Job Description

Human Resources Officer, West Africa - TradeMark Africa - Côte d'Ivoire

Location Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
Department Human Resources
Reports to Senior Human Resources Manager
Direct reports None

Job Summary

TradeMark Africa (TMA) is seeking a Human Resources Officer to support staff and managers across assigned West African countries. Based in Abidjan, the Officer will advise on employee relations and coordinate recruitment, onboarding, payroll, benefits, performance management, and learning and development.

The Officer will help ensure that TMA’s HR policies and practices comply with applicable employment legislation in each country. The role will use workforce data to identify risks and improve HR services, and will provide agreed cover for other country offices and headquarters during absences.

Key Responsibilities

• HR advice and employee relations Advise managers and employees on HR policies, performance, conduct, grievances, disciplinary matters, absence and workplace conflict. Maintain confidential case records, coordinate investigations and legal input when required, and escalate material risks. Support organisational change, staff engagement, performance reviews and learning and development.
• Workforce planning and reporting Help country and functional leaders forecast staffing needs and review organisational structures. Track headcount and employment costs, maintain reliable employee data, and report workforce trends and risks.
• Recruitment, onboarding and employee administration Coordinate approved recruitment, including vacancy announcements, screening and interviews. Follow up on reference and background checks, prepare offer letters and contracts for approval, and coordinate onboarding, statutory registration, probation reviews, transfers and exits.
• Payroll, employee records and benefits Coordinate monthly payroll inputs with HR, Finance and Employers of Record, check payroll outputs for accuracy, and resolve queries. Maintain employee and leave records in line with data protection requirements. Administer insurance, the Employee Assistance Programme and staff welfare support.
• Staff mobility and expatriate support Coordinate relocation, immigration, visas, work permits, statutory registration and other assignment arrangements for expatriate staff and their dependants. Liaise with internal teams and external advisers when specialist guidance is required.
• Employment compliance and service providers Monitor changes in employment legislation and statutory requirements, maintain country compliance calendars, and support filings and updates to policies and contracts. Manage Employers of Record and other HR service providers, including service quality, compliance, invoicing and issue resolution.
• Audits, controls and service improvement Prepare evidence for internal and external audits, track corrective actions and improve HR processes, data quality and service delivery. Apply TMA’s safeguarding and risk management procedures and promptly report concerns, including suspected fraud, bribery or corruption.
• HR cover for other offices and headquarters Handle employee queries, casework and approvals within delegated authority during agreed periods of cover. Apply the relevant local legislation and policy, escalate complex matters and document open items for handover.

Qualifications and Experience

• Undergraduate or postgraduate degree in Human Resource Management, Business Administration, Organisational Psychology or a related field.
• Recognised professional qualification or certification in Human Resource Management, such as CIPD, SHRM or equivalent.
• At least five years of progressive HR experience for undergraduate degree holders or three years for postgraduate degree holders, including substantial responsibility for HR operations in a medium-sized organisation.
• Demonstrated experience supporting employees and managers across multiple countries, preferably in West Africa, and applying country-specific employment legislation and HR practices.
• Experience managing employee relations cases, coordinating payroll and benefits, managing HR vendors and applying compliance controls.
• Experience providing HR support across multiple jurisdictions, including covering for colleagues and quickly learning unfamiliar legal and policy requirements.

Essential Skills and Languages

• Full professional proficiency in English and French, including the ability to advise employees and managers and prepare clear HR correspondence in both languages.
• Sound knowledge of HR operations, employee relations, employment compliance, payroll controls, data protection and HR information systems.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to use workforce data to identify trends, assess risks and determine follow-up actions.
• Ability to handle sensitive matters with confidentiality, discretion, empathy and procedural fairness.
• Sound judgement, integrity and resilience, with the ability to work independently, adjust priorities across countries and escalate material risks promptly.
• Excellent communication, influencing, stakeholder management, presentation and problem-solving skills. Ability to build effective working relationships across cultures, functions and locations.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly within West Africa and occasionally to headquarters or other countries, with flexibility across time zones when providing cover.

Desirable Qualifications

• Membership of a recognised professional human resources body.

How to Apply

Submit your CV in English by 22 November 2026 through the TMA jobs portal.

If you have trouble applying online, contact m.v.maineri@developmentpeople.org.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.