HR Analyst

Role purpose

To provide a variety of administrative support in HR area, contributing to the development and implementation of efficient and effective HR practices, systems, and policies and to ensure compliance with British Council values, Performance Management and Professional Development, Code of Conduct, and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion standards.

About us

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. We do this by making a positive contribution to the UK and the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust.

We work with over 100 countries across the world in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Each year we reach over 20 million people face-to-face and more than 500 million people online, via broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934, we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body.

Geopolitical/SBU/Function overview

The Middle East and North Africa is home to eight percent of the world’s population, five percent of global GDP, and 58 percent of global reserves of oil and gas. It is also one of the most unstable regions of the world, characterised by protracted conflicts and complex issues around refugee and displaced communities. It has the highest rate of youth unemployment, and double the global average for female unemployment. Collectively this is placing a huge strain on existing political, social and economic structures, adding to the uncertainty and fragility of the region.

The British Council retains an on-the-ground presence in all 17 MENA countries. This includes maintaining operations and programmes in Libya, Yemen and Syria, working through partners and locally engaged staff. Over the last five years we have extended the scope of our work over by aligning our cultural relations activities to UK and international priorities, such as in relation to major issues affecting the region, namely the Syrian refugee crisis, and the rise of violent extremism. In parallel to this we continue to provide support to individuals, institutions and governments helping them address some of the underlying long-term demographic, societal and systemic features which have been holding back reform, stifling growth, and blocking opportunities for young people.

Our work takes a long term approach to engagement, helping to build trust and influence for the UK.

Main opportunities/challenges for this role

The role is expected to work effectively with colleagues across all activity streams.

They will provide administrative support to the HR Lead within country in the different HR areas including Employee relations and staff wellbeing related administration, managing staff records, supporting with recruitment and selection, induction, maintaining systems and processes and documentation, handling internal enquiries, preparing management information reports, etc.

The role reports to HR Business Partner.

Main Accountabilities:

Service support

• Delivers a range of administrative services within agreed corporate procedures, to maximise quality, continuity and efficiency
• Maintains accurate HR records and drafts routine and some non-standard documentation, reports
• Performs straightforward analysis, manipulation and interpretation of data, tasks or information, presenting findings accurately and appropriately to support effective maintenance of management information systems
• Provides logistical support to the organisation and delivery of internal and external activities/events, to ensure they run smoothly and efficiently

Customer support

• Receives and responds to enquiries from/to customers, and may be a specific point of reference on queries relating to HR
• Identifies where more complex issues require resolution by others and refers them on accordingly
• Recognises and understands the impact of incidents arising (e.g. complaints, resourcing problems, logistical or technical difficulties) and proactively alerts the team leader to any issues of concern that are likely to impact service delivery

Relationship & stakeholder management

• Proactively communicates and liaises with others (inside and outside the British Council) to ensure effective coordination and delivery of events, services and activities
• Builds an understanding of who’s who within the wider department, unit or region to enable effective resolution of issues when they arise

Managing self & others

• Plans and prioritises own work activities, responding to changing requirements to ensure effective delivery of responsibilities over a daily time horizon
• Tasks and coordinates others (e.g. internal colleagues or external contractors/suppliers) to complete time-limited, straightforward activities, within established procedures, in order to ensure efficient delivery of services. Monitors task completion to agreed quality and time standards

Key Relationships

Internal

• Country Director
• HR Business Partner
• HR Cluster Lead
• Staff in country
• MENA HR team

External

• Professional and government bodies
• Recruitment agencies

Role Requirements

Passport requirements/ Right to work in country: Candidates must have the right to work in Lebanon

Direct contact or managing staff working with children? No

Person Specification

Language requirements

Essential

• Arabic at full professional proficiency level
• English at full professional proficiency level

Qualifications

Essential

• First degree in Human Resources or a relevant professional HR qualification

Role Specific Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• 1 to 2 years demonstrable experience of understanding and using best practice in HR processes and systems

Desirable

• Working knowledge of employment and Lebanese labour law

Role Specific Skills

Essential

• Excellent communications skills
• Multitasking skills
• Corporate ethics

British Council Core Skills

Communicating and influencing (level 2). Relates communications to circumstances

Displays good listening, writing and speaking skills, setting out logical arguments clearly and adapting language and form of communication to meet the needs of different people/audiences.

Planning and organising (level 2). Plans ahead

Organises own work over weeks and months, or plans ahead for others, taking account of priorities and the impact on other people.

Analysing data and problems (level 1). Is systematic

Breaks down problems into a list of tasks to be done and decides on appropriate action.

Managing finance and resources (level 1). Uses resources efficiently

Uses resources efficiently in own role and complies with financial rules and procedures.

Using technology (level 1). Operates as a basic user of information systems, digital and office technology

Able, with adjustments if necessary, to use office software and British Council systems to do the job and manage documents or processes.

British Council Behaviours

Connecting with others (Essential)

Making regular opportunities to understand others better

Working together (More demanding)

Ensuring that others benefit as well as me

Making it happen (Essential)

Delivering clear results for the British Council

Being accountable (Essential)

Delivering my best work in order to meet my commitments