WHAT IS START NETWORK?

Start Network is a global membership of 84 organisations, working across six continents, to tackle what we see as the biggest systemic problems in the global humanitarian system. Start Network is an independent
charity. We also work with Save the Children UK, which acts a grant custodian for Start Network.
Start Network’s vision is for a locally led humanitarian system that is accountable to people affected by and at risk of crises. We aim to achieve this vision by making system-level shifts in how humanitarian assistance is approached and delivered.

OUR SOLUTIONS

DECENTRAISLING & LOCALLY-LED ACTION: Shifting power and resources and decentralising decision-
making to locally led networks and organisations.

EARLY & RAPID FINANCING: Building a global financing system that reduces risk, anticipates, and acts ahead of predictable crises.

COMMUNITY-LED INNOVATION: Incentivising innovative, locally led, and contextual solutions and learning from them together with people affected by crises.
To devolve and decentralise power within the global humanitarian system, we are working to become a distributed and global network of civil society hubs and members supported by a global platform that fosters connections, alignment of members, and innovation. Hubs are locally led networks of local,
national, and international humanitarian actors working together to develop contextualised ways of dealing
with humanitarian crises. We currently have seven hubs in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Guatemala, India, the Pacific, Pakistan, and South Sudan, with a number of potential Hubs under discussion.

For more information about Start Network and what we do, please visit our website.

JOB PURPOSE

The purpose of the HR Operations Specialist role is to take ownership of key HR related projects and business-as-usual employee lifecycle activities in liaison with the Head of People and Culture and HR Manager, providing additional surge support to the People and Culture team over an initial period of six months. The HR Operations Specialist role will lead in the areas of recruitment and
onboarding, review of specific organisational policies, HR information system implementation, employee relations and other HR projects that support our ambition to grow as a globally dispersed, locally led network of networks. The role will provide HR related data, evidence, and statistics to support us to continually innovate and improve as an organisation based on sound
evidence and data.
The role will require knowledge of trends in the HR sector, changes in employment legislation, and good and emerging HR practice.

Please note that the proposed date for interviews is Monday 3 July.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

HR Initiatives and Projects

• In collaboration with the Head of People & Culture and HR Manager, support managers to
design and implement agreed change initiatives providing advice and solutions
• Lead and implement any specific HR projects or initiatives working with external
consultants where appropriate
• Build effective relationships and support negotiations with organisations including Save the
Children UK, members and key stakeholders around HR issues, finding joint solutions to
challenges presenting by our structure and global hiring model
• Oversee, lead, and implement on specific HR projects that support our ambition to grow asa globally dispersed, locally led network of networks

Recruitment, selection, and induction

• Provide advice on recruitment and selection approaches, working closely with the People
and Culture Coordinator
• Provide support to the recruitment process, including job design such as reviewing job
descriptions and advising on interview questions
• Responsible for issuing conditional offers and contracts to new staff
• Oversee HR induction and supporting ongoing training and/or support to line managers

HR Policies and procedures

• Provide first line advice on HR policies and procedures, and benefits for employees and
managers
• Support managers with employee relations matters, e.g., performance, grievance,
disciplinaries
• Monitor, review, and ensure compliance to HR policies and procedures, updating for
changes in legislation and business needs as part of a four-month policy improvement
process
• Lead on the HRIS implementation project
• Work closely with the People and Culture Coordinator to automate HR processes where
possible, including our HRIS and recruitment packages
• Administer payroll and payroll records (outsourced) and keep the finance team and the provider updated with any changes
• Support the job evaluation process for all new or changed roles ensuring consistent grades and salary are determined

Start Network culture

• To carry out the responsibilities of the role in line with the Start Network Code of Conduct
and with a commitment to safeguarding adults and children
• A commitment to the Start Network vision, principles, values and approach
• The Start Network team is an agile group of individuals who use their experience and skills across the network, so flexibility to work in and with different teams and functions is a part of our culture.

PERSON PROFILE

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
• CIPD qualification (or working towards), or equivalent
• Project management experience - ability to work at pace and multitask effectively
• Experience of reviewing and writing HR policies and procedures
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Able to provide pragmatic advice and guidance
• Methodical – organised in approach
• Best practice knowledge of generalist human resources
• Up-to-date knowledge of employment legislation and employee relations
• HR systems implementation experience
• Knowledge and experience of best-practice recruitment
• Desirable – global HR experience

Key Start Network Competencies

• Flex communication style to convey complex information concisely to different audiences
• Actively promote collaboration by spotting and breaking down barriers to siloed working,
connecting colleagues, teams and initiatives
• Able to reprioritise and shift focus in response to changing needs of the organisation or network
• Deliver results in pursuit of our mission by holding yourself to account for your work, taking
decisions relevant to your role and supporting colleagues whilst having fun
• Anticipate the ‘what ifs’ and actively plan to navigate them together with the team, seeking collaborative solutions and drawing on those with relevant expertise
• Seek to understand and act upon own areas for growth, reflecting and learning from things that have not gone so well by showing vulnerability and openness to change.