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Vital Strategies is a global public health organization. Our programs strengthen public health systems and address the world’s leading causes of illness, injury, and death. We currently work in more than 80 countries, supporting data-driven decision-making in government, advancing evidence-based public health policies, and mounting strategic communication campaigns. Vital Strategies’ priorities are driven by the greatest potential to improve and save lives. They include noncommunicable disease prevention, tobacco control, road safety, food policy, environmental health, and data for health. Our programs are concentrated in low- and middle-income countries and cities in Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific. Please visit our website to find out more about our work.

We believe our programs are strengthened when they are developed and supported by people with diverse life experiences whose understanding of social and cultural issues can help make our work and workforce more inclusive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or creed, gender, national origin, ancestry, actual or perceived age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, marital status, sexual orientation or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws. As such, our commitment is to promote equal employment opportunities (EEO) for those seeking employment.

Job Purpose:

Vital Strategies has experienced significant growth in both its programs and global footprint in recent years. As the organization continues to expand, it is essential that our people practices remain legally compliant, operationally effective, culturally responsive, and forward-thinking to support an increasingly diverse and distributed workforce.

We are seeking an experienced Global HR leader who will continue to build on our efforts to strengthen global HR operations and compliance. This is an exciting opportunity for a collaborative, culturally agile leader who is passionate about operational excellence, continuous improvement, and making a meaningful global impact. 

The Director, Global HR Operations and Compliance is a critical leadership role within the Human Resources function, responsible for advancing HR operational excellence, strengthening global compliance, and supporting the continued evolution of our people practices. With seven global offices and Employer of Record (EOR) arrangements in thirteen countries, this position provides strategic leadership and oversight for Vital's global HR operations, compliance framework, and employee services, ensuring consistent, efficient, and legally compliant HR practices across all locations.

The Director will lead the development and implementation of inclusive policies, procedures, and best practices; provide guidance on global employment actions and employee relations matters; support workforce expansion into new countries; and oversee global compensation, benefits, and HR governance programs. This role is responsible for identifying and mitigating employment-related risks while ensuring a positive employee experience and operational consistency across diverse jurisdictions.

Reporting to the Vice President, Global HR, the Director partners closely with organizational leaders, HR colleagues, legal counsel, country offices, and external partners to strengthen HR infrastructure, optimize systems and processes, and enhance the organization's ability to manage a global workforce effectively. Success in this role requires deep global HR expertise, strong judgment, cultural sensitivity, and the ability to lead change while balancing organizational standards with local legal, cultural, and operational requirements.

This job opportunity may be based in the UK, Switzerland, or Kenya. Vital Strategies will offer a competitive salary based on local market benchmarking. Additional locations in Europe and Africa where Vital Strategies is operational may be considered. The applicable salary ranges for the hiring locations are:

• UK: £110,000- £120,000
• Switzerland: CHF 120,000 to 140,000
• Kenya: KES 14,000,000- 18,500,000 KES

Duties & Responsibilities:

Global HR Operations - 

· Maintain a high-quality global HR operations function, including standardized policies where legally appropriate, standardized processes, technology, systems, tools, forms, and guidelines that are accessible, well understood, and consistently utilized across all offices.

· Balance global organizational standards and compliance requirements with the operational, cultural, and legal realities of individual country offices, ensuring an appropriate and practical approach across diverse environments.

· Build trusted relationships with global office leadership, HR and Country Directors, to encourage transparency, collaboration, and timely sharing of HR-related information necessary for effective operations, risk management, and compliance.

· Partner with, support, and advise global HR team members and Country Directors on HR operational matters; while supporting local HR partners in assuming HR functions locally as appropriate for each office.

· Lead global HR due diligence (terms and conditions of employment, infrastructure and documentation) and manage the maintenance of international office employee handbooks and guides for EOR-hired staff.

· Partner with leadership, programs, and operation teams in opening offices or establishing EORs; as well as closing offices or programs.

· Ensure compliance with regulatory reporting requirements, maintenance of required documentation, and timely responses to HR audits and coordinate with the risk management committee.

· In partnership with local HR teams, lead annual global employee benefits renewals, including plan design, vendor coordination, and budget management.

· Oversee global compensation programs, including salary benchmarking, pay review processes, compensation guidance, and manager training.

