Talent Acquisition Manager

Job description

ABOUT HEALTHY LEARNERS

Healthy Learners is an award-winning non-profit organization committed to improving the health of children in Zambia and beyond. We partner directly with the government and local communities to ensure schoolchildren stay healthy, learn effectively, and have a brighter future. Healthy Learners has experienced rapid growth over the past several years.

School-aged children in low-resource settings suffer from a high burden of disease and often lack access to basic healthcare. These preventable and curable illnesses frequently lead to life-long health challenges or disabilities. In the short term, these illnesses cause school absenteeism, poor academic performance, and high dropout rates. In the long term, they undermine physical, cognitive, and emotional development and hinder economic prosperity.

Healthy Learners bridges this gap by making schools an entry points into the public healthcare system. This approach ensures children receive healthcare when they need it- improving health outcomes and reducing absenteeism. We currently serve more than 975,000 students and are working to scale our model across Zambia and other countries in the region.

ABOUT YOU

You exemplify the qualities of being Humble, Hungry, and Smart in your leadership:

Humble (Continuous Learning & Inclusion): You actively seek, encourage, and facilitate feedback sharing, fostering an environment of continuous learning. You adapt and grow continuously, cultivating a culture of inclusion and belonging.
Hungry (Efficiency, Excellence, and Innovation): Your relentless drive for efficiency and excellence is evident in your approach to both everyday tasks and complex challenges. When obstacles arise, you don’t merely seek answers; you develop solutions and establish structures to address future obstacles proactively. Your hunger for innovation permeates the organisation, where you eagerly explore new and best practices, ensuring our people operations remain modern and highly effective.
Smart (Emotional Intelligence & Psychological Safety): Your exceptional emotional intelligence is your superpower, allowing you to create psychological safety within the organization. Through your ability to build trust, encourage risk-taking, and nurture courageous conversations, you promote an environment where individuals can thrive and collaborate effectively.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Talent Acquisition Manager will lead and manage all aspects of recruitment across Healthy Learners, ensuring we attract, hire, and retain top talent aligned with our mission, values, and culture. This role will collaborate closely with the Director of People & Culture, hiring managers and HR Business Partners at all levels to ensure a streamlined, strategic, and values-driven recruitment process.

The Talent Acquisition Manager will own the full recruitment strategy, lead succession planning efforts, maintain and update recruitment policies, and build strong pipelines for critical roles. They will also oversee relationships with recruitment consultants and headhunting firms to support leadership and hard-to-fill roles.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Talent Acquisition Leadership (40%)

Design and implement effective, inclusive, and scalable recruitment strategies for all positions across the organization;
Collaborate with HR Business Partners and hiring managers to understand workforce needs and plan recruitment activities accordingly;
Drive values-based hiring by ensuring all processes promote strong cultural and mission alignment;
Serve as the internal subject matter expert on talent acquisition best practices and trends;
Ensure consistent application of recruitment processes and provide tools and training to hiring teams as needed.

Strategic Sourcing & Talent Pipeline Development (20%)

Build and manage strong pipelines of pre-qualified candidates for critical and frequently recruited roles;
Leverage creative sourcing techniques, headhunting, and digital platforms to attract top talent across regions;
Proactively identify talent gaps and potential successors for key roles in collaboration with the Senior HR Business Partner and department heads;
Manage the recruitment consultant network, including headhunters, ensuring they understand Healthy Learners’ values, expectations, and processes.

Succession Planning and Talent Mapping (15%)

Partner with HR Business Partners and leadership to drive succession planning efforts organization-wide;
Develop and maintain a succession planning framework that identifies and prepares internal talent for future roles;
Support performance and talent reviews by providing talent insights and market data.

Policy, Process, and Compliance (15%)

Review, update, and enforce the organization’s recruitment and selection policy to ensure relevance, fairness, and compliance;
Monitor recruitment data and report on hiring KPIs and effectiveness;
Ensure confidentiality, equity, and legal compliance in all recruitment activities.

Collaboration and Cross-Functional Support (10%)

Work closely with the broader People & Culture team to support onboarding, employer branding, and diversity and inclusion efforts;
Serve as a trusted thought partner to HR Business Partners to support department-specific hiring plans.
Provide insight and feedback on team structures and job design to support organizational effectiveness.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management, Business Administration, or related field (Master’s degree preferred).
Minimum of 7 years of progressive HR experience, including at least 3 years in a talent acquisition leadership role.
Must be a Member of Zambia Institute of Human Resource Management (ZIHRM);
Strong understanding of recruitment strategies, employer branding, talent assessment, and succession planning.
Proven experience working with hiring managers across functions and levels.
Experience working with recruitment agencies, headhunters, and online sourcing tools.
Excellent communication, relationship management, and stakeholder engagement skills.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Commitment to equity, diversity, and Healthy Learners’ mission and values.

WHAT WE OFFER

Opportunity for Impact: Play a pivotal role in implementing a program that improves health outcomes for millions of schoolchildren, shaping the future of communities across Africa.
Competitive Compensation: Receive a competitive salary and benefits package that reflects your expertise and commitment.
Professional Growth: Access ongoing training, leadership opportunities, and engage in innovative projects that challenge and inspire you.
Supportive Culture: Join a passionate, dedicated team that values collaboration and mutual support, fostering an environment where all contributions are recognized.
Networking Opportunities: Collaborate with international organizations and enhance your network and influence in the public health sector.