Background

The HR Officer – Rural Operations is responsible for designing, embedding, and managing fit-for-purpose people systems across geographically dispersed rural operations.

Location: Hybrid – Lusaka-based with frequent travel to rural project sites (ranches, carbon projects, agribusiness operations)

The role ensures that workforce planning, recruitment, performance management, discipline, and compliance are commercially aligned, culturally appropriate, and operationally disciplined

Responsibilities

• Lead recruitment for rural and field-based roles (supervisors, rangers, herders, technicians, admin staff.
• Ensure fair, transparent, and compliant hiring practices aligned with labour law and community expectations.
• Coordinate onboarding processes suitable for low-infrastructure environments.
• Design and implement simple, enforceable performance management systems suitable for field operations.
• Manage grievances sensitively, balancing legal compliance, operational realities, and community dynamics.
• Serve as the first point of escalation for employee relations issues in rural operations.
• Maintain proper employee records for audit, donor, and investor scrutiny.
• Ensure compliance with Zambian Labour Law, Workers’ compensation requirements and Health & safety standards
• Work closely with Finance to ensure accurate payroll processing for rural staff.
• Monitor overtime, casual labour usage, and contract compliance.
• Identify skills gaps in rural teams and support basic training initiatives (supervisory skills, safety, compliance). Among other duties.

Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in Human Resources, Industrial Psychology, Law, or related field and up to date affiliate membership to ZIHRM.
• Minimum 2-5 years HR experience; experience in rural, agricultural, or extractive environments will be preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of Zambian labour law.
• Demonstrated experience handling disciplinary cases and workforce restructuring.
• High emotional intelligence and ability to navigate community-based dynamics.
• Willingness to travel frequently and work in remote location.

• Lead recruitment for rural and field-based roles (supervisors, rangers, herders, technicians, admin staff.
• Ensure fair, transparent, and compliant hiring practices aligned with labour law and community expectations.
• Coordinate onboarding processes suitable for low-infrastructure environments.
• Design and implement simple, enforceable performance management systems suitable for field operations.
• Manage grievances sensitively, balancing legal compliance, operational realities, and community dynamics.
• Serve as the first point of escalation for employee relations issues in rural operations.
• Maintain proper employee records for audit, donor, and investor scrutiny.
• Ensure compliance with Zambian Labour Law, Workers’ compensation requirements and Health & safety standards
• Work closely with Finance to ensure accurate payroll processing for rural staff.
• Monitor overtime, casual labour usage, and contract compliance.
• Identify skills gaps in rural teams and support basic training initiatives (supervisory skills, safety, compliance). Among other duties.

• High emotional intelligence
• Ability to navigate community-based dynamics
• Willingness to travel frequently
• Willingness to work in remote locations

• Degree in Human Resources, Industrial Psychology, Law, or related field
• Up to date affiliate membership to ZIHRM