Summary
Date Posted: Monday, May 13 2024, Base Salary: Not Disclosed

JOB DETAILS:

Reports To: Head of Human Resources and Administration
Tier: 3
Date: 24 June 2024
Contract Duration: 2 years, renewable
Direct Reports to this Position: TBC, HR and Admin Officers, Assistants
Assets Controlled: none

Asili Agriculture is a fully-mechanized largescale farming company with an integrated food security platform for East Africa that manages dual-season production of high quality maize and soybeans for supply to regional food processors. Asili became operational in January 2014 and is currently farming on over 7,000 ha of land in Western Uganda under a conservation agriculture and precision farming approach to maximize yields efficiently and sustainably.
● Our purpose: To catalyse a more equitable, resilient and regenerative food system.
● Our mission: To deliver integrated agricultural land management & marketplace solutions that empower farmers and food system stakeholders to sustainably increase profitability, resilience and nutrition.
● Our vision: A food system in harmony with nature that empowers farmers, nourishes communities, and creates local prosperity.

Our Farm Hubs operate the largest staple foods farming enterprise in Uganda. We also operate grain storage and trading activities serving over 15,000 farmers and supplying over 40,000 MT of food annually. Our Producer Services Business Unit (PSBU) provides bundled services—agronomy, quality inputs supply, grain marketing and financial services—to small-scale producers (also known as smallholders) as well as customized farming services to large landowners. Our Digital Division develops AMSAF – a resilient food marketplace connecting all stakeholders - and implements digital solutions employed across our Hubs and PSBU. Today, we employ 230+ individuals and employ over 800 seasonal employees. We are an ambitious and growing business with a vibrant and dedicated workforce committed to expanding equitable, resilient and regenerative food systems in the region.

The Purpose of the role
The Human Resources Manager will support the delivery and implementation of all policies and procedures guiding the HR function at Asili Agriculture. They will support the management of dayto-day HR and Administration tasks and contribute to developing, monitoring and improving the human resources and administration system and function. The position may focus on specific areas within the HR function, depending on the needs of the HR team. Specific areas of focus include employee training and staff development, recruitment, onboarding and staff retention, HR information management systems, performance management and HR administration. The position may also be responsible for the line management of other employees within the HR and Administration team.

Asili is a growth-stage business in Uganda. We face challenges, changes, and opportunities, and we expect this member of our team to be capable of responding to this environment with aplomb. You are best suited for this role if you enjoy a fast-paced, collaborative environment, are flexible and innovative in your approach, are capable of setting yourself apart while maintaining empathy and report with the wider employee network, have a strong ethical and moral compass, and have the drive to successfully promote change and compliance. You will be outgoing, open and honest, and will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Specific Roles and Responsibilities of the Position
The successful candidate will be expected to perform the following tasks with respect to this position:

1. Recruitment and talent acquisition
• Prepare new employee files and ensure completeness
• Manage the hiring process, supporting Line Managers and Directors to develop job descriptions for new roles or update existing ones, ensuring consistency, clarity and completeness
• Advise on job positions, prepare gap analyses, and advocate for improvements to the internal structure
• Support relationship management with recruitment and talent acquisition agencies
• Coordinate candidate long listing, short listing, interviewing and job offer
• Carry out background checks and due diligence on prospective candidates

2. On boarding, Retention and Off boarding
• Manage the new employee on boarding process
• Manage the employee off boarding
• Draft renewal and new employee contracts

3. Employee training and development
• Review employee training and develop needs and propose training curricula or opportunities to promote professional development and growth
• Lead and oversee the internal training schedule for Company policies, procedures and tools, ensuring all new and existing staff are inducted and regularly refreshed
• Identify unique professional development experiences and opportunities for staff and promote a culture of continual learning

4. Legal and compliance
• Prepare employee contracts and submit them to the Head of HR for review and signing
• Liaise with the insurer on Workman's Compensation (WC) and Group Personal Accident (GPA) and enrol new employees as required
• Assist expat staff to register with NSSF & URA for TIN
• Upload employee monthly National Social Security Fund (NSSF) contributions onto the e-portal
• Generate the NSSF payment reference number (PRN) and submit to Finance for payment
• Represent the employer at the labour dispute hearings

5. Employee benefits
• Manage employee loans and advance process; processing employee requests, ensuring agreements are on file, tracking repayments, and communicating monthly payroll deductions to Finance, as per policy
• Track and process regular allowances for relevant employees, alongside Payroll
• Promote annual leave planning with Directors, providing regular reminders and updates on annual leave allocations through monthly or quarterly reporting on utilisation
• Confirm public holidays and special calendar days for consideration

6. HR Information and Reporting
• Guide the Administrative Officer on creation and management of employee hard and soft copy files
• Prepare HR reports for KPI monitoring, including new hires, disciplinary issues, training and development, resignations, abscondment, performance management etc and submit to the Head of HR
• Ensure proper usage of the HR filing system and folders, following filing and naming protocols and confidentiality provisions

7. Payroll management
• Check all necessary employee deductions against payroll prior to submission to the Head of HR, including for example annual leave, attendance, disciplinary penalties, outstanding allowances, loans and advances etc
• Process employees' payroll data and submit to the Head of HR
• Receive and enter seasonal labour payments into the payroll system
• Collect and submit Contractors' payments to the Finance Department bi-monthly
• Process employee monthly rent payments

8. Performance Management
• Coordinate performance management with Directors and Line Managers
• Train line managers on performance management
• Monitor performance management progress in all departments
• Oversee performance improvement plans (PIPs)
• Coordinate and ensure timely employee performance bonus payments

9. Workplace Compliance
• Comply with all company policies and procedures, and set an example for fellow employees
• Ensure employees have access to and understand all HR, health and safety and other key company policies
• Monitor compliance on key policies, including but not limited to the Conflict of Interest Policy, the Code of Conduct, Attendance Policy etc

Personal Specification for this Role
Essential
• Bachelors degree in Human Resources or a related field
• At least 4 years’ experience in HR, or which 2 are at HR Manager level
• Knowledge of HR systems and databases
• Demonstrable experience with HR metrics
• Experience in employee training and development
• Experience in recruitment and talent acquisition
• Experience in employee welfare and wellness
• In-depth knowledge of Ugandan Employment laws
• Proficiency in Excel and other Microsoft suites
• Fluency and excellent written language skills in English

Desirable
• People oriented and results driven
• Ability to architect strategy along with leadership skills
• Excellent active listening, negotiation and presentation skills
• Competence to build and effectively manage interpersonal relationships at all levels of the company

Competencies for this Role
• Decision-making
• People management
• Time management and prioritisation
• Professionalism
• Team work
• Productivity
• Communication skills
• Health and safety awareness and compliance
• Problem/Solution orientation
• Continual learning
• Policy compliance

Working Conditions
• Working indoors
• Work closely with executives and other office staff.
• Communicate with people daily by telephone, e-mail, and in person.
• Write letters and memos daily.
• Are occasionally placed in conflict situations
• Work as part of a team.
• Repeat the same physical activities, such as entering data into a computer.
• Meet strict deadlines weekly.
• May work long hours to meet deadlines.
• Travel to field sites or between office locations.

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 48

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Job application procedure

Does this sound like an exciting role and company to work with? Do you have any questions? We would be happy to hear from you.

Interested applicants please send your CV and a Cover Letter explaining why you are a suitable candidate for this role to recruitment@agilis-partners.com  by 24 May 2024. All applications should include the reference Asili Agriculture HRM in the subject line. Hard copy applications will not be accepted.

Please note this is an ongoing recruitment process. Candidates will be contacted and assessed on a rolling-basis.


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