Position: Chief People Officer (CPO)
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Supervision: Human Resources Team
Duty Station: The Hague, Netherlands
Travel: Occasional
Duration & contract type: 100%, subject to funding. Visa and work permit can be sponsored, if needed.
Starting date: Early-August
About ACAPS
ACAPS believes that evidence must be at the heart of humanitarian action and together with our partners we turn data into decisions that truly matter. We cut through the noise and make sense out of chaos. We analyse complex data and provide clear insights so that decision-makers can take the best possible course of action.
We do this by:
- Providing independent analysis that helps humanitarians make informed choices.
- Deploying experts to support assessments and analysis in crisis.
- Driving innovation to collect better, faster, and more reliable data.
We are embarking on a new exciting chapter building up the core of the organization in the Hague. That’s why we’re looking for builders, problem-solvers, and innovators, people who thrive on challenges, love creating structures out of complexity, and are excited to be part of something new and impactful.
If that sounds like you, we’d love to have you on this journey!
Purpose of the position
The Chief People Officer is a highly experienced and dynamic leader who plays a pivotal role in overseeing the ACAPS’ culture, diversity, and talent.
As ACAPS is transitioning from a hosted project to an independent entity, the post holder plays a pivotal role in ensuring that ACAPS has the HR structure, systems, tools, and guidelines in place by December 2025 to run the organization effectively. The Chief People Officer also has an important role in determining suitable hosting and contracting modalities for various ACAPS locations.
The post holder is shaping the overall people strategy, focusing on employee experience, engagement and organizational effectiveness. They drive initiatives related to organizational culture, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and promote transparency. They ensure programs and processes are in place to protect staff health, safety and wellbeing. They facilitate employee learning and development programs and ensure compliance with and adherence to HR policies, guidance and handbooks, donor/auditor requirements, and labor laws where ACAPS has staff.
Operate in line with the ACAPS values
ACAPS is a dynamic and independent organisation. We share and strive to maintain the values of agency, candour, integrity, diversity, evolution, ambition, and collaboration in everything we do. The post holder is expected to develop the position in line with these values. The ACAPS values live in the way we manage our teams, create our content and engage with stakeholders. We are an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to diversity without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, and physical ability.
Working environment in ACAPS
We provide office space for team members to gather, share ideas, and get to know one another. We find that these unscheduled moments of interaction help foster a great culture and allow for more moments of collaborative inspiration. Many of us also work from home or other ‘out of the office’ locations, splitting our time between home office and ACAPS office. We feel going to the office should be something you want to do, not have to do.
Why Join Us?
- Innovative and Dynamic Environment: Be part of an organization that is shaping the future of the humanitarian data landscape, with innovative solutions, in a supportive and dynamic workplace.
- Collaborative Culture: Work with a diverse team of talented professionals who are passionate about making a difference.
Impact: Contribute to meaningful projects that have a real impact on humanitarian responses and populations affected by crises.
Essential Job Responsibilities
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief People Officer is a member of the 5-person Senior Management Team. This team has overall responsibility for leading, planning and managing the work and development of ACAPS.
Leadership
- As a core member of the Senior Management Team,
- Lead ACAPS’ Human Resources Team:
- ACAPS has HR team members based in Geneva (1), the Hague (1), and Nairobi (1).
- Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence
- Ensure effective leadership of ACAPS to plan, deliver and track its strategic objectives.
- Ensure that ACAPS continues to evolve as a high performing and resilient organisation with a cohesive culture.
- Build and maintain strong relationships at all levels of the organization to ensure input is solicited and different views are represented in decision making.
Strategy Development and Delivery
- Support the development, implementation and evaluation of ACAPS’s Strategy 2020-2025 and contribute to the development of the new forward strategy.
- Lead on the continual evolution of ACAPS as a fit-for-purpose organization that promotes diversity, inclusion, equity and transparency.
Change Management Process
- Analyse and lead on setting up ACAPS human resource structures, systems and policies required upon registration as an independent entity.
- Lead the transfer from NRC-supported HR systems and processes to ACAPS own HR systems and processes.
- Collaborate with the COO to identify sustainable and cost-efficient hosting solutions, that align with ACAPS values and ACAPS duty of care commitments.
- Ensure that regular, transparent and effective communication is provided across ACAPS regarding the transition.
Duty of Care
- Responsible for ensuring that processes and programs are in place to protect health, safety, and well-being of employees, including safeguarding protocols against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. This applies to all locations where ACAPS has staff, including high-security areas such as Ukraine, Afghanistan and Colombia.
Talent Recruitment, Management and Development
- Ensure that recruitment processes adhere to necessary procedures and result in hiring employees who align with the organization’s culture and can contribute high-quality input.
- Ensure that effective performance management systems are in place and contribute to effective performance management across ACAPS as well as to employee career development.
- Together with the Extended Management Team, facilitate the development of employee learning and development programs.
Legal compliance
- Ensure that the organization complies with employment law in the countries where it is contracting personnel, and that the other contracting modalities that ACAPS has in-place (hosting, EOR etc.) are in-line with the organization’s HR policies.
- Ensure compliance with and adherence to NRC policies, guidance and handbooks, donor/auditor requirements.
Knowledge and Experience
- Strategic HR Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead HR strategy and operations, particularly in contexts of organizational transition, with a focus on systems development, Change and Transition Management: Experience guiding organizations through complex structural changes, including setting up HR systems post-registration and shifting from hosted arrangements to independent operations
- Global HR Compliance: In-depth knowledge of international labour laws, contracting modalities (e.g., hosting, EOR), and donor requirements, particularly relevant for a globally distributed team. Knowledge of Dutch Labor Law, asset
- Organizational Culture and DEI: A strong track record in fostering inclusive, equitable, and values-aligned cultures, focusing on employee engagement and well-being
- Talent Development: Expertise in recruitment, performance management, and learning and development, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and culture
- Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement: Strong emotional intelligence and coaching ability, with a collaborative leadership style and the ability to influence across all levels of the organization
- Sector Familiarity: Solid understanding of the international humanitarian and development landscape, including its evolving challenges and operational realities
- Values Alignment: Commitment to embodying and promoting ACAPS' values of agency, candour, integrity, diversity, evolution, ambition, and collaboration
- Fluency in English required. Other languages are an asset
