Mercy Corps, a global humanitarian organization, are hiring a Graduate Intern-People & Culture in Nairobi.
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, hardship, and more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action, helping people overcome adversity and build stronger communities from within.
Department Summary
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.
Role 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 Job 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 Qualification & 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.
Living Conditions
The position is based in Nairobi.
Ongoing Learning
In support of our belief that learning organizations are more effective, efficient and relevant to the communities we serve, we empower all team members to dedicate 5% of their time to learning activities that further their personal and/or professional growth and development
Team Efficiency and Effectiveness
Achieving our mission starts with how we build our team and collaborate. By bringing together individuals with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and perspectives, we strengthen our ability to solve complex challenges and drive innovation. We foster a culture of trust and respect, where every team member is valued for their contributions, empowered to reach their full potential, and motivated to do their best work.
We recognize that building a strong and effective team is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to learning, improving, and growing together.
