Human Resources Manager

Summary

Deadline to apply: Wednesday 8 March (23:59 London time).

Description: As HR Manager you will drive the hiring, development, engagement, and retention of our team at Our World in Data. Your responsibilities will include overseeing compensation and benefits, professional development, and ensuring the team’s wellbeing. You will also be responsible for ensuring compliance with employment laws, regulations, and best practices in the non-profit sector.

You will report to Esteban Ortiz-Ospina and Max Roser, the Executive co-directors of Global Change Data Lab (GCDL), the non-profit startup that produces Our World in Data. You will also support the leads of our various teams by setting goals and initiatives for their respective team members, and by helping align team priorities and organizational needs.

Contract type: Full time.

Compensation: £55,000 – £70,000 per annum.

Location: Oxford, United Kingdom (remote/in-office hybrid)

Application & interview process: 

• The details for how to apply are at the bottom of this page.
• We will start reviewing applications after the deadline. 
• We will invite selected candidates to complete an online exercise, and based on the results of this exercise we will shortlist candidates for interviews starting in late March.

We encourage you to apply early if possible because it helps us gauge how many candidates we’re reaching. But we don’t want you to rush your application—also helpful would be to send us a quick note now saying that you intend to apply.

About us

Global Change Data Lab (GCDL) is the non-profit startup that produces the web publication Our World in Data. We focus on increasing the use of data and evidence to make progress against the world’s largest problems.

Our work is referenced in over 25,000 media articles annually, and in the context of the pandemic we are producing the datasets and infrastructure that inform billions of people around the world.

Millions of people visit Our World in Data every month, and among those who rely on our work are international organizations like the UN and WHO, the governments of countries around the world, major media outlets like The New York Times and The Economist, and major businesses and nonprofits.

About this job

As HR Manager at GCDL, you will be responsible for:

• Coordinating and ensuring compliance with all laws, regulations, and reporting requirements related to employment and labor.
• Developing and implementing a hiring strategy that aligns with overall organizational goals.
• Managing the staff contract process, including negotiating, renewing, and handling personnel transitions.
• Designing and implementing a fair and competitive compensation framework.
• Developing and implementing an effective onboarding program that helps new teammates quickly adapt to our organization and culture.
• Overseeing the payroll process so that staff and contractors are paid on time and accurately.
• Improving our professional development program to help team members advance their careers.
• Supporting feedback mechanisms, such as annual reviews, to help each member of our team understand where they are doing well and where they can improve.
• Addressing any disciplinary issues that may arise, as well as handling grievances and resolving conflicts between team members.
• Managing contract terminations and handling staff offboarding processes.

What we’re looking for

Skills and experience

• At least 2-5 years of professional experience managing HR processes.
• Deep knowledge of employment law and regulation in the UK.
• Ability to make decisions under uncertainty and to assess potential institutional risks.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, especially the ability to explain your views clearly and frankly but also tactfully.
• Experience in nonprofit organizations and/or startups would be a plus, but is not required.

Personal characteristics

• Excitement to work in a horizontally structured startup environment, where you will need to cover a wide surface area, roll up your sleeves, and help build things on the go.
• A team player who collaborates effectively and is motivated to help the team as a whole succeed.
• Openness and flexibility to learn from new evidence and feedback.
• A drive to work without supervision and being comfortable in a remote work environment (we are a remote-first team; while several teammates are based in Oxford and London, most are based outside of the UK).
• A “founder mentality”: taking ownership, thinking from first principles, and being proactive in improving things.

About our team and work environment

• You will work in our Operations Team (~5 people), report to our Executive Directors, and collaborate regularly with colleagues across our other teams.
• You will have substantial flexibility around when and where you do your work.
• The overall team at Our World in Data is welcoming, supportive and high trust; we’re bound together by our common mission, and the enjoyment we get from doing excellent work with talented colleagues.

Diversity and inclusion

• Remote work has allowed us to build a team of fascinating individuals from a wide range of countries and backgrounds, a diversity we’d like to nurture and encourage.
• We especially welcome applications from candidates whose backgrounds are traditionally underrepresented.
• Our flexible hours make balancing care and other responsibilities easier to manage than many traditional roles.
• If you are excited about this role but are unsure about whether you’re the right fit, we encourage you to apply. We’re also happy to answer any questions by email at [email protected].

How to apply

Email us at [email protected] with the subject line “Human Resources Manager” and attach:

• Your CV or resume.
• A cover letter that answers the following two questions (maximum 500 words in total). Please answer each question separately using the numbering provided.

1. Why do you think you’re the right candidate for this job? Please speak directly to the skills, experience, and personal characteristics that we mention in the “What we’re looking for” section.
2. Based on the job responsibilities listed in the “About this job” section, what are the top 3 areas that you would be most excited to work on? Why?

Additional instructions:

• Attach these as two separate PDF documents with the filenames:
  • [your name] CV.pdf
  • [your name] Cover Letter.pdf
• Do not put your name or any other personally identifying information (such as your picture, address, etc.) within either document itself — we evaluate applications anonymously, and this greatly helps with that.
• In the body of your email, tell us where you came across this job ad, so we can track the effectiveness of our advertising efforts.

Feel free to email if you have any questions. Thanks, we look forward to hearing from you!