· Work with Talent Acquisition, Grants & Contracts and Global Finance to coordinate the annual and reforecast workforce budget.

· Oversee the establishment of EORs and the ongoing vendor/employee/manager relationships.

· Ensure the global HR team is trained in the core HR operational areas, as well as any Vital HR specific procedures and practices.

· Ensure that HR policies, procedures, and compliance documents are accessible to all staff via the organizational intranet “Vital Pulse”.

· Collaborate with HR team to implement, analyze, and maintain operational metrics and people data to inform decision-making and strengthen organizational effectiveness.

· Serve as a key HRIS company administrator and partner to global HR teams, leveraging technology to improve HR operations, reporting, compliance and data integrity.

· Partner with HR and operational leaders to ensure HRIS data accuracy globally, establish effective governance processes, and support local teams in maintaining timely and accurate employee records.

Compliance - 

· In collaboration with Legal and VP HR, ensure that HR processes, policies, recordkeeping, and forms are in compliance with regulations, country and local labor laws, and donor guidelines.

· Oversee policy, process and procedure documentation to ensure consistency, accessibility, and compliance across the organization.

· Conduct spot checks to employee files to ensure audit readiness and compliance; and provide training to HR team members responsible for maintaining documentation.

· Ensure compliance with the Vital global data retention policy for employee data and HR documentation.

· Identify and proactively mitigate HR operational and compliance risks through strong controls, monitoring, documentation practices, and partnership with local offices.

Employee Services - 

· Coordinate the development and maintenance of HR programs and tools, including policies and procedures, SOPs, manuals, management guidelines, and other HR infrastructure to support business units, proposals, and projects.

· Ensure all offices and employees hired through EOR arrangements have access to an HR Help Desk or equivalent support structure with timely communication, responsiveness, and follow-up.

· In consultation with the VP HR and General Counsel, and in coordination with HRBPs, manage complex employee relations matters in a balanced, fair, and objective manner using appropriate counseling, investigative, intervention, and mediation techniques.

· Serve as an internal consultant and facilitator to managers and employees in resolving employment and performance-related issues in collaboration with HR business partners as appropriate.

· In collaboration with the Director of Talent Management and HR Country Teams, ensure timely delivery of training to managers on HR operations, policies, systems, and practices; and support clear communication of Vital HR business practices to employees globally.

· Foster a service-oriented HR culture that emphasizes responsiveness, partnership, trust, consistency, and practical problem-solving across all global offices.

Qualifications:

Education - 

· Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field required.

· Professional HR certification such as SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CIPD, or equivalent international HR certification preferred.

Skills & Abilities - 

· Strong knowledge of global HR operations, employment practices, compliance requirements, and HR infrastructure across multiple countries and regions.

· Demonstrated ability to balance global organizational standards with local legal, cultural, and operational needs in diverse international environments.

· Strong relationship-building, influencing, and partnership skills, with the ability to establish trust and credibility across global offices and with leaders at all levels.

· High degree of diplomacy, cultural sensitivity, discretion, and sound judgment when managing complex and sensitive employee and organizational matters.

· Ability to proactively gather, assess, and synthesize information from multiple stakeholders and environments to identify operational or compliance risks and support informed decision-making.

· Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and initiatives simultaneously in a fast-paced global environment.

· Excellent verbal, written communication, and active listening skills, including the ability to communicate complex HR concepts clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.

· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to use people data and metrics to drive operational improvements and business decisions.

· Service-oriented leadership approach with a focus on collaboration, responsiveness, practical solutions, and continuous improvement.

· Strong facilitation, training, and coaching skills for managers, HR teams, and employees.

· High level of integrity and ability to manage confidential information with professionalism and discretion.

· Strong technology proficiency and ability to leverage HR systems and tools to improve operational effectiveness, reporting, workforce analytics, compliance, and employee experience.

· Fluency in English required.

· Knowledge of global HR operational best practices and employment lifecycle processes.

· Knowledge of compensation, benefits, employee relations, performance management, and policy administration practices.

· Understanding of change management principles and organizational effectiveness practices in global organizations.

Experience Required:

· Minimum of 15 years of progressive human resources experience, including significant experience in global HR operations, compliance, and employee services.

· Demonstrated experience supporting a complex, multi-country or global organization, preferably within the nonprofit, international development, public health, or mission-driven sector.

