Human Resources Director

Position Title: Human Resources Director

Location: Bryanston, Johannesburg, South Africa

Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Starting date: As soon as possible

Background
African Parks is a conservation NGO founded in 2000 to halt the alarming decline in biodiversity across the continent. Our mission is to restore and manage protected areas to become ecologically, socially, and financially sustainable, delivering lasting benefits for both people and wildlife.

We achieve this by entering long-term partnerships with governments, securing sustainable funding from various donors and nature-based solutions, and leveraging over 20 years of operational experience to ensure local communities are active participants and beneficiaries of conservation, rehabilitate and secure landscapes and wildlife populations, and foster sustainable commercial development, especially through tourism.

We operate under a decentralised model, applying a results-driven business approach to conservation. Each park is managed holistically as an independent business unit, with strategic, technical, and corporate support provided through an Institutional Platform with key offices in Johannesburg, Amsterdam, Washington DC, and Nairobi.

We currently manage 23 protected areas in partnership with governments and local communities in 13 countries, with a workforce of over 5,500 employees across the continent. Our goal is to manage 30 well-functioning protected areas by 2030.

Who And What Are We Looking For
As African Parks operates under a decentralised model, it is essential that all our people have a deep understanding of and alignment with our mission and values. We are looking for an experienced and passionate Human Resources Director to join our Executive team, responsible for developing and implementing our Human Resources (HR) strategy.

Candidates must have a passion for people, conservation, and building a strong organisational culture. This role requires a deep understanding of diverse African labour markets, cultural intelligence, and the ability to implement the AP People strategy across remote and complex environments.

The Key Objectives Of This Role Include

1. Effective recruitment, retention, and development of top talent across diverse locations.
2. Fostering a strong sense of community across a growing team, ensuring employee wellbeing and embedding the African Parks culture across all levels of the organisation.
3. Translate African Parks’ vision and values into tangible people processes for every part of the employee lifecycle.
4. Serve as a trusted advisor as part of the AP Executive team, positioning HR as a strategic function.
5. Develop a cohesive HR Operating Model that balances African Parks' decentralized operations with standardized policies.
6. Continue work on organisational design and effectiveness frameworks, including job architecture and remuneration policies.
7. Ensure efficiency in HR operations, data, administration, and record keeping across various labour markets.
8. Drive the development of reliable data that enable data-driven decision-making.
9. Support the establishment of a leadership development and training framework.
10. Implement initiatives to optimise diversity and boost female leadership in field roles.

More Details About The Key Responsibilities Of This Role

1. Strategic HR Leadership
2. Ensure the successful delivery of a comprehensive People strategy that aligns with the AP mission.
3. Develop effective organisational design, including job titles, descriptions, and career pathways.
4. Embed AP DNA and culture into daily practices and implement staff engagement initiatives.
5. Talent Acquisition, Development and Management
6. Establish innovative recruitment and onboarding strategies to attract diverse talent.
7. Ensure development of talent through various learning platforms.
8. Integrate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion principles into recruitment and retention strategies.
9. HR Building blocks for managing the employee life cycle
10. Oversee core HR functions, including payroll and compliance.
11. Develop performance measures and benefits structures that drive performance.
12. Mediate and enable conflict resolution for staff issues.
13. Incorporate tools that simplify workflows and empower the organisation.
14. HR Team Leadership & Development
15. Build and lead a high-performing HR team, providing mentorship and professional development opportunities.
16. Clarify the HR Operating Model to define roles and accountabilities.
17. Ensure the HR team has the skills to effectively support African Parks’ mission.

What Success Looks Like

1. A clearly defined and implemented HR strategy that aligns with African Parks’ strategic objectives.
2. Effective recruitment, retention, and development of top talent.
3. A high-performing HR team with strong leadership and service excellence.
4. Optimised employee engagement and organisational culture.
5. Efficient HR operations supported by data-driven decision making.