Recruitment Specialist

Description and Objectives

We are looking for a dedicated Recruitment Specialist to join our dynamic team at Talent Lab Ltd. This role involves sourcing, attracting, and recruiting top talent for our client, an International Non-Governmental Organization (INGO), with a focus on positions across the African continent. The successful candidate will play a key role in developing and executing tailored recruitment strategies to find qualified candidates who can contribute to the INGO's mission of fostering social change, human rights, and sustainable development across Africa.

You will be responsible for managing end-to-end recruitment processes, from creating tailored recruitment strategies to conducting candidate assessments, ensuring the INGO’s staffing needs are met with high-quality talent that aligns with the organization's core values and the unique challenges of working in African contexts.

Key Responsibilities

Develop Tailored Recruitment Strategies for Africa

• Market Research: Conduct in-depth research to understand the specific recruitment needs in different African regions. Adapt strategies based on each country's socio-economic, political, and cultural environment.
• Role-Specific Strategies: Collaborate with the INGO to develop recruitment plans for a wide range of roles, from field-based program officers to senior leadership positions. Ensure recruitment approaches are aligned with the client's strategic goals in Africa.
• Cultural Sensitivity: Tailor recruitment tactics to accommodate regional language differences, local employment trends, and the varying availability of talent across African countries.

Candidate Sourcing & Networking

• Leverage Local Job Portals: Utilize African job boards and recruitment platforms such as Jobberman (Nigeria), MyJobMag (Kenya), BrighterMonday (Kenya), and PNet (South Africa) to post job openings and identify local talent.
• Global Talent Pools: Source candidates from global talent pools with an emphasis on African diaspora communities, international development networks, and LinkedIn.
• Partnerships: Build relationships with universities, professional associations, and local NGOs across Africa to create a pipeline of potential candidates.
• Social Media & Online Communities: Use LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and local WhatsApp groups to engage passive candidates and promote job openings.

  Screening & Shortlisting Candidates

• Initial Screening: Conduct phone or video interviews to evaluate candidates' qualifications, experience, and cultural fit for the INGO’s mission.
• Assessing Technical Skills: Ensure that shortlisted candidates have the necessary technical expertise for positions, particularly in international development, program management, advocacy, and humanitarian relief.
• Behavioral Interviews: Assess candidates' adaptability, leadership qualities, and ability to work in diverse and resource-constrained environments typical in Africa.

Client Management & Collaboration

• Understand Client Needs: Work closely with the INGO’s HR and hiring managers to understand staffing requirements, job descriptions, and the types of candidates they are seeking.
• Consultative Support:Provide consultative support to the client, advising on market trends, salary benchmarks, and best practices for attracting top talent across Africa.
• Candidate Feedback: Maintain clear communication with clients throughout the recruitment process, providing regular updates on candidate progress and pipeline health.

Candidate Relationship Management

• Engage Candidates: Build and maintain relationships with candidates throughout the hiring process. Ensure candidates are well-informed, engaged, and understand the INGO’s values and mission.
• Candidate Experience: Ensure a smooth and positive candidate experience, providing feedback and timely updates, particularly in the case of long recruitment cycles or multiple interview rounds.

Employer Branding & Networking

• Promote the INGO's Mission: Actively communicate the client’s values, impact, and commitment to social development through job postings, interviews, and outreach to potential candidates.
• Brand Building: Leverage partnerships with local organizations and communities to build the INGO’s brand as an employer of choice across Africa.
• Diversity & Inclusion: Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in all stages of recruitment, ensuring candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Recruitment Metrics: Track key performance indicators (KPIs) like time-to-fill, cost-per-hire, candidate quality, and diversity to measure the success of recruitment strategies.
• Data-Driven Adjustments: Regularly assess and adapt sourcing and recruitment strategies based on data, candidate feedback, and client needs.
• Post-Hire Analysis: Collaborate with the client to evaluate the performance of hires and gather feedback on the recruitment process for continuous improvement.

Qualifications & Skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, International Relations, or a related field. A Master’s degree or HR certifications (e.g., SHRM, CIPD, CIPM) is a plus.

Experience  

• 3+ years of recruitment experience, with a strong focus on sourcing talent for INGOs, international development organizations, or multinational NGOs.
• Proven experience in recruiting across diverse African markets, with an understanding of local hiring practices, labor laws, and cultural nuances.
• Experience in recruiting for a variety of roles, from entry-level to senior management positions, particularly in the areas of program management, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), logistics, finance, and human resources.

Skills

• Strong Sourcing Skills: Ability to use multiple channels (job boards, social media, referrals, networking) to find the best talent, both locally and internationally.
• Excellent Communication Skills: Proficiency in English (additional languages such as French, Arabic, or Portuguese are an advantage).
• Interviewing & Assessment: Strong skills in assessing candidates’ technical and soft skills, cultural fit, and leadership potential.
• Adaptability: Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with a focus on delivering results.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Ability to track, measure, and report on recruitment effectiveness and continuously improve strategies.
• Proficiency in HR Tools: Experience using applicant tracking systems (ATS), HR software, and other recruitment tools. Familiarity with LinkedIn Recruiter, Workday, or similar platforms is a plus.

Desirable Attributes

• Cultural Sensitivity: Strong understanding of the diverse cultural contexts within Africa and the ability to adapt recruitment approaches accordingly.
• Multilingual: Fluency in additional African languages (e.g., Swahili, Yoruba, Amharic) is highly valued.
• NGO Passion: A genuine interest in and commitment to the INGO sector and a passion for recruiting talent to support sustainable development across Africa.

Why Join Us?

• Impactful Work: Help an INGO source and place talented professionals who are directly contributing to positive change in Africa.
• Career Growth: Opportunity to develop your career in HR consulting, particularly in the international development and nonprofit sectors.
• Collaborative Environment: Work in a supportive and dynamic team, sharing knowledge and best practices to ensure the best outcomes for our clients.
• Global Reach: The opportunity to work with a high-impact clients with operations across Africa, giving you exposure to a wide range of challenges and opportunities in the international development sector.