Senior HR Officer - Shortlisting on a Rolling basis (Applications will only be accepted if submitted through the URL link provided below)

About Mercy Corps

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

Working in Lebanon since 1993, Mercy Corps is committed to generating positive opportunities for women, men, boys and girls from Lebanese, Syrian, and Palestinian communities, with a strong focus on engaging youth. Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping build secure, productive and just communities. Our programs focus on four outcome areas across the humanitarian-development nexus: economic opportunities, access to food, water security and peace and good governance. The Mercy Corps Lebanon team consists of over 50 staff working throughout Mount Lebanon, South Lebanon, North Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.

As part of the team, the Human Resources Department is committed to implementing and maintaining the highest standards of efficiency and integrity in the HR services, namely; HR Administration, Policy Implementation, Recruitment, Selection and Placement & Organizational Development, Capacity Building and Career Development for Mercy Corps in Lebanon.

The Position

Under the direct supervision of the Multi- Country Senior HR Manager, the Senior Human Resources Officer is responsible for supporting Mercy Corps’ programs in close coordination with support departments and program teams based in Lebanon. The position will support in various human resources functions, including but not limited to recruitment, training & development, and performance management for all Lebanon office team members.

Essential Responsibilities

RECRUITMENT

• Manage the recruitment of national team members and interns, ensuring compliance with Mercy Corps’ standard Recruiting Guidelines and Procedures and in line with the Lebanese labor law.
• Oversee the hiring process for Daily Workers.
• Guide the recruiting managers by providing the relevant templates, organizing recruitment kick-off meetings, participating in interviews and supporting all steps of the recruitment process as needed.
• Conduct job evaluations and support hiring managers to update position descriptions when required to ensure fairness and consistency in the way roles and responsibilities are graded across the MC Lebanon country mission.
• Ensure recruitments are in line with our safeguarding policies, including guiding the recruiting managers on assessing safeguarding risk levels and including safeguarding questions in tests and interviews as needed.
• Source candidates by headhunting for vacancies requiring a specific skill set.
• Build a database with potential candidates for future openings.
• Act as a point of contact and build influential candidate relationships during the recruitment process.
• Complete all recruitment documentation in compliance with MC’s and donor regulations.
• Ensure hiring managers and heads of departments are regularly updated about the status of their relevant recruitment processes.

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT

• Follow up on all new hire probationary reviews ensuring they are completed on time.
• With direct support from the Multi-Country Senior HR Manager, manage the performance reviews for all team members and ensure regular communications are sent in advance and received on time to promote positive engagement.
• With the support of the Multi-Country Senior HR Manager, guide supervisors on performance management including facilitating between staff and supervisors and guide supervisors on the steps that can be taken in the case of poor performance in accordance with MC policies and the Lebanese labor law.
• As needed, support supervisors in the performance review process by providing guidance on how to provide feedback or attending sensitive performance review meetings as needed.
• Actively provide team members with the necessary information, tools, and resources to support their performance and goal achievement.

ADMINISTRATIVE

• Support the Multi-Country Senior HR Manager in updating MC Lebanon handbook, along with related policies and memos, ensuring that all processes and templates align with team needs and the latest requirements from Mercy Corps, donors, or government regulations.
• Lead on organizing and conducting monthly orientation sessions for new joiners.
• Continuously update the onboarding SharePoint site with the latest information and documents.
• Oversee and manage the employee exit process, including issuing notices, conducting exit interviews, coordinating final clearances, and maintaining accurate records in compliance with organizational policies and labor laws.
• Process letters related to Salary Certificates, Visa Letters, Recommendation Letters, etc.
• Prepare employment contracts for new joiners and addendums for existing team members.
• Prepare the necessary documents to ensure people management practices are in line with MC policies and procedures (issuing Personal Action Forms (PAF) for new joiners and for existing employment changes, Note to File (NtF), etc.).
• Ensure monthly submission of PAFs, changes in employment status and related documents to the Finance Department for payroll.
• Ensure the timely monthly submission of timesheets for all team members, verify their accuracy, and monitor leave records.
• Work with the Program Managers on their HR plans, e.g. during the close out of the project review contract end dates, employee accrued leaves, notification letters, PAFs, etc.
• Maintain the personnel and job file filing system, ensuring compliance with MC standards, including hard copies, soft copies, and entries in the HCM system.

COORDINATION

• Be an active member during the cross-department coordination meetings including BVA and grant review meetings.
• Represent MC in the relevant working groups and coordination mechanisms such as the HR working group of the INGO forum.
• Liaise with MC lawyer on matters related to expatriates' residency permits, work permits and visitors’ visas. Track visa applications and renewals, ensuring timely follow-up and deadline reminders.
• Work with the appropriate insurance provider to manage changes in employee statuses and handle the monthly insurance billing accordingly.

REPORTS AND ANALYSIS

• Create and update monthly organizational charts for each department and program.
• Track, consolidate and share recruitment statuses by updating the recruitment tracker.
• Track probationary, mid- and end-of-year performance reviews and consolidate training needs.
• Prepare exit interview reports and share with Multi-Country Senior HR Manager.
• Complete the monthly HR metrics, when needed.

SAFEGUARDING

• Actively learn about safeguarding and integrate it into their work, including safeguarding risks and mitigations related to their area of work
• Practice the values of Mercy Corps including respecting the dignity and well-being of participants and fellow team members
• Encourage 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: N/A

Accountability

Reports Directly To: Multi-Country Senior HR Manager

Works Directly With: All Programs, Support teams, Regional & Global teams

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 or equivalent in HR Management or Public Administration or another relevant field.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in the HR sector, INGO experience preferred.
• Good understanding of the Lebanese Labor Law, recruitment practices and Performance Management.
• Well organized and detail oriented.
• Approachable, discreet, and confidential.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Proficiency in MS office.
• Internal or former Mercy Corps staff are highly encouraged to apply.

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 Efficiency 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 that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out different backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained global impact.  

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work. 

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.