· Experience partnering with global offices and navigating varying labor laws, cultural norms, and operational practices across regions.

· Proven experience developing and implementing global HR policies, procedures, systems, and operational processes.

· Experience managing HR compliance, audits, employee documentation, and data governance in international environments.

· Experience overseeing compensation and benefits administration across multiple countries and/or employer-of-record (EOR) arrangements.

· Demonstrated experience managing complex employee relations matters and conducting or supporting investigations in collaboration with legal counsel and HR business partners.

· Experience leading or supporting HRIS optimization, system configuration, reporting, and data integrity initiatives; experience with UKG strongly preferred.

· Experience using HR metrics and workforce data to support operational planning and organizational decision-making.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

· The position may involve up to 10% travel to various international locations, depending on organizational needs

· Ability/willingness to work across multiple time zones

The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) is partnering with Robertson Bell on a retained basis to recruit a Director of Finance on a permanent basis. This is a rare opportunity to join a globally influential organisation at a pivotal point in its growth, leading the transformation of the finance function whilst helping drive the organisation's ambitious mission to eliminate avoidable sight loss worldwide.

This is far more than a traditional Finance Director role. The successful candidate will inherit a finance function ready for transformation, with the full backing of an ambitious Senior Leadership Team committed to investing in modern systems, stronger processes and strategic financial leadership. It is an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious finance leader looking to make their first move into a Director position, whilst remaining close to the operational detail and leading meaningful organisational change.

The role

• Partner with the Deputy CEO and Senior Leadership Team to shape the organisation's financial strategy and support the delivery of its ambitious three-year strategic plan.
• Lead the transformation of the finance function, moving from manual, spreadsheet-led reporting to streamlined systems, efficient processes and insightful business partnering.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting and financial planning, including scenario modelling to support significant organisational growth and major international funding opportunities.
• Deliver high-quality management reporting for the Executive Team, Finance & Audit Committee, Board of Trustees and major international funders.
• Lead the production of statutory accounts, oversee the annual audit process and ensure full compliance with Charity Commission, Companies House and tax requirements.
• Develop robust financial controls, policies and governance frameworks that support a growing international charity.
• Manage treasury activities, cashflow and foreign currency exposure across an increasingly global operation.
• Build strong relationships with budget holders across the organisation, embedding a proactive and commercially minded finance business partnering culture.
• Lead, develop and mentor a small finance team, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment.
• Play a key leadership role in organisational decision-making, helping ensure finance is viewed as an enabling function that supports innovation and impact.

The organisation

The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness is the only global alliance dedicated to eliminating the world's avoidable vision crisis. Representing NGOs, professional associations, hospitals, academic institutions, corporations and philanthropies, IAPB works to influence policy, mobilise investment and strengthen health systems across the world.

The organisation has experienced significant growth in recent years, expanding to over 50 staff and securing substantial new investment to support its ambitious global agenda. This includes convening the inaugural Global Summit for Eye Health in November 2026, bringing together heads of government, multilateral organisations and major funders to accelerate progress towards ending avoidable sight loss for the 1.1 billion people currently living without access to the eye care they need.

With strong leadership, genuine investment in organisational development and a culture built around being ambitious, collaborative, inclusive and strategic, IAPB offers an outstanding opportunity to shape both the finance function and the future direction of the organisation.

Essential criteria

• Fully qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA or equivalent).
• Experience working within an international charity.
• Strong understanding of charity finance, including restricted funding, grant reporting and Charity SORP.
• Demonstrable experience producing high-quality financial reporting, budgeting and statutory accounts.
• Experience improving financial systems, controls and reporting processes.
• Proven ability to build effective relationships with senior stakeholders, trustees and non-finance colleagues.
• Strong leadership skills, with experience developing and supporting finance teams.
• Commercial mindset with the ability to translate financial information into strategic insight.
• Excellent communication skills, with confidence presenting complex financial information to a range of audiences.

Apply now

This is a permanent, full-time position with a salary of £87,000 based on a hybrid working model requiring one day per week in the London office, typically on Tuesdays.

The role offers an excellent benefits package, including a 10% employer pension contribution, 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays, flexible working, enhanced family leave policies and an Employee Assistance Programme.