The HR Business Partner plays a key role in ensuring that War Child’s people approach enables the organisation to deliver on its mission, strategy, and values. The role provides a bridge between organisational priorities and people practice, helping leaders and teams create an effective, healthy, and inclusive working environment in which people can perform, grow, and contribute.
What you will do:
This role sits within the People and Culture function and partners with leaders, managers, and teams across assigned functions, portfolios, or organisational entities. The role works closely with People and Culture colleagues across HR services, talent, reward, learning, safeguarding, and other specialist areas to provide joined-up people support aligned with War Child’s values, operating context, and organisational priorities.
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Partner with business leaders and managers to understand strategic priorities and translate them into people plans, workforce actions, and organisational development interventions.
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Advise and coach managers on employee relations, performance, team effectiveness, leadership, change, and organisational issues, in line with policy and legal requirements.
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Support workforce planning, organisation design, succession, talent, and capability discussions to ensure the business has the people and skills it needs.
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Use people data, trends, and insights to identify risks, inform decision-making, and improve workforce outcomes.
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Workwithmanagerstostrengthenleadershippractice,peoplemanagementcapability,andinclusiveteam cultures.
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Identify and manage people-related risks, escalating complex or sensitive issues appropriately and supporting fair, consistent decision-making.
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Use people data, trends, and insight to identify risks, inform decision-making, and improve workforce outcomes.
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Lead or support change processes and organisational transitions in a way that is fair, well-managed, and aligned with War Child’s values and duty of care.
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Work collaboratively with other People and Culture colleagues to deliver coordinated support across recruitment, learning, wellbeing, reward, safeguarding, and employee experience.
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Contribute to the continuous improvement of People and Culture policies, practices, and ways of working to ensure they are practical, consistent, and fit for purpose.
ROLE-SPECIFIC OR CONTEXT RESPONSIBILITIES
For Alliance Shared Services:
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This role is specifically designated for the War Child Alliance Foundation in the Netherlands and supporting any Alliance Shared Services departments/units/employees hosted in other Fundraising member offices (eg.UK, Germany, Sweden, USA), on an international staff contract and in country programmes.
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This role operates within a shared services environment and focuses on ensuring that HR services, policies, and systems are applied consistently and effectively across the organisation.
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The role requires the ability to balance standardisation with flexibility, ensuring that HR processes remain efficient, compliant, and aligned with organisational needs while still being responsive to different operational contexts.
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It also plays a key role in strengthening the HR servicedelivery model,improvingemployeeexperience,andensuringclearinterfacesbetweenbusiness partnering, shared services, and specialist functions.
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The role supports organisational alignment by ensuring that people practices, data, and processes are consistent across entities, and that leaders are supported to work effectively within shared systems and frameworks
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Managingcomplexemployee relations cases
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Lead in sick leave case management(as per NL/UK labour standards and otherspecficlabour laws where employee is hosted)
For Country Programmes:
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This roleoperateswithin aprogrammeand country context and focuses on supporting leaders and teams to deliver effectively in complex, and often changing, environments.
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The role works closely with(ClusterLead)-Country Directors,ProgrammeManagers, and local teams to ensure thatpeoplepractices are relevant, practical, and responsive to operational realities.
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The role requires strong contextual understanding, including locallabourenvironments, cultural dynamics, and operational challenges. It supports leadership on people-related decision-making,organisationaleffectiveness, and team dynamics, while ensuring alignment with War Child’s values, policies, and global frameworks.
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The role balances local responsiveness with organisational consistency, adapting HR approaches where needed while maintaining appropriate standards in areas such as safeguarding, employee relations, and duty of care.
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Supporting complex employee relations cases
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE
Education
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Relevant degree or equivalent professional experience in human resources, employment relations, organisational psychology, business, or a related field is desirable.
Experience
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Partnered with managers and leaders on a broad range of people issues
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Supported organisational change, restructuring, workforce planning, or organisational development processes
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Advised on employee relations, performance management, and team effectiveness
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Worked across multiple stakeholders and built trusted working relationships
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Used people data or workforce insight to support decision-making and improve outcomes
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Worked in an international, matrixed, or values-led organisation is desirable
Languages
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Fluency in English is required for this role.
