Phil Mutonhodza

HR and operations leader with 20+ years of experience building and running people systems, improving business processes and supporting senior leadership across Africa. Strong hands-on experience in employee lifecycle management, HR systems, payroll, compensation, workforce data, recruitment, performance management, employee relations and organisational change.

As Deputy Country

Director - Support with Action Against Hunger (ACF) Nigeria, combined senior People & Culture leadership with oversight of Finance, Logistics, Administration and ICT across a multi-location operation supporting 300+ staff. This provided extensive experience working beyond a single functional area, improving processes, strengthening controls, managing costs and translating organisational needs into practical solutions. Known for simplifying inefficient processes, digitising records and workflows, improving reporting, clarifying responsibilities and taking ownership of operational problems.

Comfortable working independently with confidential information, senior stakeholders and distributed teams.

Deputy Country Director - Support - Action Against Hunger (ACF) Nigeria - Nigeria

(2024-03 - 2025-09)

Provided senior leadership across People & Culture, Finance, Logistics, Supply Chain, Administration and ICT for a complex multi-location humanitarian operation supporting 300+ staff. Advised the Country Director and Senior Management Team on workforce strategy, organisational restructuring, staffing, compensation considerations, employee relations, risk and operational priorities. Led and coached Heads of Support, strengthening team performance, accountability, service delivery and cross-functional collaboration.

Oversaw workforce planning, staff movements, nationalisation, succession and organisational change while maintaining continuity of HR and administrative services. Provided oversight of administration and logistics, including fleet and asset management, procurement, supplier performance, records, compliance and cost control. Worked across Finance, HR, Logistics and ICT to simplify workflows, clarify responsibilities and strengthen service delivery, controls and management reporting.

• Reduced expatriate positions from 60+ to 6 through localisation, mentoring and succession planning.
• Reduced logistics costs by approximately 47%, from about EUR 2.1 million to EUR 1.1 million.
• Reduced paperwork and associated process costs by more than 60% through workflow redesign, digitisation and use of Link as the primary archive.
• Reduced connectivity costs by more than 90% through improved internet solutions and service management.

Head of Department - Human Resources - Action Against Hunger (ACF) Nigeria - Nigeria

(2020-09 - 2024-02)

Led the generalist HR function for 300+ staff across multiple locations, partnering with the Country Director and Senior Management Team on workforce strategy, employee lifecycle, compensation, performance, employee relations and organisational change. Managed and strengthened payroll and compensation processes, including salary structures, job grading, allowances, payroll controls and coordination with Finance. Strengthened HRIS and people-data processes covering personnel records, payroll inputs, leave, timesheets, workforce movements and management reporting.

Produced regular workforce and HR reports to support decisions on staffing, recruitment, turnover, workforce costs and organisational change. Advised managers on disciplinary and grievance matters, investigations, performance management, labour law, internal policy and employee relations. Led workforce planning, organisational design, restructuring, nationalisation and succession during programme and funding changes.

Managed national and international recruitment for generalist, specialist and hard-to-fill roles, developing sourcing strategies and talent pipelines. Managed short-term consultants, technical specialists and s

• Reduced voluntary staff turnover from over 25% annually to below 2% through targeted compensation, career development and retention interventions.
• Introduced biannual performance management with 100% compliance.
• Strengthened national leadership pipelines through localisation, mentoring and succession.

Human Resources Support - Action Against Hunger (ACF) Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe

(2020-03 - 2020-08)

Provided HR technical support during organisational scale-up, strengthening HR systems, policies and staffing arrangements. Advised on recruitment, workforce planning, staff structures and employee management during programme expansion. Worked with local implementing partners to strengthen recruitment, personnel administration, performance, employee relations and compliance. Coached partner HR teams and supported practical HR systems for partner-led implementation.

HR Director - OPHID Trust - Zimbabwe

(2013-02 - 2020-02)

Provided strategic HR leadership for a rapidly expanding USAID-funded health programme under a US$60 million award. Built and institutionalised end-to-end HR systems covering recruitment, personnel administration, payroll, performance management, disciplinary procedures and HR reporting. Led workforce planning, organisational design, recruitment, compensation, employee relations, learning and development and HR governance as the organisation expanded to 200+ employees.

Led recruitment, deployment and performance management for 200+ nurses seconded to the Ministry of Health and 1,000+ paid community volunteers. Worked closely with Finance and executive management on staffing budgets, workforce costs, remuneration and organisational planning. Developed a Google Forms recruitment workflow that improved transparency and accelerated candidate shortlisting and was subsequently adopted by other NGOs.

Human Resources Coordinator - Action Against Hunger (ACF) Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe

(2008-03 - 2013-01)

Managed HR operations during programme transition and workforce restructuring, including recruitment, expatriate administration, employee relations, payroll oversight and HR administration. Adapted international HR policies and practices to Zimbabwean labour law and local operating conditions. Supported organisational scale-down, staff welfare, legal compliance and continuity of HR services. Coordinated field and capital HR support, documentation and HR systems.

Human Resources Manager - Zimbabwe Newspapers (1980) Ltd - Zimbabwe

(2007-01 - 2008-02)

Provided HR management across employee relations, staffing, performance, labour compliance and people administration in a commercial operating environment.

Human Resources Manager / Industrial Relations Manager / Human Resources Officer - Interfresh Holdings - Zimbabwe

(2002-10 - 2006-12)

Progressed through HR and industrial relations roles covering employee relations, labour law, staffing, performance, HR administration and workforce support.

MBA - University of Zimbabwe (2011)

Bachelor of Commerce (Management) Honours - Management - National University of Science and Technology (NUST) (2000)