Nova Pioneer is looking for an outstanding Talent Senior Associate to serve as the primary Talent Business Partner for a portfolio of Nova Pioneer schools, partnering closely with school leaders to attract, develop, engage, support and retain exceptional teammates who deliver outstanding outcomes for students and families. You provide proactive, people-centred Talent support that aligns with Nova Pioneer's mission, Culture Principles, strategic priorities, and applicable employment legislation while helping leaders build high-performing, healthy, and sustainable school communities. This role is a hybrid position, where the successful candidate will work remotely as well as in our school campuses from time to time.

You will independently manage key Talent processes across the full teammate lifecycle, including recruitment and talent acquisition, payroll and benefits administration, government relations and statutory compliance, employee relations, growth and performance management, leave administration, separation management, HR operations and systems, policy development, compliance, reporting, and Talent analytics. As the trusted Talent partner for your assigned schools, you will coach and advise leaders, strengthen manager capability, ensure consistent implementation of Talent policies and processes, and use data and insights to improve teammate performance, engagement, retention, and overall organizational effectiveness.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a senior individual contributor within the Talent team, you will exercise sound judgement, independently manage routine and moderately complex Talent matters, proactively identify and mitigate risks, and drive continuous improvement across Talent systems and processes. You will also contribute to regional Talent initiatives, support the development of more junior Talent teammates, and champion a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous growth across Nova Pioneer.

Key Responsibilities include:
 

Recruitment & Talent Acquisition

• Partner with hiring managers to understand staffing requirements, clarify role profiles and develop appropriate recruitment approaches.
• Support managers in creating and independently running strategic recruitment plans from the wider East African ecosystem. 
• Manage recruitment processes for assigned roles from vacancy approval through to appointment and onboarding.
• Support hiring managers in developing recruitment timelines, sourcing strategies, interview processes and candidate assessments.
• Screen applications and conduct interviews for junior and mid-level roles in partnership with hiring managers.
• Support in the creation of recruitment and hiring tools as needed: job description, phone screen questions, performance tasks, final interview tools and reference checks. 
• Coordinate candidate assessments, interview feedback and hiring decisions, providing appropriate guidance and insights throughout the process.
• Maintain regular communication with hiring managers and other stakeholders to ensure recruitment processes remain on track and emerging risks or delays are addressed.
• Ensure recruitment processes comply with approved staffing structures, budgets, internal hiring policies and applicable employment requirements.
• Ensure candidates receive timely, professional and thoughtful communication throughout the recruitment process.
• Monitor candidate and hiring-manager feedback and identify opportunities to strengthen the recruitment process and Nova Pioneer employer brand.
• Maintain accurate recruitment records, candidate information and recruitment data within relevant Talent systems.
• Support the preparation and administration of offers of employment and ensure that all required approvals and pre-employment checks are completed.
• Partner with relevant stakeholders to ensure a smooth transition from recruitment into onboarding.

Payroll and Benefits Administration

• Coordinate and manage the monthly payroll process in partnership with the Talent Lead, Finance team and external payroll providers.
• Maintain and communicate the annual payroll calendar, ensuring that payroll activities, approvals and statutory deadlines are completed timeously.
• Collect, review and process approved payroll inputs, including new appointments, employee exits, salary changes, allowances, benefits, deductions, leave-related adjustments and other employee changes.
• Verify payroll information against approved contracts, letters, trackers and supporting documentation to ensure completeness and accuracy.
• Maintain accurate employee and payroll information within the payroll system.
• Conduct payroll validation and reconciliation checks, investigating and resolving discrepancies before payroll approval.
• Prepare payroll reports, variance analyses, bank-payment information and other required payroll documentation for review and approval.
• Coordinate the review and approval of payroll in accordance with established payroll controls and approval processes.
• Work closely with Finance to support payroll reconciliations, payroll accounting, general-ledger reporting and the resolution of payroll-related queries.
• Support compliance with applicable payroll legislation, statutory deductions, reporting requirements and submission deadlines.
• Liaise with payroll-system providers, external consultants, statutory bodies and benefits providers to resolve payroll or system-related matters.
• Support internal and external payroll audits by maintaining accurate records and providing required documentation.
• Manage employee enrolments, amendments and exits relating to medical, pension and other employee benefits.
• Provide clear and accurate guidance to teammates and managers on payroll and benefits processes and resolve payroll-related queries professionally and confidentially.
• Identify payroll risks, control gaps and process inefficiencies and recommend practical improvements.
• Maintain comprehensive payroll process documentation, monthly checklists and audit records.

