Graduate Intern-People & Culture at Mercy Corps

The Department

• The People and Culture(P&C) department responsible for providing effective HR policies, procedures, and people-friendly guidelines and support within Mercy Corps Kenya, regional and global teams based in Kenya.
• This includes but is not limited to lead the support on talent acquisition & development; employee engagement coordination; country wide training & learning management; compensation & benefits administration; country wide performance management oversight; disciplinary & grievance handling; staff data management; staff disengagement management and third-party service provision management.

Position Summary

• The People & Culture Graduate intern will support the People & Culture team in delivering high-quality HR services across the employee lifecycle. The Graduate Intern will gain practical experience in recruitment, onboarding, employee records management, staff engagement, HR analytics, and compliance while contributing to Mercy Corps Kenya's mission and organizational culture.
• This position is designed to provide recent graduates with hands-on exposure to strategic and operational human resources functions within an international humanitarian and development organization.

Essential Responsibilities

Talent Acquisition & Onboarding

• Support recruitment activities including job postings, application screening, interview scheduling, and candidate communication.
• Assist in organizing interviews and assessment processes.
• Support onboarding and orientation programs for new staff.
• Ensure new employee documentation is complete and properly filed.

Employee Records & HR Administration

• Maintain accurate employee records in HR systems and personnel files.
• Support document drafts, staff database updates, and documentation management.
• Assist in tracking probation reviews, contract renewals, and employee lifecycle changes.
• Ensure compliance with Mercy Corps policies and Kenyan labor laws.

Employee Engagement & Culture

• Assist in organizing staff engagement and wellness activities.
• Support internal communication initiatives that promote Mercy Corps values and culture.
• Support employee recognition and team-building activities.

HR Analytics & Reporting

• Assists collect, analyze, and maintain HR data.
• Prepare routine HR reports, dashboards, and presentations.
• Support in people analytics projects.
• Assist review and ensure data accuracy and confidentiality at all times.

Safeguarding, Ethics & Compliance

• Uphold Mercy Corps' Code of Conduct and safeguarding standards.
• Maintain confidentiality of employee information.
• Support compliance with organizational policies and donor requirements.
• Promote a safe, inclusive, and respectful workplace environment.

Minimum Qualifications & Transferable Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in human resource management, Business Administration, Psychology, Organizational Development, Industrial Relations, or a related field.
• Graduated within twelve (12) months or Awaiting graduation, completed course work 
• Membership or progress toward professional HR certification (CHRP-K, IHRM or equivalent) is an added advantage.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, i.e. Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to handle confidential information with professionalism.
• Demonstrate a strong learning orientation and growth mindset.
• Possess strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Be comfortable working in a diverse, multicultural environment.

Success Factors

• The successful People and Culture graduate Intern will be a quick learner who is enthusiastic to be part of a fast paced and dynamic team.