HR Associate

HR ASSOCIATE - INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is one of the world's leading humanitarian organizations, operating in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities. Since its founding in 1933, IRC has worked tirelessly to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and dignity to millions of people affected by conflict and disaster. We are searching for dedicated, solutions-oriented professionals ready to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people worldwide. ABOUT THE ROLE As an HR Associate within our I-Hub, you will be the welcoming face and guiding hand for new employees joining the IRC family. Working alongside Recruiting Associates, HR Partners, HR Focal Points, and hiring managers, you will shepherd candidates through every stage of the hiring and onboarding journey. Your role is to ensure that every step—from pre-employment paperwork to day-one orientation—is smooth, organized, and aligned with local labor practices. You will manage onboarding and offboarding processes, administer employee benefits, handle leave management, and maintain comprehensive HR records and systems. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Your primary duties will include leading comprehensive onboarding experiences that encompass pre-arrival communication, orientation scheduling, documentation collection, and system setup. You will proactively engage with new hires after offer acceptance, track onboarding milestones, manage communications and compliance acknowledgements, and ensure technical setup of hardware and software. You will facilitate introductions to team members, provide onboarding kits, and ensure seamless integration into the organization while adhering to Kenyan labor law requirements. In benefits administration, you will gather and maintain benefits-related documentation, coordinate timely enrollment and termination in medical insurance, group life, GPA, pension, and wellness programs, and liaise with insurance providers on claims, renewals, and policy updates. You will also track benefits utilization data and orient new staff on available packages. For leave management, you will oversee complete leave administration including tracking, reconciliation, and system updates. You will provide staff guidance on annual, sick, parental, and compassionate leave while ensuring compliance with organizational policies and labor laws. You will audit leave balances in Workday, coordinate corrections, and support payroll alignment. Additional responsibilities include conducting exit interviews with departing employees, maintaining data accuracy in HRIS systems, managing personnel files and employee records, preparing HR metrics reports, and administering Workday systems and databases. QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS You must possess a minimum of three years of HR experience and have worked in a customer service environment demonstrating active listening and problem-solving abilities. Knowledge of HR concepts and employment law is highly valued. You should hold a bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management or equivalent qualifications from a recognized institution and maintain good standing membership with the Institute of Human Resource Management. DESIRED SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES We are seeking someone with exceptional customer service orientation who consistently exceeds expectations and builds strong relationships built on trust and respect. You must demonstrate outstanding organizational and detail-oriented capabilities, coupled with sound judgment and accountability. Strong interpersonal abilities, effective communication skills, and proficiency with Microsoft Office applications—particularly Excel—are essential. Experience with Workday and Cornerstone is advantageous. You must handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion and manage shifting priorities effectively. IRC CORE VALUES All IRC staff must uphold our Standards for Professional Conduct, rooted in our core values of Integrity, Service, Equality, and Accountability. We maintain strict policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Protection from Retaliation. The IRC is committed to creating a safe environment and fostering critical reflection, power sharing, and objectivity to deliver exceptional service to our clients.