Government Relations and Statutory Compliance

• Serve as the primary Talent partner for assigned schools on government and statutory compliance matters, ensuring adherence to all applicable labour laws, employment regulations, and statutory requirements while maintaining positive working relationships with relevant government agencies.
• Coordinate and support interactions with government stakeholders, including labour officers, immigration authorities (where applicable), NSSF, SHA, KRA, and other statutory bodies, ensuring timely submission of required documentation and effective resolution of compliance matters.
• Partner with school leaders to ensure ongoing compliance with employment legislation, statutory reporting requirements, workplace regulations, and government policies, proactively identifying and mitigating compliance risks.
• Support government inspections, audits, and compliance reviews, ensuring accurate employment records, personnel documentation, statutory filings, and Talent processes are maintained in accordance with legal and organizational requirements.
• Monitor changes to employment legislation and statutory requirements, advising school leaders and the Regional Talent team on emerging compliance obligations while supporting the implementation of updated policies, procedures, and practices across assigned schools.

Talent Business Partnering

• Serve as the primary Talent Business Partner for assigned schools, building trusted relationships with School Leaders, Deputy School Leaders and managers while providing proactive guidance across the full teammate lifecycle.
• Partner with school leadership teams to proactively identify Talent priorities, risks and opportunities, ensuring Talent strategies support school improvement plans and organizational goals.
• Attend regular leadership meetings with assigned schools to provide Talent insights, advice and support on people-related matters.
• Use Talent data and trends to proactively identify emerging issues and recommend practical solutions that improve teammate experience, retention and performance. Act as the first point of contact for school leaders on Talent matters, ensuring responsive, practical and people-centered support.

Employee Relations

• Provide managers with practical guidance on the consistent application of employment policies, procedures and applicable labour legislation.
• Advise managers on routine employee relations matters, including attendance, conduct, performance concerns, grievances, workplace conflict and policy violations.
• Conduct fair and objective fact-finding processes and employee relations investigations, including interviews, evidence review and preparation of clear and factual reports.
• Support and facilitate disciplinary, grievance, probation, performance-management and mediation processes as required.
• Prepare and review employee relations documentation, including notices, warnings, outcome letters, meeting records and related correspondence.
• Ensure employee relations matters are managed fairly, consistently, confidentially and in accordance with organisational policy and legal requirements.
• Maintain accurate and confidential employee relations records and case trackers.
• Monitor agreed actions and ensure appropriate follow-through and closure of employee relations matters.
• Identify matters involving significant legal, employee, operational or reputational risk and escalate these promptly to the Talent Lead.
• Support managers to strengthen their capability and confidence in managing employee matters fairly and consistently.
• Liaise with legal advisors or other external partners where required and under the guidance of the Talent Lead.

HR Administration, Operations and Systems

• Oversee assigned employee lifecycle processes from onboarding through to offboarding, ensuring a consistent and positive teammate experience.
• Prepare and review employment contracts, contract amendments, employee letters and other employment documentation.
• Ensure all employment documentation is accurate, appropriately approved and issued within required timelines.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date employee information across HR, payroll and benefits systems.
• Monitor employee-data quality and regularly reconcile information across systems and trackers.
• Ensure employee files are complete, accurate, secure and maintained in accordance with organizational and legal record-keeping requirements.
• Manage escalated teammate and manager queries, providing accurate guidance and ensuring matters are followed through to resolution.
• Monitor employee movements, including appointments, transfers, promotions, contract changes, probation outcomes and exits.
• Prepare regular reports relating to headcount, employee movements, leave, contracts and other Talent metrics.
• Identify inefficiencies, risks or recurring issues within HR processes and recommend improvements.
• Develop, document and improve Talent standard operating procedures, workflows, templates, checklists and guidance materials.
• Support the implementation and effective use of Talent systems and technology.
• Train and support Talent Coordinators, Associates and other relevant teammates in HR systems, processes and administrative standards.
• Protect the organisation’s value by maintaining strict confidentiality and handling employee information with appropriate care and discretion.