- Additional languages may be useful depending on stakeholder groups and organisational context, for example Arabic, Dari, French, Spanish, or Ukrainian
(Technical) Knowledge
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Knowledge of HR policy, practice, and employment principles
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Understanding of workforce planning, organisational development, performance, and talent practices
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Ability to interpret people data, identify trends, and translate insight into practical action
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Understanding of change management and manager capability building
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Ability to build trusted relationships and work effectively across different teams, functions, and contexts
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Communicates clearly and handles sensitive people matters with care and sound judgement
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Supports fair, inclusive, and values-led people practice
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Understands how people priorities contribute to organisational effectiveness and delivery
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Location : We work with global teams with team members being based in different locations. War Child is currently operates in: Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Colombia, DR Congo, Germany, Jordan, Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territory, South Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Uganda, Ukraine (soon to be registered), and Yemen. We also have offices in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. Preference is given to applicants who reside and have valid working permits. War Child does not offer relocation.
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Type of Contract : Local contract with salary and secondary labour conditions based on the in-country salary scale, local T&C's will apply.
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Internals only may apply.
Why You Should Apply
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Meaningful Impact : Contribute directly to improving the lives of children and families affected by conflict through quality education and long-term, sustainable change.
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Professional Growth: Join a dynamic organisation that values learning, innovation, and professional development, with opportunities for capacity building and growth through the role and War Child’s global network.
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Global Reach : Play a key role in scaling a ground-breaking programme across multiple conflict-affected contexts worldwide.
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Collaborative & Inclusive Culture : Work alongside passionate, mission-driven colleagues in a diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace that prioritises safety, fairness and equal opportunity for all.
Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their applications (CV and motivation letter in English) by June 26, 2026. We are reviewing submissions on a rolling basis, so early applications are strongly recommended. ________________________________________________________________________________
By submitting your application you certify that all of the statements made in your application are true, complete, and correct and are made in good faith. You understand that falsifying, misrepresenting or intentionally withholding information will be grounds for rejection of your application or withdrawal of any offer of appointment or, if an appointment offer has been accepted, this will be ground for employment sanctions, such as, but not limited to, instant dismissal. In addition, you understand that you need to submit a Criminal Record Certificate and that, if you fail to submit it, no employment relationship can be established.
Disclaimer
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Only applications received via our website are processed.
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If we appoint a suitable candidate before the given closing date, we reserve the right to remove the vacancy from our website before that date. In such a case, any responses received after that time are not processed.
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It could be that during our selection process the closing date for the vacancy is extended. If so, and you have not yet heard from us, your application will remain active.
The War Child Alliance is an international non-governmental organization committed to providing psychosocial support, child protection, youth empowerment programming and quality education to the children affected by armed conflict. We implement evidence-based interventions to empower key stakeholders—including governments, educators, caregivers, and communities—to foster children’s wellbeing, education, and self-determination. We work with global teams with team members being based in different locations. War Child is currently operates in: Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Colombia, DR Congo, Germany, Jordan, Lebanon, the occupied Palestinian territory, South Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Uganda, Ukraine (soon to be registered), and Yemen. We also have offices in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
Learn more about War Child and our programmes https://www.warchild.net/
Safeguarding and Integrity
Our work with children and at-risk adults to keep them safe is the most important thing we do. We are committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults in all areas of our work. We have zero tolerance for any behaviours and practices that puts children and/or vulnerable adults at risk of abuse and/or harm. All (prospective) employees will be expected to be compliant with and sign up to our Child Safeguarding policy, our Code of Conduct and PSEA: Adults at Risk Policy. You can find the Child Safeguarding and Adults at Risk policy here: Integrity & Safeguarding - Home
Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) and Belonging (DEIB)
We value diversity and inclusion and are committed to ensuring that all our people and job applicants are treated fairly, irrespective of where, what or whom they were born, or of other characteristics. We want to offer a safe and inclusive workplace where all our people, especially those who are currently marginalised or underrepresented, can be themselves at work. If you have any questions about our commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) and Belonging (DEIB) do get in touch: [email protected] 