Background: Creative Associates International is a dynamic, fast-growing global firm that specializes in education, economic growth, democratic institutions and stabilization. Based in Washington, D.C., Creative has a global field presence with a strong client portfolio that includes the U.S. Department of State and Department of Labor, among others. Since its founding in 1977, Creative has earned a solid reputation among its clients and is well-regarded by competitors and partners alike.
Project Summary: Through the Americas Partnership for Security and Financial Integrity (APSFI), Creative, in partnership with ABA ROLI and GovRisk, supports select foreign governments in Central and South America in strengthening their ability to identify, investigate, prosecute, and disrupt terrorist financing and related illicit financial activity, while promoting regional cooperation to address transnational threats.
APSFI provides targeted technical assistance, embedded advisory support, operational mentoring, interagency coordination mechanisms, prosecutor-led case collaboration, and public-private engagement. Through these activities, the program strengthens the abilities of beneficiary-governments to identify vulnerabilities, generate actionable financial intelligence, investigate and prosecute terrorist-financing cases, and disrupt the financial and logistical networks that enable foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) and their facilitators to operate across the region. The program also supports beneficiary countries in strengthening Financial Action Task Force (FATF)-aligned legal and regulatory frameworks, improving the collection and use of financial intelligence, strengthening terrorist-financing investigations and prosecutions, and increasing private-sector understanding and mitigation of terrorist-financing risks.
To promote sustainable results, APSFI works with partner institutions to strengthen standard operating procedures (SOPs), interagency coordination training and mentoring capabilities, and public-private coordination partnerships. By embedding these capabilities within national institutions and regional networks, the program aims to provide sustainable solutions to support law enforcement cooperation, and operational capacity to detect, disrupt, investigate, prosecute, and financially isolate FTO-linked networks.
Position Summary: The HR/Admin Officer will provide human resources and administrative support to CLFDP personnel and oversee day-to-day HR and administrative operations of the San Salvador Regional Hub. The HR/Admin Officer will coordinate regional recruitment and personnel administration; support onboarding, employee relations, performance management, and staff development activities; help ensure office facilities are functioning properly; maintain project inventory records; and provide support for other day-to-day administrative and operational functions. The HR/Admin Officer will help ensure that HR, personnel and operational matters are administered in accordance with Creative policies and procedures, applicable award requirements, and local labor laws and regulations.
Reporting & Supervision: The HR/Admin Officer will report directly to the Regional Program Manager (RPM) and coordinate with the Team Lead on HR and administrative matters, as appropriate. The HR/Admin Officer will also maintain regular coordination with Creative’s Home Office Award Management Center (AMC), Human Resources, Global Operations, and other relevant support staff, as needed.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Coordinate and administer day-to-day HR operations for the project’s San Salvador Regional Hub, ensuring HR activities are carried out in accordance with Creative policies and procedures, applicable award requirements, and local labor laws and regulations.
- Coordinate the full recruitment and hiring cycle, including finalizing job descriptions, advertising vacancies, sourcing and screening applicants, coordinating and participating in interviews with project leadership, conducting reference checks and required in-country vetting, and collecting and verifying required new-hire documentation.
- Partner with project leadership and hiring managers to identify staffing needs, define required skills and qualifications, and develop qualified candidate pools that meet program requirements.
- Coordinate the onboarding and orientation of newly hired staff, ensuring completion of required employment documentation and familiarization with Creative policies, procedures, benefits, and applicable program requirements.
- Monitor local labor-market trends, compensation, and employee benefits and provide recommendations to project leadership regarding competitive recruitment and retention practices.
- Support project leadership in workforce planning and employee retention and engagement initiatives to promote effective staffing and program continuity.
- Maintain current knowledge of applicable El Salvador labor laws and regulations and provide guidance to project leadership on HR policies, procedures, and personnel actions necessary to support compliance, in coordination with local counsel and relevant stakeholders, as appropriate.
- Prepare and administer employment agreements in accordance with applicable El Salvador labor laws and Creative policies and procedures, including registration with appropriate government institutions when required.
- Coordinate employee benefits enrollment and administration and ensure employee questions, issues, and claims related to benefits and insurance are addressed accurately and in a timely manner.
- Provide clear guidance and advice to project staff regarding Creative HR policies, procedures, employee benefits, and applicable personnel requirements.
- Coordinate and administer the employee performance evaluation process, including tracking evaluation schedules, providing guidance to supervisors and staff, and ensuring evaluations are completed and documented in accordance with Creative policies and procedures.
- Coordinate staff training and professional development activities and work with supervisors and project leadership to identify development needs based on performance evaluations, skills gaps, and program requirements.
- Receive, document, and appropriately address employee grievances and complaints; consult with Creative Home Office HR, the Regional Program Manager, Team Lead, and legal counsel, as appropriate, on complex or sensitive matters; and provide recommendations and potential resolutions for management review and action.
- Maintain accurate, complete, and confidential personnel files and HR records, including employment agreements and amendments, timesheets, holiday calendars, leave records, and other required personnel documentation.
- Coordinate with Creative Home Office, Compliance Officers, and internal or external auditors to provide accurate and timely HR records, personnel documentation, and other requested administrative information in support of audits, reviews, and compliance activities.
- Ensure employees complete and submit timesheets accurately and on time and reconcile timesheet information with approved leave records and other applicable personnel documentation.
- Ensure that CLFDP office facilities are properly maintained, operational, and adequately support program staff and day-to-day activities, coordinating with relevant vendors or project personnel as needed.
- Support the labeling, issuing, tracking, and retrieving of project inventory to staff.
- Support expat staff in the obtaining of work permits and residency visas as applicable.
- Maintain and regularly update the project inventory tracker and ensure accurate accountability and documentation for project property and equipment in accordance with Creative and award requirements.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Regional Program Manager and consistent with the needs of the program.
Required Skills & Qualifications:
- High School diploma required; BA degree highly desired in human resources, business administration, or a related field preferred.
- Minimum of four years of progressively responsible human resources experience; experience supporting U.S. Department of State or other U.S. Government-funded programs preferred.
- Demonstrated experience supporting recruitment, onboarding, staff development, employee engagement, and other HR functions.
- Demonstrated knowledge of El Salvador labor and employment laws, regulations, and HR compliance requirements.
- Familiarity with U.S. Government-funded program requirements, including applicable U.S. Department of State award requirements, federal assistance regulations, and organizational HR compliance requirements
- Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and relationship-management skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with staff at all levels.
- Strong organizational, time-management, record-keeping, and documentation skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain accurate and confidential personnel records.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion when handling sensitive or confidential personnel matters and to appropriately escalate matters requiring additional guidance.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams, and the ability to effectively use HR and administrative information systems.
- Professional working proficiency in written and spoken English and fluency in written and spoken Spanish are required.
- Must have existing legal authorization to work in El Salvador.
Only finalists will be contacted. No phone calls, please.
Creative Associates International Inc. is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer (gender/race/disability/veteran) and provides equal opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by state, federal, or local law. Please view Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Posters provided by OFCCP here.