People Manager

People Manager

Contract type: 3 Years Fixed Term (Renewable), 40 Hours per week

Location: Kampal, Uganda

Salary and Benefits:  Competitive salary with excellent benefits.

Change starts with water. Change starts with you.

Every day, millions of people live without clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid exists to change that – for everyone, everywhere. Join us, and your energy will help unlock people’s potential and create a fairer future.

About WaterAid

We’re a global federation driven by one vision: a world where everyone, everywhere has clean water, sanitation and hygiene by 2030. Powered by our values of Respect, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration, Integrity and Innovation, we work alongside communities, partners and supporters to make change happen.

About the Team

WaterAid is an international organization whose vision is that of a world where everyone has access to safe water, hygiene, and sanitation. WaterAid works to transform lives by improving access to safe water and good hygiene and sanitation conditions among the poorest and most marginalized populations in the world. In the implementation of its strategic plan for 2023-2028, WaterAid Uganda places particular emphasis on Health, also on increasing the quantity and quality of the WASH sector financing in Uganda, mobilizing resources, establishing multi-stakeholder partnerships, utilizing action research and innovation, while drawing on the lessons learned from previous strategies. In this process, WaterAid Uganda is seeking a qualified and motivated individual candidate to fill the position of People Manager based at the National Office in Kampala.

About the Role

WaterAid Uganda is seeking a People Manager for the Country Programme to deliver its strategy and impact. This role will enable efficient internal operations with best practice in ways of working. The People Manager role will be accountable for excellent administrative support across the full spectrum of people team accountabilities including policy, processes, training and development, performance management, payroll, onboarding, recruitment, staff wellbeing, pay and benefits and employee relations.

As part of the WaterAid people team, this role will support WaterAid realise its goals, through supporting the development of people plans that align WaterAid’s people with its aims and objectives and ensure that Water Aiders have the skills and opportunities to maximise the impact they can make. The incumbent will work with people across the organisation, to deliver great people management and to create a high performing and engaging work environment.

The post holder will also spend 10% of their time working with the Global People Team to build strong WaterAid people practices.

Accountabilities:

• Support the identification of the skills and capabilities needed to implement current and future country programme activities and goals.
• Deliver effective and timely recruitment, including drafting JDs, posting the vacancy in relevant media, coordinating with recruitment agencies, and hiring managers.
• Ensure the effective onboarding for all new staff.
• Coach managers in their roles in employee orientation and hold them accountable.
• Embed strong performance management culture and processes.
• Nurture employee engagement and wellbeing, including participation in the employee satisfaction survey, developing action plans and tracking results and outcomes.
• Complete periodic salary and benefit surveys collaborating with INGO networks and providing the necessary data to Birches.
• Prepare staff contracts, letters, and communication regarding changes in role, salary, and benefits as per policy.
• Maintain efficient and ‘audit ready’ people processes/systems for handling employee and other HR related documents.
• Maintain employee data on PeoplePlace achieving 100% accuracy through processing change requests on a timely basis.
• Conduct monthly payroll check/calculations in a timely manner. Compile payroll data for annual calculations and audits and submit payroll to Finance for review.
• Ensure people policies, employment practices and compensation packages are within the limits of established standards and policies of WaterAid and Country Laws
• Provide advice and manage any employee relations and safeguarding cases in line with local procedures and global standards. Create safe working environment and practices.
• Working in partnership with the Focal Points for security and safeguarding, ensure the streamlining of security and safeguarding throughout the CP.
• Collaborate closely with the People Hub and contract in the support and expertise needed to deliver people plan and priorities.

About You:

• University degree level qualification in Human Resources Management, Organisation Psychology or a master’s degree in business administration with a post graduate diploma in HR Management.
• Professional HR qualification highly desirable
• Significant HR operational management experience within a team environment. A minimum of 5 years’ experience at senior management level handling responsibility for recruitment, employee relations, reward, performance management, employment legislation, change management, organisational design, capacity building, policy and processes and learning and development
• Strong knowledge of HR best practice and innovative new practices
• Highly competent in interpreting and applying statutory legislation.
• Strong IT skills particularly MS Word, Excel and Outlook, with experience of using HR databases, online recruitment tools and Intranets
• Analytical and numeracy skills, to produce and distil accurate information applying intuition and strong judgement
• Strong communication skills in written and oral English.
• Track record of empowering others and the ability to influence.
• Experience of working in a matrix management structure.

To be successful, you’ll need: 

• Ability to influence, support and challenge senior managers as a credible source of advice
• Customer, solutions and delivery focused, with the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines
• Effective and engaging communicator who tailors communications to include and engage different audiences
• Able to promote cross team collaboration and form effective working relationships with people from across the organisation.  A networker, bringing best practice ideas to the CP.
• Holds a position with courage (when appropriate) and can be flexible in make effective decisions
• A passion for and interest in the sector, the CP and WaterAid.
• Exceptional people and relationship skills; excellent ability to work with teams in an inclusive manner an create an engaging workplace.
• Experience in the development of local HR policies and employment laws, recruitment approaches and people development
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with relevant internal and external stakeholders, with sensitivity and respect for diversity.
• Ability to manage information of a confidential/sensitive nature.
• Working style that reflects WaterAid’s values of Respect, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration, Integrity, and Innovation.

View full job description here

Closing Date: Applications will close 12:00 PM UK Time on Friday 19th September 2025.

How to Apply: Click ‘Apply’ to upload your CV and an essential cover letter which should also be in English.

Can I use Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in my application? At WaterAid, we strongly advise against using AI technology at any stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure a fair and transparent process that provides every applicant with an equal opportunity to succeed. We value hearing about your unique experiences and perspectives in your application, and, if shortlisted, during the interview as well.

Pre-employment screening: To apply for this post, you must be able to demonstrate your eligibility to work in Uganda. All pre-employment checks will be carried out according to the Ugandan laws.

Our Benefits

As a global organisation, WaterAid is committed to creating an environment where you can thrive and be yourself at your very best. Alongside our inspiring mission and meaningful work, we offer a range of benefits tailored to each country’s context and policies. These will be shared during the process.

Our People Promise

We will work with passion and focus to make sure everyone everywhere has clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid is a place of purpose – where people have a real commitment and shared responsibility for the impact we have. We are a global community with diverse backgrounds and perspectives, motivated by inspiring, stimulating work. We are determined to be a place where people feel safe and able to contribute their voice and truly live our values.

Equal Opportunities

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions, ways of life and status. This includes, but is not limited to, race, ethnicity, caste, colour, gender, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, disability status, neurodiversity, age, marital and family status, sexual orientation and gender identity, health status, place of residence, economic and social situation.

Safeguarding

We are committed to protecting everyone we come into contact with. We have a zero- tolerance approach to abuse of power, privilege or trust across our global work, and to any form of inappropriate behaviour, discrimination, abuse, bullying, harassment, or exploitation. Safeguarding the people and communities we work with, our staff, volunteers and anyone working on our behalf is our top priority, and we take our responsibilities extremely seriously. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks (which can include counterterrorism, safeguarding and criminal records checks).

Together, we’ll change the world through water.

Join us and be part of the change!