Octavia Carbon is a pioneering company based in Nairobi, Kenya, focused on Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology for carbon dioxide removal. Founded in June 2022

Role Overview

The HR Manager will own and strengthen Octavia Carbon’s people function, ensuring that our people, structures and ways of working support the company’s growth. The role combines strategic partnership with hands-on delivery across the employee lifecycle, from workforce planning and recruitment to performance, development, employee relations and exits.

Working closely with leadership and team managers, the HR Lead will build practical HR systems, develop management capability and support a fair, inclusive and sustainable work environment across our office and site teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead workforce development and people planning, including HR metrics, compensation matrices and forecasts for salaries, ESOP awards, medical cover and other benefits.
• Oversee HR operations, including recruitment, onboarding, performance reviews, compensation, benefits and employee exits.
• Lead culture-building initiatives, including leadership retreats involving managers, team engagement, wellbeing and professional growth programmes.
• Manage HR systems, records and policies, ensuring compliance with Kenyan labour laws, applicable safety regulations and internal policies.
• Support leadership development, manager capability and succession planning across departments.
• Partner with Finance and Operations on HR budgets, people cost forecasts and workforce planning.
• Oversee diversity, inclusion and employee wellbeing initiatives, using feedback to guide improvements.
• Guide employee relations, grievance and disciplinary processes, ensuring fairness, confidentiality and consistent follow-through.
• Lead and develop the HR Associate, setting clear priorities and ensuring effective HR service delivery.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management, Business Administration or a related field.
• 3–7 years of progressive HR experience, with demonstrated experience leading HR functions or managing significant HR programmes.
• CHRP-K qualification is an added advantage
• Current IHRM membership; a relevant professional HR qualification is an advantage.
• Strong working knowledge of Kenyan employment requirements and experience managing employee relations matters.
• Experience in a growing organisation, startup, manufacturing, engineering or climate technology environment is an advantage.

• Lead workforce development and people planning, including HR metrics, compensation matrices and forecasts for salaries, ESOP awards, medical cover and other benefits.
• Oversee HR operations, including recruitment, onboarding, performance reviews, compensation, benefits and employee exits.
• Lead culture-building initiatives, including leadership retreats involving managers, team engagement, wellbeing and professional growth programmes.
• Manage HR systems, records and policies, ensuring compliance with Kenyan labour laws, applicable safety regulations and internal policies.
• Support leadership development, manager capability and succession planning across departments.
• Partner with Finance and Operations on HR budgets, people cost forecasts and workforce planning.
• Oversee diversity, inclusion and employee wellbeing initiatives, using feedback to guide improvements.
• Guide employee relations, grievance and disciplinary processes, ensuring fairness, confidentiality and consistent follow-through.
• Lead and develop the HR Associate, setting clear priorities and ensuring effective HR service delivery.

• Strong working knowledge of Kenyan employment requirements
• Experience managing employee relations matters
• Experience in a growing organisation, startup, manufacturing, engineering or climate technology environment

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management, Business Administration or a related field.
• CHRP-K qualification
• Current IHRM membership
• A relevant professional HR qualification