HR & Training Manager (Mining)

Our client is a privately-owned exploration and gold development company, committed to developing world-class projects across Africa. The client is focused on developing their flagship gold project located in central Sierra Leone. They are committed to upholding industry-leading environmental, social and governance practices and adhering to internationally recognised standards and guidelines for sustainable development.

Role Title: Human Resource & Training Manager

The HR & Training Manager will serve as the on-site HR lead, overseeing the execution of HR strategies and operations within a dynamic mining environment. This role bridges day-to-day workforce needs with strategic HR priorities, ensuring compliance with local labor laws, smooth delivery of people operations, community engagement alignment, workforce development, and alignment with the mines operational objectives.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and implement HR strategy, workforce plan, budget, policies and procedures in line with the company's goals and objectives
• Develop and oversee implementation of a talent management strategy covering employer branding, talent acquisition, onboarding, performance management, learning & development, succession planning, and career development
• Develop and implement culture, welfare, wellness, employee engagement and employee experience programs
• Develop and oversee compensation philosophy, salary structure, and benefit programs for both national and expatriate staff, ensuring equity and compliance with local taxation and regulatory requirements
• Ensure proper & fair implementation of pay & rewards as well as compliance with local taxation and related regulations
• Ensure strategic contracts and relationships are established to source staff locally, including adherence to the Local Content Act
• Oversee recruitment processes, including workforce planning, onboarding, and retention strategies.
• Conceptualize and implement onboarding programs and employee orientation
• Implement performance appraisal systems and advise on individual development planning
• Address employee grievances, facilitate disciplinary procedures, and maintain a positive and compliant work environment
• Supervise monthly payroll and benefit administration for national and expatriate staff
• Lead employee relations strategy, including proactive engagement with staff representatives, liaison with unions, and facilitation of collective bargaining agreements
• Provide strategic oversight and direction for the development, application, and continuous enhancement of the HR procedures and policies especially regarding (list not limited), draft and monitoring of the working contracts, employees database management, registration of employees to NASSIT and medical insurances policies, disciplinary procedures management, electronic filling of the employee personal files, work-related accident management, absences, maternity and leave management.
• Lead workforce readiness initiatives to support the transition into the mines production phase, including skills assessments, training alignment, organizational restructuring, and change management to ensure operational efficiency and talent preparedness.
• Prepare and present monthly and quarterly HR reports

Training & Development Responsibilities

• Identify and assess current and future training needs through job analysis, performance reviews, and consultations with line managers
• Develop and implement both group and individual learning plans tailored to site-specific and organizational needs
• Design and deploy a variety of training methods suitable for a remote mining environment
• Evaluate training effectiveness, learning outcomes, and return on investment (ROI) periodically
• Manage and track training budgets in alignment with workforce development priorities
• Continuously explore and introduce learning technologies, local partnerships, and upskilling opportunities
• Tailor programs to address identified skills gaps, HSE compliance, leadership capacity, and succession readiness
• Provide tailored development initiatives for critical roles and future leadership pipelines

Competencies and Skills Requirements

Business Acumen

• Strategic thinking and ability to align HR with business objectives
• Strong understanding of workforce planning, productivity and compliance in mining environments

Communication

• Ability to communicate effectively across multicultural workforce groups, including field operators, technical teams, and management.
• Skilled in stakeholder engagement, especially with regulatory bodies and community representatives.

Collaboration

• Ability to work collaboratively across site management teams, HSE units, and community liaison departments.
• Capacity to drive cross-functional teamwork to achieve labor compliance and employee satisfaction.
• Proven ability to build constructive relationships with labor unions and employee representatives to foster open communication, resolve disputes, and maintain industrial harmony.

Resilience and Results Orientation

• Ability to work in a demanding remote site, deliver on multiple fronts, and build workforce morale
• Demonstrated initiative in resolving operational HR issues proactively

Training Expertise

• Ability to identify skills gaps, design development plans, and measure training ROI
• Experience implementing remote and practical skills-based training

Leadership and Influence

• Strong presence in decision-making, dispute resolution, and policy enforcement
• Able to influence site leadership through data and stakeholder understanding

Leads Change and Innovation

• Ability to champion changes in safety culture, operational discipline, and workforce performance practices.
• Ability to foster continuous improvement within a dynamic project and operational environment.

Diversity and Inclusion

• Ability to actively promote workforce diversity and inclusion, especially in a rural African mining context.
• Ability to integrate local community hiring strategies into workforce planning.

Key Performance Indicators (KPI)

• Compliance with labor laws, expatriate work permits and HR-related regulatory policies
• Recruitment metrics including time to hire, quality of hire, and community/local hiring ratios
• Engagement index improvement and cultural alignment metrics
• Performance review cycle adherence and follow-through on development plans
• Staff retention index and turnover trends
• Expat payroll accuracy and timeliness
• Training hours per employee and post-training effectiveness scores
• Readiness of successors for critical roles
• Audit scores on HR documentation, contracts, and statutory deductions
• Diversity and Inclusion index across site operations

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Human Resources, Business Management, or any related field. A masters degree will be an added advantage.
• Minimum of 15 years of HR experience, preferably in the mining or heavy industry sectors
• In-depth knowledge of Sierra Leonean labor laws and HR best practices
• High level of confidentiality and works ethics.
• Working experience in multicultural environment.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Proficiency in HRIS and Microsoft Office Suite
• Possession of CIPM, CIPD or SPHRI certification is required.

Role Location

Sierra Leone