CORE SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• You have at least four years of relevant experience within a broad Human Resources or Talent role, including experience independently managing HR processes and advising employees and managers.
• You have practical experience across several Talent disciplines, including recruitment, HR administration, employee relations, employment compliance, payroll or benefits administration.
• You have experience coordinating or managing payroll processes and understand the importance of payroll accuracy, confidentiality, compliance, controls and timely delivery.
• You demonstrate sound judgement and can independently resolve routine and moderately complex Talent matters while recognizing when escalation is required.
• You have a practical understanding of applicable employment legislation and can apply organizational policies fairly and consistently.
• You are able to build trusted and constructive working relationships with managers, teammates and external partners.
• You communicate clearly and professionally and are comfortable facilitating discussions, conducting interviews and providing guidance to managers and teammates.
• You are able to manage multiple priorities and recurring operational deadlines without compromising quality or accuracy.
• You are highly organized and meticulous, with exceptional attention to detail.
• You are comfortable and have had extensive experience working with HR systems, payroll systems, spreadsheets and employee data.
• You can analyze information, identify trends or risks and translate findings into practical recommendations.
• You approach sensitive employee matters with empathy, fairness, objectivity and discretion.
• You maintain strict confidentiality and demonstrate sound judgement when handling sensitive employee and organizational information.
• You take ownership of work, follow through on commitments and proactively identify and resolve problems.
• You are able to improve processes, develop practical documentation and support others to build their knowledge and capability.
• You are resilient, adaptable and comfortable working within a dynamic and growing organization.
• You are deeply committed to providing responsive, thoughtful and people-centered support.
• You are connected to Nova Pioneer’s mission of developing innovators and leaders who will shape the African Century.

ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources Management, Business Management, Industrial Psychology, Psychology, Sociology or another relevant field.
• A recognized Human Resources professional qualification or membership of a relevant professional body would be advantageous.
• Training or certification relating to payroll administration, employment law or employee relations would be advantageous.

HOW TO APPLY

Does working at Nova Pioneer excite you? If so, then apply now!

To apply, please complete the form on the right-hand side of this page. We cannot process applications that are emailed to us.

Please note:  You are encouraged to attach your resume in PDF format to protect formatting.

All applications will be reviewed and applicants notified of the next steps. There are a series of stages in the Nova Pioneer interview process and candidates will be moved forward in the process depending on their success in the previous stage. The process is as follows:

• Phone interview: a short conversation to understand your skills and experience a little better.
• Practical demonstration of what you can do: you will complete a written task or a demonstration related to the role you are applying for. Teachers participate in a half-day selection day at one of our campuses as well as deliver a lesson to a class.
• In-person/virtual interviews: at this point you will visit one of our schools to meet the team and participate in a series of in-person or virtual interviews.
• Final interview: you’ll have a final conversation with the hiring manager before decisions are made.

WORKING AT NOVA PIONEER

Nova Pioneer is a place where our people experience tremendous growth, fast! We invest heavily in the growth of our people because it leads to greater mastery in both us and our students. “Novaneers” work harder and work longer hours than most schools but as a result, the growth they experience is extraordinary. We offer consistent and ongoing personal development and provide clear career pathways that ensure that our people are always achieving their personal and professional best. Nova Pioneer has a highly energetic, entrepreneurial environment where our people get to bring their creative and innovative ideas to life. We look for people who are flexible and who are able to adapt and respond quickly to adversity with a positive, can-do attitude (there are no problems, only solutions!). We welcome challenges and roll with the punches because it makes us, and our students, better. There is no problem too big for us! We bring infectious energy and enthusiasm to everything we do because joy fuels our work and learning.

Nova Pioneer will never request an application fee from candidates. If you are contacted with a request to pay a fee from someone claiming to be a Nova Pioneer Talent or Recruitment representative, please do not pay them and report it to us immediately on talent.ke@novapioneer.com or talent.sa@novapioneer.com.