Background

African Parks (AP) is a not-for-profit organization that secures a mandate to conserve through Public Private Partnerships with Governments and communities for the rehabilitation and long-term management of protected areas in Africa, and here in Malawi, AP has secured this mandate for the management of Majete Wildlife Reserve, Liwonde National Park and Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve.

An opportunity has arisen for the post of Human Resources Manager tenable at Liwonde National Park in Liwonde.

African Parks Majete seeks to appoint a highly competent and experienced Human Resources Manager to lead and manage all park-level human resources functions. The Human Resources Manager will report directly to the Park Manager with dotted lines to the Regional Head of Human Resources for Southern Africa. The position is critical in ensuring compliance with Malawian labour laws, effective implementation of African Parks’ HR policies, and the promotion of a values driven organisational culture.

The successful candidate will play a strategic and operational role in workforce planning, employee relations, governance, and organisational effectiveness within a complex conservation environment.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE (but not limited to):

1. Strategic HR Leadership

• Translate African Parks’ Group and Regional HR strategies into effective park-level HR plans.
• Align HR initiatives with park operational priorities, including conservation and community engagement objectives.
• Identify workforce risks, emerging people-related challenges, and succession needs, and provide timely reports to Regional HR leadership.
• Ensure workforce planning is aligned with approved budgets and staffing ceilings.

2. HR Operations and Service Delivery

• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, performance management, learning and development, and employee separation processes
• Maintain accurate, secure, and confidential HR records, personnel files, and payroll inputs.
• Ensure full compliance with employment documentation, contracts, and HR procedures.
• Coordinate training activities and maintain learning and development records.

3. Governance, Compliance and Risk Management

• Ensure strict adherence to Malawian labour legislation, African Parks’ HR policies, and the Code of Conduct.
• Manage disciplinary hearings, grievances, safeguarding, and employee relations cases in a fair, lawful, and consistent manner.
• Serve as the primary HR contact for labour offices, audits, inspections, and external compliance reviews.
• Maintain HR risk registers and support internal and external audits.

4. Organisational Culture and Capability Development

• Promote African Parks’ values, ethical standards, and Code of Conduct across the park.
• Support employee engagement, wellbeing, diversity, and inclusion initiatives
• Identify skills gaps and coordinate targeted training and capacity-building interventions.

5. Leadership, Advisory and Representation

• Supervise and mentor HR Officers, Administrators, and Payroll staff.
• Provide sound HR advice and coaching to line managers and supervisors.
• Represent the HR function in park management meetings and relevant external forums.
• Model professionalism, confidentiality, integrity, and respect in all employee interactions.

QUALIFICATIONS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Qualifications and Experience

• A Degree or Diploma in Human Resources Management or a related discipline (A Master’s Degree will be an added advantage)
• At least five (5) years’ relevant HR generalist experience, preferably in an operational, site-based, or decentralised environment.
• Strong working knowledge of Malawian labour laws, disciplinary procedures, and employee relations.
• Demonstrated experience handling audits, inspections, and compliance processes.
• Proven supervisory and people management experience.

• Translate African Parks’ Group and Regional HR strategies into effective park-level HR plans.
• Align HR initiatives with park operational priorities, including conservation and community engagement objectives.
• Identify workforce risks, emerging people-related challenges, and succession needs, and provide timely reports to Regional HR leadership.
• Ensure workforce planning is aligned with approved budgets and staffing ceilings.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, performance management, learning and development, and employee separation processes
• Maintain accurate, secure, and confidential HR records, personnel files, and payroll inputs.
• Ensure full compliance with employment documentation, contracts, and HR procedures.
• Coordinate training activities and maintain learning and development records.
• Ensure strict adherence to Malawian labour legislation, African Parks’ HR policies, and the Code of Conduct.
• Manage disciplinary hearings, grievances, safeguarding, and employee relations cases in a fair, lawful, and consistent manner.
• Serve as the primary HR contact for labour offices, audits, inspections, and external compliance reviews.
• Maintain HR risk registers and support internal and external audits.
• Promote African Parks’ values, ethical standards, and Code of Conduct across the park.
• Support employee engagement, wellbeing, diversity, and inclusion initiatives
• Identify skills gaps and coordinate targeted training and capacity-building interventions.
• Supervise and mentor HR Officers, Administrators, and Payroll staff.
• Provide sound HR advice and coaching to line managers and supervisors.
• Represent the HR function in park management meetings and relevant external forums.
• Model professionalism, confidentiality, integrity, and respect in all employee interactions.

• A Degree or Diploma in Human Resources Management or a related discipline (A Master’s Degree will be an added advantage)
• At least five (5) years’ relevant HR generalist experience, preferably in an operational, site-based, or decentralised environment.
• Strong working knowledge of Malawian labour laws, disciplinary procedures, and employee relations.
• Demonstrated experience handling audits, inspections, and compliance processes.
• Proven supervisory and people management experience.