The African Union (AU) is inviting applications for the position of Director of Human Resources Management at its headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This role is a senior leadership position responsible for overseeing all aspects of human resources strategy, policy, and operations across the AU Commission.

The Director will report to the Deputy Chairperson and lead a team of 11 direct and 39 indirect reports. This role is critical in aligning HR functions with the AU’s mission and strategic priorities.

Role Purpose

The Director of Human Resources Management provides strategic leadership for all HR functions, including staffing strategy, organizational development, employee relations, training, and performance management. The role ensures that HR policies, programs, and services align with the AU’s vision, Agenda 2063 objectives, and institutional strategy.

Key responsibilities include:

Leading and managing the Human Resources Directorate
Developing and implementing HR policies and frameworks
Advising senior leadership on strategic HR issues
Promoting organizational culture, inclusion, and change management
Overseeing HR budgeting, planning, and reporting
Ensuring alignment of HR activities with AU-wide strategic objectives

Main Functions

The Director will:

Provide strategic guidance on HR management and development across all AU organs
Lead personnel management, performance evaluation, training, and employee relations
Develop and execute HR strategies to address organizational needs
Design business continuity plans and risk mitigation strategies
Build relationships with stakeholders across AU Member States and partner organizations
Ensure effective change management and implementation of institutional reforms
Oversee HR information systems and ERP platforms to enhance HR operations
Coordinate HR performance management, staff mentoring, and development programs
Conduct HR risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies
Represent the Commission externally with partners and service providers

Specific Responsibilities

Develop HR strategies to support organizational development, talent acquisition and retention, diversity and inclusion, ethics, rewards, and performance management
Lead HR policy development, procedures, and monitoring systems
Act as a strategic HR partner to senior leadership
Implement HR planning systems aligned with organizational budget cycles
Promote employee engagement and positive relations with staff associations
Optimize ERP and digital platforms for efficient HR processes and analytics
Drive innovation in HR practices to improve quality and efficiency

Qualifications and Experience

Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Public Administration, Law, or related fields
Minimum 15 years of HR experience in a large organization, including:
- 8 years at managerial level
- 5 years at supervisory level
Experience in international organizations is an advantage
Professional HR certification from a recognized institution is mandatory
Project management certification is an added advantage
Demonstrated experience in strategic HR, change management, and leadership
Strong interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills

Age limit: Not more than 55 years

Required Skills

Leadership and supervisory expertise
Strategic thinking and risk management
Innovation and decision-making abilities
Proficiency in one AU working language (Arabic, English, French, Kiswahili, Portuguese, Spanish); fluency in an additional AU language is an advantage
Ability to leverage technology for HR program delivery

Competencies

Leadership Competencies:

Strategic Focus
Developing Organizational Capability
Change Leadership
Strategic Risk Management

Core Competencies:

Building Partnerships
Accountability Culture
Learning Orientation
Effective Communication

Functional Competencies:

Conceptual Thinking
Job Knowledge and Information Sharing
Results Orientation
Innovation

Terms of Appointment

Contract Duration: 3 years regular term, with the first 12 months as probationary
Renewable: Additional two years based on performance
Salary: US$78,138 per annum (D1 Step 1), plus post adjustment (46%), housing allowance US$26,208, and education allowance up to US$10,000 per child per annum

Gender and Diversity

The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified women and candidates from least represented or underrepresented Member States are strongly encouraged to apply.

Least represented countries: Algeria, Angola, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Comoros, DR Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Sahrawi D.R., Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Somalia

Underrepresented countries: Congo, Mozambique, South Africa, Sudan, Tunisia

Application Deadline

April 20, 2026, 11:59 p.m. EAT
Only applicants meeting all requirements and submitting a fully completed AU CV will be considered

Application documents:

Completed AU CV template (mandatory)
Academic certificates and diplomas
African passport

VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY

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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organisation seeking a Director. For any inquiries, please contact the responsible organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.