Global Director of People (80% of a FTE)
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Location: Zambia, Tanzania, or Malawi
Who we are: For 20 years, D-tree has leveraged digital technology to strengthen primary health systems. We develop solutions that make health systems more personalised, accessible and coordinated. We partner with governments and like-minded organisations to improve the performance of health systems so that people receive the right care at the right place and time. We are currently improving health decisions in Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia. Our vision is a world where everyone, no matter where, has access to the healthcare they need to live longer, healthier lives.
Who you are: You are energised by the challenge of stepping into this D-tree first-of-its-kind role, creating and improving strategies that align people and their development with D-tree’s goals. You balance deep strategic thinking with a sharp focus on excellent execution, ensuring every initiative is well prioritized and drives measurable outcomes. You thrive in multicultural, dynamic contexts, understanding the complexities of leading people initiatives across countries, continents and job levels. Most importantly, you are committed to creating a future where every leader at D-tree sees their people as their greatest asset, and every team member has the support they need to deliver world-class impact.
Job Responsibilities: The Global Director of People is a part-time (80%) leadership role, entrusted with shaping and driving D-tree’s people function to create an exceptional experience for staff at every stage of their journey; from recruitment and onboarding to development, retention, and even as alumni. The Global Director of People collaborates closely with our Senior HR Manager to ensure all staff, regardless of job level, are fully supported and empowered to thrive. As the first person to hold this role, you will play a transformative part in embedding a people-first culture, driving strategic initiatives, and guiding leaders to build high-performing, motivated, and sustainable teams. You will also champion our launch and implementation of an innovative Compensation and Benefit policy. Responsibilities include:
- People Strategy & Leadership: Design and implement people strategies that align with organizational priorities, optimize team performance, and foster diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Talent Acquisition & Onboarding: Lead recruitment and onboarding processes to build high-performing teams and deliver exceptional candidate and new hire experiences.
- Performance Management: Refine and champion tools to support measurable, unbiased evaluations while mentoring leaders to foster growth and accountability.
- Compensation & Benefits: Lead the development, benchmarking, and implementation of salary frameworks and structures to ensure a competitive, fair, and transparent C&B system.
- Employee Relations & Retention: Support a positive work environment by addressing complex grievances, analyzing turnover trends, and implementing strategies to retain top talent.
- Policy & Compliance: Oversee HR policies and ensure compliance across all staff locations, while promoting simplicity, fairness, and DEI.
- Learning & Development: Build leadership capacity through targeted training programs and optimize professional development investments to drive measurable growth.
- HR Operations & Systems: Streamline HR systems, ensure data accuracy and compliance, and provide actionable insights to guide strategic decisions.
- Culture & Values: Partner with leadership to embed D-tree’s values into everyday actions and foster a cohesive, collaborative, and inclusive workplace.
- Change Management & Projects: Lead transformative people initiatives that enhance workflows, automate processes, and drive long-term organizational success.
Your Qualifications:
- Master’s degree from a top-tier university in a relevant field; HR certification is a plus.
- 10+ years of progressive and broad HR management experience, including in leadership roles.
- Proven experience leading HR functions in a multicultural organisation, ideally in an international NGO, including collaboration with remote teams across multiple continents and cultures.
- Demonstrated ability to design and implement people strategies and systems that align with organisational goals, drive efficiency and measurable impact, and foster high-performing teams.
- Strong understanding of labor laws and HR compliance across Eastern and Southern Africa; familiarity with US labor laws is a plus.
- Experience working in a digital health-oriented organisation is an advantage.
Your Skills:
- Interpersonal Skills: You build strong relationships and work effectively in diverse, multicultural environments.
- Written and Oral Communication: You communicate clearly and concisely to motivate, build trust, and foster buy-in.
- Analytical Aptitude: You use data to inform decisions, priorities and drive measurable outcomes.
- Change Management: You lead and implement initiatives with staff engagement and alignment.
- HRIS Systems & Workflow Optimisation: You are proficient in systems and streamline workflows for efficiency and compliance.
- Coaching and Mentorship: You have the ability to empower leaders and teams to grow and perform at their best.
- Organisational Skills: You can simplify and maintain order and clarity in fast-moving contexts.
- Prioritisation and Follow-Through: You focus on what matters most and drive initiatives to completion.
Your Traits:
- Values Fit: You have a genuine alignment with D-tree’s values and a passion for impact.
- Humility: You listen to and value others, believing you can learn from them.
- Visionary: You are capable of painting the big picture and dreaming big for the future.
- Attention to Detail: You ensure that work is thorough, accurate, and executed with excellence.
- Flexibility: You adapt to new challenges and change while staying focused on high level goals.
- Resilience: You remain calm, focused, and effective when managing competing demands.
