Deputy Director - Human Resources

Position Overview

Afghanaid is seeking a highly skilled Deputy Director of Human Resources (DDHR) who is passionate about mentoring, capacity-building, and fostering a culture of excellence, inclusion, and continuous learning, to lead strategic HR initiatives, ensuring effective people management, talent development, and operational excellence. This is a unique opportunity for an HR professional to make a lasting difference for the most vulnerable communities in Afghanistan while advancing their career in the international humanitarian and development sector. 

Reporting to the Director of Finance and Operations, over a 24-month period the DDHR will play a pivotal role in strengthening Afghanaid’s HR capacity through: 

• Coaching and mentoring, building the capabilities of identified HR management talent to enable them to develop into the role upon completion of the contract;
• Leading the Afghanistan-based HR team to review and upgrade HR policies, structures, systems, and processes, aligning them with Afghanaid’s mission and values;
• Providing expert guidance on all aspects of HR management, including talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, leadership development, gender and inclusion and HR compliance. 

The role requires regular travel to Afghanistan, working closely with the local HR team and senior leadership. 

Job Description

Reporting to the Director of Finance and Operations and serving as a member of the Board of Directors, the Deputy Director of Human Resources (DDHR) leads the human resource department and will be responsible for mentoring the HR team based in Afghanistan to build their capacity across all HR functions. The role involves working closely with the local HR team and senior leadership by implementing HR strategies to support Afghanaid’s mission and objectives, while enhancing the skills and capabilities of the HR team. As a member of the Board of Directors, the DDHR supports the Managing Director and Board of Trustees in overall strategic and operational leadership of the organization. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Lead the review, enhancement, and implementation of HR policies, structures, and frameworks to align with international best practices and regulatory requirements. 
• Develop long-term HR strategies that support Afghanaid’s mission, focusing on workforce planning, retention, HR development and succession planning. 
• Establish HR governance and compliance frameworks, ensuring adherence to Afghan labour laws, UK regulations and international standards. 
• Provide high-level HR advisory support to the Managing Director and Board of Trustees on strategic people management initiatives. 
• Lead change management efforts, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. 
• Serve as a mentor and technical advisor to the Afghanistan-based HR team, equipping them with the knowledge and skills required to assume leadership roles, and the deputy director role in particular. 
• Facilitate knowledge-sharing and best practice adoption through structured learning pathways for HR staff. 
• Guide the HR team in Afghanistan on handling complex employee relations issues, grievance redressal, and disciplinary actions. 
• Strengthen the effective implementation of HR operations, including talent acquisition and development, on-boarding, performance management, employee relations, compensation, and benefits administration. 
• Strengthen HR systems, processes, and documentation, ensuring consistency, transparency, and efficiency. 
• Lead compliance and risk management efforts related to employment law, safeguarding, and ethical recruitment practices. 
• Conduct regular HR audits and risk assessments, implementing corrective actions where necessary. 
• Oversee the performance management system, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and staff development needs. 
• Design and implement succession planning, trainings and leadership & professional development programmes to build an internal pipeline for future leadership across all departments and teams. 
• Develop strategies to enhance employee engagement, workplace culture, and team cohesion. 
• Lead diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, ensuring equal opportunities and representation across the organisation. 
• Oversee the implementation, integration, and optimisation of the HR Management Information System (HRMIS), ensuring data accuracy and operational efficiency. 
• Develop HR analytics and reporting tools to support data-driven decision-making. 
• Provide training to HR and senior management on HRMIS utilisation and best practices.

About Afghanaid

Afghanaid is a community-led humanitarian and development organisation operating in Afghanistan. For more than forty years we have worked with millions of families in some of the poorest and most remote communities in Afghanistan. We build basic services, improve livelihoods, strengthen the rights of women and children, help communities protect against natural disasters and adapt to climate change, and respond to humanitarian emergencies.

Our community-led approach ensures Afghans shape their own development, making them active participants in determining the future of their country. With our years of experience, our 97% Afghan team, and our deep understanding of local, cultural and ethnic issues, we have earned great trust and respect among the communities we work alongside. This has allowed us to gain access to some of the most underserved areas of the country.

Download our attachment to read the full job description and person specification.