Director of Human Resources

About the role

The University of Central Asia (UCA) is recruiting a Director of Human Resources based in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, with travel throughout Central Asia. Reporting to the Rector, the Director leads the transformation of HR into a trusted, evidence-led function that supports colleagues and holds the institution to high standards of performance, fairness and accountability, within a complex, multi-site and multi-jurisdictional university.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the people and organisational dimensions of the Future Directions reform, including organisational design, restructuring, role clarity, consultation and change management.
• Establish an annual workforce planning process, supported by quarterly workforce and finance reviews, covering headcount, skills, vacancies, critical roles, succession, redeployment and staffing costs.
• Run HR operations and service quality across all UCA locations, with clear authority and escalation pathways, and maintain accurate HR information systems and workforce dashboards.
• Ensure robust employee lifecycle processes (contracts, onboarding, records, leave, offboarding) and clarify HR-Finance responsibilities for payroll, tax and social contributions.
• Develop recruitment, retention and performance management strategies for academic and professional staff, including learning and development and succession planning.
• Oversee job evaluation, grading, compensation and benefits, and advise on pay policy, progression and promotion.
• Handle grievances, disciplinary matters and investigations fairly and in line with the law, and safeguarding and disclosure procedures.
• Maintain compliant HR policies and procedures, report material workforce and culture risks to the Rector, and collaborate with academic leaders, Finance, Legal and campus management.

Required profile

• Senior-level experience leading HR in a complex, multi-site organisation, with a record of improving strategy and delivery.
• Demonstrated leadership of significant organisational change, such as workforce restructuring and HR operating-model improvement, with measurable results.
• Strong competence in employee relations, employment compliance, sensitive investigations and procedural decision-making.
• Experience in performance management, talent acquisition, learning and development, reward and HR data and systems.
• Ability to lead across cultures and jurisdictions, balancing institutional consistency with local legal and operational requirements.
• Advanced proficiency in written and spoken English.
• Highly desirable: an advanced degree or professional HR qualification, experience in higher education, research, international development or Central Asia, and Russian and/or Central Asian language capability.

Applications (cover letter, CV and three references) are submitted online by 23 November 2026; early applications are encouraged.