Job Description

Agency

Aga Khan Schools

Region

Eastern Africa

The requirements

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management, Organisational Development, Business Administration or a related field.
• Master’s degree in Human Resource Management, Organisational Development, Leadership, Education Management or a related discipline is preferred.
• Professional HR qualification (CHRP-K, CIPD, SHRM, HRCI or equivalent) and full membership of the Institute of Human Resource Management (IHRM).
• Minimum of 8–10 years’ progressive HR experience, with at least 3–5 years in a management or senior HR leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience partnering with senior leaders on people and organisational matters, with strong experience in employee relations, organisational development and culture-building.
• Experience leading recruitment, performance management, talent development, organisational change and people-related projects.
• Experience within an international school, IB environment, educational institution or mission-driven organisation is highly desirable.
• Experience operating within a complex, multi-stakeholder environment is an advantage.

Application Process:

Interested candidates should submit a CV and a cover letter outlining their suitability for the role via the AKDN careers portal. This role is recruited locally and is open to candidates who have the legal right to live and work in Kenya.

The closing date for applications is October 01, 2026.

After submission, you’ll receive a confirmation email from @brassring.com. We never send unsolicited job offers or request personal/financial information. If you receive suspicious communication, please verify by contacting us at +254 734 647457 / +254 701 647457 or emailing admin@akesk.org. The organization is not responsible for any actions taken in response to fraudulent messages. By applying, you accept responsibility for verifying the authenticity of any communication.

The position

The Aga Khan Academy Mombasa is the first of a network of 18-planned academies to be established across Africa, Europe, South and Central Asia, and the Middle East. The Academies provide a world-class education to exceptional students who possess strong leadership potential, on a merit basis. Pluralism is a core value of the educational programme; the student body reflects marked diversity, and includes both national and international students from all socio-economic backgrounds. AKA Mombasa is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, offering an IB curriculum that is locally rooted and globally relevant. Academy graduates consistently earn places and scholarships at the world’s top universities.

The Academy is looking to hire a People and Culture Lead to be based in Mombasa.

Role Summary:

The People and Culture Lead provides strategic and operational leadership for the people agenda at Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa. As a member of the Academy Leadership Team, the role serves as a trusted advisor and thought partner to school leaders on people, culture, organisational effectiveness and employee experience. The role also contributes to selected Kenya-wide HR initiatives and projects, supporting the broader strategic priorities of Aga Khan Schools in Kenya.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as a member of the Academy Leadership Team and trusted advisor to the Head of Academy and school leaders on people, culture and organisational matters.
• Lead workforce planning, recruitment and selection, onboarding and talent acquisition to attract and retain the talent required to achieve the Academy’s strategic objectives.
• Support organisational change and provide guidance on people-related implications, implementation and organisational effectiveness.
• Lead initiatives that strengthen employee engagement, wellbeing, psychological safety and organisational culture, including staff listening, engagement surveys and recognition programmes.
• Lead talent management, succession planning, leadership development, learning and development, training needs analysis and management capability-building initiatives.
• Lead implementation of performance management processes, supporting goal setting, feedback, performance improvement and a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Provide expert guidance on employee relations, grievances and disciplinary matters, fostering constructive relationships and ensuring fairness, consistency and compliance.
• Participate in labour relations processes and support implementation of relevant collective bargaining agreements.
• Serve as the lead for adult safeguarding at the Academy and ensure compliance with employment legislation, organisational policies and safeguarding requirements.
• Oversee HR service delivery across the employee lifecycle, ensuring consistent implementation of policies, procedures and service standards.
• Partner with Finance on payroll inputs, benefits administration and employee records, while ensuring confidentiality and appropriate management of employee information.
• Contribute to AKES, Kenya-wide HR strategies and lead designated HR initiatives, projects or functional portfolios as assigned by the Head of People & Culture.