Trees for the Future (TREES) is a global leader in sustainable agroforestry, dedicated to transforming lives and landscapes by empowering smallholder farmers to regenerate their land and rebuild their futures. For more than three decades, TREES has worked alongside farming families in Africa and around the world, using our innovative Forest Garden Approach to combat climate change, end hunger, and lift communities out of poverty.
TREES has directly contributed to the planting of over 350 million trees, working hand-in-hand with farming families in Kenya, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania, and Uganda. These trees are not only revitalizing degraded lands but also feeding families, strengthening economies, and fostering community resilience. Our team is passionate, values-driven, and committed to creating lasting change through nature-based solutions.
As we continue to expand our impact, we are seeking a seasoned and mission-driven Director of Global HR Operations to join our team in Nairobi, Kenya. This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping global HR strategy and infrastructure for a high-impact international organization.
About the Role
The Director of Global HR Operations is a critical leadership role that ensures the integrity, scalability, and excellence of our HR systems and operations across all countries where TREES operates. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Global HR, the Director will lead end-to-end HR operations, champion system optimization, manage workforce data integrity, and ensure global compliance.
In this role, you will collaborate closely with HR Business Partners in our country offices, the Finance and Legal teams, and the broader Senior Leadership Team to build and maintain a high-performing HR function that is deeply aligned with TREES’ mission and values. The successful candidate will be an operational expert with a people-first approach, combining technical mastery with empathy, strategic thinking, and cultural sensitivity.
Key Responsibilities
Global HR Operations Leadership
- Act as the organizational authority on HR operations, systems, and service delivery processes.
- Develop and enforce global standards for HR service excellence across all country offices.
- Provide executive-level insights on operational HR trends, compliance issues, and workforce analytics.
- Ensure alignment of HR operations with strategic organizational goals and people-first practices.
Performance, Engagement & Culture
- Lead the administration of global performance management systems, ensuring they support talent development and organizational effectiveness.
- Work in tandem with the VP of HR to integrate performance frameworks that enhance accountability and employee growth.
- Oversee global staff engagement surveys, analyze data, and collaborate with leadership to implement improvements.
- Support global initiatives around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), organizational culture, and staff well-being through robust operational systems.
HR Systems, Data, and Technology Management
- Serve as the global administrator for Rippling (HRIS) or similar enterprise platforms, driving system optimization and integration across departments.
- Maintain HR data accuracy and build systems that support reliable analytics, strategic forecasting, and compliance.
- Lead the development and maintenance of the HR Knowledge Hub and other knowledge management resources to support staff worldwide.
Global Compliance, Payroll, and Benefits Oversight
- Manage global payroll processes and benefits administration, ensuring legal and policy compliance in all countries of operation.
- Maintain vendor relationships for benefits and payroll administration, negotiating contracts and service agreements as needed.
- Collaborate with the Legal and Finance departments to proactively identify and mitigate compliance risks.
- Lead internal and external audit processes related to HR, ensuring preparedness and transparency.
Employee Lifecycle Management & Process Improvement
- Oversee the end-to-end lifecycle of employees, including recruitment transitions, onboarding, job changes, contract renewals, and exits.
- Build globally aligned policy frameworks and standard operating procedures (SOPs) that ensure consistency while allowing regional adaptability.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives to streamline HR processes, increase efficiency, and enhance the employee experience.
Strategic Projects and Capacity Building
- Design and implement strategic HR projects such as job leveling frameworks, knowledge management systems, and upskilling programs for HR Business Partners.
- Build capacity across the global HR team to ensure high standards of service delivery and policy alignment.
- Serve as a senior advisor to the VP of Global HR in refining and executing the evolving global HR strategy.
Who You Are
TREES is looking for a leader who is not only highly skilled in HR operations but also deeply aligned with our mission and values. This role requires someone who is detail-oriented and systems-savvy, yet also collaborative, inclusive, and adaptable.
You are:
- A mission-driven professional who believes in TREES’ vision of transforming lives through agroforestry.
- An experienced HR leader with at least 10 years of progressive experience managing HR operations, systems, compliance, and workforce analytics.
- A global thinker with experience working across multiple countries and navigating complex, matrixed organizational structures.
- A technologically adept professional, ideally with deep knowledge of Rippling or similar HRIS systems, payroll platforms, and workforce management software.
- A data-oriented strategist who uses metrics and analytics to inform decision-making and provide actionable recommendations.
- An advocate for DEI, committed to creating inclusive environments where all employees feel valued, heard, and supported.
- A strong communicator who is capable of building relationships across departments, cultures, and geographical locations.
- A problem-solver and self-starter, capable of taking initiative, resolving issues proactively, and delivering results with integrity.
- A detail-focused executor, able to turn big ideas into actionable, well-managed projects and workflows.
Preferred Qualifications
- A Bachelor’s degree is required. A Master’s degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field is strongly preferred.
- Significant experience working with international nonprofit or development organizations is an asset.
- Knowledge of legal and regulatory HR frameworks in multiple countries, particularly in Africa, is highly desirable.
- Demonstrated ability to manage HR functions across diverse, distributed teams.
- Fluency in English is essential; proficiency in French is a plus.
Work Environment and Benefits
TREES is proud to offer a supportive, mission-aligned workplace that fosters personal and professional growth. As an international organization, we thrive on the diversity of our team and believe it is key to delivering our mission effectively.
The Director of Global HR Operations will be based in Nairobi, Kenya, with periodic travel to country offices and international events as required.
Our benefits include:
- A competitive salary benchmarked to global nonprofit standards
- Comprehensive medical insurance
- Workers’ compensation coverage
- Generous paid time off including annual leave and sick leave
- A multicultural, team-oriented environment that values innovation, equity, and transparency
Application Process
If this opportunity aligns with your skills, experiences, and passion for transformative development work, we invite you to apply.
Please submit the following documents:
- A cover letter detailing your interest in TREES and this specific role, highlighting how your background fits the responsibilities described above.
- An up-to-date resume reflecting your experience and achievements relevant to this position.
Application Deadline: June 30th, 2025
Applications must be submitted in PDF or Word format. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted due to the high volume of submissions.
Applications should be submitted via email as outlined in the original job posting.
At TREES, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and experiences. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We believe that diversity is our strength, enabling us to approach challenges with empathy, creativity, and a global perspective. We thank all applicants for their interest in joining our team and supporting our mission to change the world, one Forest Garden at a time.
