Human Resources Manager

Role overview

This full-time, on-site Human Resources Manager position is based in Kilimani division, Nairobi County, Kenya. The role focuses on attracting, hiring, onboarding, and supporting a high-performing team while keeping people processes structured, compliant, and aligned with business goals.

The organization is looking for someone who is emotionally mature, well organized, and comfortable working in a fast-moving startup environment. A major part of the job will be recruitment and onboarding, so speed, good judgment, and strong follow-through are essential.

Core responsibilities

• Build effective hiring pipelines for different roles across the company.
• Draft clear, persuasive job descriptions for open positions.
• Assess candidates for both technical fit and alignment with the company culture.
• Run organized interviews using scorecards and structured evaluation methods.
• Arrange trial days or practical skills checks when needed.
• Keep recruitment efficient, timely, and aligned with organizational priorities.
• Design and manage onboarding processes and orientation workflows.
• Help new employees settle in quickly and understand their roles clearly.
• Support departments in applying onboarding best practices.
• Track whether new hires are reaching expected productivity within 30 days.
• Introduce and maintain KPI-based performance systems for all roles.
• Review performance on weekly and monthly cycles.
• Spot underperformance early and suggest corrective actions.
• Coach managers on giving direct, constructive feedback.
• Maintain fair and consistent accountability standards.
• Foster a respectful, productive workplace environment.
• Address conflict professionally and in a timely manner.
• Monitor morale and step in early when issues arise.
• Promote and reinforce company values in everyday work.
• Protect leadership from avoidable emotional escalations.
• Maintain employee records, contracts, and other HR documentation.
• Ensure compliance with labor laws and workplace standards.
• Oversee attendance, leave, and policy adherence.
• Keep HR policies and SOPs current and easy to access.
• Identify capability gaps within teams.
• Organize training for technical, soft skills, leadership, or operations needs.
• Support managers with staff development and growth planning.
• Create development paths for employees with high potential.
• Manage resignations and terminations with professionalism.
• Conduct exit interviews and complete offboarding documentation.
• Support smooth handovers so operations continue without disruption.

Candidate profile and requirements

• At least 1 to 2+ years of experience in HR-related roles.
• Prior experience in a startup or similarly fast-paced environment is preferred.
• Strong understanding of performance systems and workplace culture building.
• Good communication skills and strong emotional intelligence.
• Experience recruiting for multiple role types.
• Ability to build HR structures and processes from the ground up.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and boundary-setting.
• Capability to coach managers effectively.
• Calm, dependable, and solution-oriented approach to work.
• Bachelor's degree required.

Work style and reporting

The best fit for this role is someone who works quickly, thinks strategically, stays organized, remains emotionally grounded, and can balance warmth with firmness. The ideal person is comfortable handling difficult conversations, documenting consistently, and building strong systems that support growth.

The role reports to the Head of Operations, works closely with all department leads, and may supervise HR assistants when required.

First 90 days success measures

• Hiring pipelines are in place.
• Onboarding systems are fully set up.
• KPI scorecards are being used across departments.
• Weekly HR check-ins are running effectively.
• Culture concerns are identified and addressed early.
• Underperformance is managed clearly and consistently.
• Communication between teams is stronger.
• Leadership is shielded from day-to-day people issues.

Compensation

The salary is KES 30,000 to KES 40,000 per month. Compensation is aligned to market rate for an entry-level HR position.

Additional notes

This is described as an entry-level role. The employer prefers candidates who have previously worked in a startup and who can adapt quickly in a fast-paced environment.