standards guiding international relief and development work. We are committed to actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects.

Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• 5+ years of progressive HR experience, with at least 3 years in leadership role managing HR across multiple locations.
• Experience operating in multi-jurisdictional environments
• Strong knowledge of HR processes including recruitment, employee relations, performance management, and compliance.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, influence, and build relationships with senior leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; ability to navigate multicultural environments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with data-driven decision-making ability.
• Ability to manage complex HR issues across multiple jurisdictions simultaneously.
• Conflict resolution and negotiation skills.
• Project management and organizational skills to handle multiple priorities.
• Fluent English language proficiency required.
• Demonstrated ability to manage workload in a remote work arrangement. Able to maintain operational consistency with other team members and actively keep management informed.
• Proven experience and intermediate skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook, and the ability to navigate the Internet/intranet.
• Familiarity with U.S. labor laws is desirable, not required.

Success Factors

Success in this role requires strategic leadership, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to influence across diverse teams and jurisdictions. The ideal candidate is proactive, adaptable, culturally sensitive, and able to balance operational excellence with compliance requirements. Effective communication, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills are essential, along with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment. Commitment to Mercy Corps’ values, safeguarding principles, and integrity is critical.

Living Conditions / Environmental Conditions

The position is based within Caribbean location and it requires up to 40% travel to support program implementation, which may include travel to insecure locations where freedom of movement is limited and areas where amenities are limited. Housing for this role is in individual housing and staff will have access to good medical services and the living situation is of a high standard.

Ongoing Learning

In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development

Team Engagement and Effectiveness

Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.

We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Mercy Corps is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion or belief, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristics protected under applicable law.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps is committed to ensuring that all individuals we come into contact with through our work, whether team members, community members, program participants or others, are treated with respect and dignity. We are committed to the core principles regarding prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse laid out by the UN Secretary General and IASC and have signed on to the Interagency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. We will not tolerate child abuse, sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment by or of our team members. As part of our commitment to a safe and inclusive work environment, team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner, respect local laws and customs, and to adhere to Mercy Corps Code of Conduct Policies and values at all times. Team members are required to complete mandatory Code of Conduct elearning courses upon hire and on an annual basis.

As an applicant, if you witness or experience any form of sexual misconduct during the recruitment process, please report this to Mercy Corps Integrity Hotline ([email protected]).