Human Resources Manager at GOAL Uganda, Kabarole

Job Title: Human Resources Manager
Location: Kabarole with travel to Hoima
Reports to: Head of HR

Application Deadline: 8th March 2026

Program Background

The Agrifood System Transformation for Youth Employment (ASTYE) Uganda program

ASTYE is a 5-year transformative initiative designed to enable dignified and fulfilling work opportunities primarily for financially disadvantaged young women, refugees, and vulnerable groups by addressing structural barriers in Uganda’s Agrifood system. Aligned with Uganda’s Vision 2040, the National Development Plan and Government of Uganda Agriculture Value Chain Development Strategy, the program will contribute to national efforts toward poverty alleviation, economic growth, as well food and nutrition security. Additionally, ASTYE is part of the Mastercard Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy in Uganda, which aims to empower 4.3 million young Ugandans, particularly young women, by addressing structural barriers to employment and providing them with the skills and resources to succeed.

Specifically, GOAL will implement component one to reach 500,000 financially disadvantaged young people, with 456,000 transiting into work and 336,000 securing dignified and fulfilling work. As the program is young women-centric, 80% of the total outreach target will be young women within Uganda’s agrifood ecosystem. Furthermore, 5% of the total youth in work target will be refugees, and another 5% will be people with disabilities.

General Description of the Role

Reporting directly to the Head of HR, with a matrix reporting line to the ASTYE Program Lead, the HR Manager will contribute to the delivery of staff development strategies in line with GOAL Uganda’s people strategic plan. The role provides information, advice, and services to the program as required, and works closely with the Program Management Unit (PMU) to drive continuous organizational and individual performance improvement. This will support the country HR office in achieving its Annual Country Plan (ACP) objectives, while identifying emerging people issues, proposing solutions, and supporting organizational change processes. Key responsibilities include providing operational leadership in performance management, talent management, recruitment, reward, health and safety, learning and development and organizational development.

The key responsibilities of the role will be:

Talent Acquisition

• Collaborate with the ASTYE Program Lead to assess talent needs and ensure timely filling of gaps.
• Manage the full recruitment cycle for ASTYE program positions in compliance with GOAL’s recruitment procedures.
• Oversee recruitment documentation and maintain accurate records.

Performance Management and Employee Development

• Manage the country’s performance appraisal system (Grow With GOAL).
• Train line managers and teams on GOAL’s performance management framework.
• Support and monitor managers to ensure the performance cycle is implemented consistently.
• Provide coaching and guidance to managers in addressing underperformance and implementing improvement plans.

Employee Relations

• Advise on grievance matters in line with GOAL policies and procedures.
• Strengthen staff–management relations through mediation, issues resolution, and proactive engagement.
• Lead disciplinary processes, ensuring cases are handled to completion and properly documented.
• Ensure grievance procedures are fully operational and foster a supportive work environment.

Employee Engagement

• Lead quarterly staff engagement activities to foster a positive workplace culture.
• Develop and implement innovative, non-financial initiatives to enhance employee appreciation and motivation.
• Collaborate with the Head of Human Resources (HHR) to organize the annual team-building event.
• Coordinate HR clinics in line with the established calendar.

Compensation & Benefits

• Participate in compensation reviews and benchmarking in collaboration with the Head of HR.
• Promote internal equity by applying compensation policies and advising management on pay levels based on internal and external analysis.
• Ensure employee benefits programs are clearly communicated to program teams.

Learning & Development

• Partner with line managers to design and deliver Personal Development Plans (PDPs) and evaluate interventions.
• Facilitate and manage the internship program in collaboration with institutions.
• Develop coaching and mentoring strategies to support staff growth and PDP implementation.
• Maintain a staff skills and knowledge database to leverage diverse talents across the office.
• Train line managers on effective people management practices.
• Conduct periodic staff training on HR policies.

Job Level Specifications

Essential Criteria

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management, Industrial Organizational Psychology or Public Administration and Management.
• Professional Human Resource certification
• Minimum of 5 years HR experience, including at least 2 years in progressive HR management roles, preferably within the NGO sector.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience in managing HR functions within complex, donor-funded programs.
• Strong knowledge of Ugandan labour laws, HR best practices, and compliance requirements.
• Proven ability to coach, mentor, and build capacity of managers and staff in HR-related areas.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.

• Experience in working within a matrix structure.

• Commitment to consistently improving and developing innovative HR solutions in response to HR/organizational Country Program challenges

General Terms and Conditions

At GOAL, we welcome people of all abilities and want to ensure that our hiring and interview process meets the needs of all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation to make your application or interview experience a great one, please just contact our Recruitment Team at recruitment@ug.goal.ie

GOAL Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
GOAL is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building an inclusive environment for all employees. We foster an inclusive culture where all voices are heard and valued. We know that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.

All employees share in the responsibility for fulfilling GOAL’s commitment to equal employment opportunity and equal treatment. GOAL does not discriminate against any employee on the basis of sex, race, colour, ethnic background, tribe, birth, creed or religion or social or economic standing, political opinion, disability.

Code of Conduct and Accountability within GOAL

GOAL is an equal opportunities employer and has values and behaviours framework which defines our code of conduct. Any candidate offered a job with GOAL will be expected to adhere to the following key areas of accountability.

• Comply with GOAL’s policies and procedures with respect to safeguarding, Code of Conduct, health and safety, data protection and confidentiality, do no harm principles and unacceptable behaviour protocols.
• Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult or any wrongdoings within our programming area.
• Report any concerns about inappropriate behaviour of a GOAL staff or partner.

Safeguarding

Children and vulnerable adults a must be safeguarded to the maximum extent from deliberate or inadvertent actions and failings that place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury, and any other harm. One of the ways that GOAL shows this on-going commitment to safeguarding is to include rigorous background and reference checks in the selection process for all candidates.

GOAL 

Established in 1977, GOAL is an international humanitarian agency and works with the most vulnerable communities to help them respond to and overcome humanitarian crises, and to assist those facing poverty and exclusion achieve greater resilience and well-being. GOAL envisions a world beyond humanitarian crises where poverty no longer exists, where vulnerable communities exposed to shocks and stresses are resilient, where barriers to well-being are removed and where everyone has equal rights and opportunities.

General Description of the Country Programme 

First operational in Uganda in 1979, the current GOAL Uganda country programme focuses on Health, (including WASH, Health Accountability and Nutrition); and a market-based systems approach to improving agricultural livelihoods and WASH. GOAL Uganda mainstreams gender, child protection, social behavior changes and resilience strategies across all programming. GOAL uses a mixture of direct implementation and partnerships with national and international civil society organizations, local government, the private sector and communities to give effect to our mission.

GOAL Uganda has a skilled team of over 110 personnel and has a head office in Kampala and field offices in 7 locations across Northern, Southwestern and Eastern regions of Uganda.  GOAL Uganda’s donors include the Mastercard Foundation, charity: water, Irish Aid, The Kingdom of Netherland Embassy in Uganda (EKN) and other private donors.

Interested applicants who meet the requirements should apply through the link with at least 3 reference contacts (current or former Line Manager) from the last three employers and daytime contact number by 8th March 2026.