Director of People, Talent and Culture

Title: Director of People, Talent, and Culture

Report to: Chief Executive Officer

Application Deadline: July 17, 2026

Location: Kigali, Rwanda (covering all Kepler entities globally)

About Kepler

Kepler is an international NGO creating pathways to employment for vulnerable and refugee youth across Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Uganda. Founded in 2004, we have spent two decades supporting economically vulnerable students to access higher education, refocusing in 2013 on reinventing how that education connects to real employment outcomes.

Today our programs span Kepler College, a fully accredited higher education institution in Kigali, our Iteme refugee bridging program offered in Rwanda, Ethiopia and Uganda, an employability program in Ethiopian, and a sports program supporting high-performance athletes competing in Rwanda's top leagues while pursuing a full university degree. Across all programs, we recruit deliberately from the most vulnerable communities, maintain gender parity, and track outcomes rigorously. Over 90% of our graduates secure employment within 6 months. 

About the Position

We seek an experienced and passionate Director of People, Talent and Culture based in Rwanda to coordinate and manage Kepler-wide recruitment, career and performance management, compensation and benefits and learning and training components. Reporting to the CEO of Kepler, the Director will be in charge of Kepler’s people human resources first strategy and lead HR at Kepler College.

Job Responsibilities

Reporting to the CEO, the Director of People, Talent and Culture will:

• Lead the development and implementation of Kepler's and Kepler College’s people and culture strategy across all entities
• Manage and develop the HR team, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities
• Oversee recruitment and talent acquisition processes and continuously improve hiring practices
• Review and recommend compensation, benefits, and reward strategies in collaboration with senior leadership
• Drive employee engagement, retention, diversity, inclusion, and organizational culture initiatives
• Lead performance management processes and support goal-setting and staff development
• Design and oversee learning, leadership development, and management training programs
• Advise managers and staff on employee relations and people-related matters
• Ensure compliance with employment legislation and HR best practices across countries of operation
• Develop and monitor HR metrics, providing analysis and recommendations to support decision-making
• Present HR strategies and organizational updates to leadership, donors, and the Board as required
• Lead or support strategic projects beyond HR, including growth initiatives, operational improvements, infrastructure development, and other priorities assigned by the CEO.
  

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree in HR management or equivalent and a minimum of 10 years of HR experience
• Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills are essential
• Ability to lead meetings and presentations, and ability to interface with all levels of staff with tact and diplomacy is essential
• Must be a collaborative team player, possess a strong customer service orientation, and be a consultative problem solver
• Highly proactive style of work, with a demonstrated track record of developing innovative approaches
• Strong organizational and analytical skills

How to Apply:

• Materials Required: Candidates must submit the following:
  • A cover letter detailing their interest in the role and how their experience aligns with the responsibilities and qualifications listed.
  • An updated resume or curriculum vitae (CV) highlighting relevant experience and skills.

• Deadline: All applications must be submitted by Friday, July 17, 2026.