Background

Abahizi CBC is a for-profit social enterprise based in Masoro, Rulindo, Rwanda. It is Rwanda’s premiere handbag manufacturing partner providing high-quality products to the global fashion industry with a social commitment to empower its employees and transform their community. To date, Abahizi CBC has worked exclusively with Kate Spade New York, a global fashion brand and is currently expanding its customer base.

We are driven by our social commitment to uplift the livelihoods of our employees and transform the community in which we serve. As over 90% of our employees are women, we exist to create a world in which women’s rights and empowerment are respected and our everyday activities prioritize these.

The HR & Social Impact Manager is a senior leadership role at Abahizi CBC that includes being a business partner in leading people and advancing the social impact mission that defines Abahizi. This dual role mandates to support a motivated, compliant, and high-performing workforce, while advancing Abahizi CBC's social impact mission within the company and Masoro community.

This is a business-critical position reporting directly to the Managing Director.

Responsibilities

Human Resources Responsibilities:

1. HR Strategy & Policy

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve Abahizi CBC's HR framework to reflect both the Rwanda Labour Law and the company’s HR policy
• Develop and update the company HR Policy, Employee Handbook and relevant procedures
• Ensure HR policy is aligned with the overall business strategy and consistently applied across all departments.
• Maintain full compliance with the Rwanda Labour Law,any applicable regulations, and maintain accurate and confidential employee record.
• Serve as the primary internal advisor on labor law matters and employee rights obligations.
• Manage all correspondence and inspections related to the Rwanda Labor Inspectorate.
• Advise management on organizational design, compensation, and workforce capabilities.

2. Recruitment & Onboarding

• Manage the full landscape of Abahizi CBC's social impact partnerships, including community leaders, NGOs, government bodies, and international partners.
• Maintain a strong, collaborative relationship with Kate Spade New York on all social impact matters, including joint programme design and compliance reporting.
• Engage Rulindo District authorities, local sector and cell leaders, and community representatives as key partners in programme design and delivery.
• Identify, develop, and formalise new partnerships (MoUs, agreements) that extend Abahizi CBC's community reach and impact.
• Represent Abahizi CBC at community forums, district meetings, and relevant national events.
• Manage all external communications related to social impact with professionalism and cultural sensitivity in both English and Kinyarwanda.

3. Team Leadership

• Supervise and develop HR and Social Impact team members
• Partner with operations and production leadership to align people and impact goals with business performance
• Partner with all department heads to balance people and company objectives

4. Employee Mental Health & Community Wellbeing

• Identify individual and collective mental health needs among employees through regular engagement, surveys, and collaboration with managers.
• Design and implement wellbeing initiatives such as access to counselling, financial literacy, nutrition and health, and family health programs.
• Build and manage relationships with external mental health professionals, community health workers, and wellbeing program facilitators.
• Coordinate community-facing wellbeing programs that extend impact beyond the factory gates.
• Maintain confidential wellbeing records and ensure referral pathways to professional support are clearly communicated to all staff.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years progressive experience Human Resources; that includes 3 years in a management role.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and managing social impact, community development, or employee empowerment programs.
• In-depth knowledge of the Rwanda Labour Law (Law No. 66/2018) and RSSB obligations.
• Demonstrated experience in a factory or manufacturing environment in Rwanda or internationally.
• Proven track record in employee relations, recruitment, payroll administration, and performance management.
• Experience managing community partnerships, NGO relationships, or social programs in Rwanda.
• Strong data and reporting skills, with ability to turn surveys and program data into clear sight.
• Strong people leadership and communication skills.
• Fluency in English and Kinyarwanda (written and spoken). French is an advantage

Other Important Competencies

• Integrity and confidentiality: handling sensitive people and community data with the highest ethical standards.
• Adaptability: comfortable working across both an international brand partnership and a community context.
• Relationship building: ability to earn trust across diverse groups: artisans, management, community leaders, and international partners.
• Problem solving: solutions-focused mindset in a dynamic.

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve Abahizi CBC's HR framework to reflect both the Rwanda Labour Law and the company’s HR policy
• Develop and update the company HR Policy, Employee Handbook and relevant procedures
• Ensure HR policy is aligned with the overall business strategy and consistently applied across all departments.
• Maintain full compliance with the Rwanda Labour Law,any applicable regulations, and maintain accurate and confidential employee record.
• Serve as the primary internal advisor on labor law matters and employee rights obligations.
• Manage all correspondence and inspections related to the Rwanda Labor Inspectorate.
• Advise management on organizational design, compensation, and workforce capabilities.
• Manage the full landscape of Abahizi CBC's social impact partnerships, including community leaders, NGOs, government bodies, and international partners.
• Maintain a strong, collaborative relationship with Kate Spade New York on all social impact matters, including joint programme design and compliance reporting.
• Engage Rulindo District authorities, local sector and cell leaders, and community representatives as key partners in programme design and delivery.
• Identify, develop, and formalise new partnerships (MoUs, agreements) that extend Abahizi CBC's community reach and impact.
• Represent Abahizi CBC at community forums, district meetings, and relevant national events.
• Manage all external communications related to social impact with professionalism and cultural sensitivity in both English and Kinyarwanda.
• Supervise and develop HR and Social Impact team members
• Partner with operations and production leadership to align people and impact goals with business performance
• Partner with all department heads to balance people and company objectives
• Identify individual and collective mental health needs among employees through regular engagement, surveys, and collaboration with managers.
• Design and implement wellbeing initiatives such as access to counselling, financial literacy, nutrition and health, and family health programs.
• Build and manage relationships with external mental health professionals, community health workers, and wellbeing program facilitators.
• Coordinate community-facing wellbeing programs that extend impact beyond the factory gates.
• Maintain confidential wellbeing records and ensure referral pathways to professional support are clearly communicated to all staff.

• Strong data and reporting skills
• Strong people leadership and communication skills
• Fluency in English and Kinyarwanda (written and spoken)
• Integrity and confidentiality
• Adaptability
• Relationship building
• Problem solving

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years progressive experience Human Resources; that includes 3 years in a management role.
• Demonstrated experience in designing and managing social impact, community development, or employee empowerment programs.
• In-depth knowledge of the Rwanda Labour Law (Law No. 66/2018) and RSSB obligations.
• Demonstrated experience in a factory or manufacturing environment in Rwanda or internationally.
• Proven track record in employee relations, recruitment, payroll administration, and performance management.
• Experience managing community partnerships, NGO relationships, or social programs in Rwanda.