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Mercy Karanja

@mercykaranja1

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Human Resources leader building compliant, people-first HR systems and growing talent in healthcare.

Kenya

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What I'm looking for

I’m looking to lead HR and people operations where I can build compliant HR systems, strengthen talent acquisition and onboarding, and drive performance and culture through data, training, and continuous improvement—especially in healthcare or high-regulation environments.

I’m a dedicated, results-driven Human Resource leader with over 8 years of experience guiding HR initiatives that strengthen employee development, office administration, and organizational efficiency. I focus on strategic HR functions—talent acquisition, onboarding, performance management, and policy development—while keeping teams aligned with business goals.

At Plainsview Hospital, I spearheaded the establishment of the Human Resources Department after identifying organizational gaps while serving as Executive Assistant to the COO. Within two years, I transitioned from Executive Assistant to Human Resource Officer and later to Human Resource & Administration Manager, driven by exceptional performance and leadership.

I developed and implemented the hospital’s first HR policies, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and compliance frameworks, building a foundation for structured HR practices. I also introduced a structured employee onboarding and induction program to reduce orientation time and improve engagement and retention, and I enhanced recruitment using competency-based selection methods to reduce hiring time and improve quality-of-hire.

In my current role, I manage performance management systems (KPIs, appraisals, PIPs, and feedback mechanisms) and design training and development programs based on performance gaps. I oversee payroll administration with statutory deductions, ensure regulatory compliance for audits and accreditation, manage HR budgets, and lead initiatives like the Occupational Health & Safety Committee to promote safe, compliant workplaces.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Human Resources & Administration Manager

Plainsview Hospital

Jul 2021 - Feb 2026 (4 years 7 months)

Established and led the hospital HR function, developing HR policies, SOPs, and compliance frameworks aligned to Kenyan labor and healthcare regulations. Managed end-to-end recruitment, onboarding, performance management systems, employee relations, payroll administration, and HR reporting to support strategic decision-making.

Recruitment & Talent Acquisition HR Policies HRIS Payroll Administration Performance Management Employee Relations Compliance Management Training Development HR Reporting Occupational Health & Safety

Human Resources Officer

Plainsview Hospital

Jan 2019 - Jun 2021 (2 years 5 months)

Created and implemented HR SOPs and HR policies, maintained employee records and HR metrics, and supported HR functions including interviews, trainings, and onboarding activities. Produced HR reports for internal review and collaborated with HODs to ensure policy and procedure implementation.

HR Reporting Interview Scheduling Onboarding coordination training coordination Stakeholder Documentation (MOUs SLAs)

Executive Assistant to COO

Plainsview Hospital

Feb 2018 - Dec 2018 (10 months)

Provided executive support to the COO by managing calendars, deadlines, and communications, and acted as a liaison between senior leadership and staff. Supported governance by serving as company secretary during management and board meetings and maintained debtor payment updates through the hospital information system.

Executive Administration Community Liaison Calendar Management Communication Management Workforce Scheduling

Health Records & IT Intern

Karatina Sub County Hospital

Aug 2016 - Dec 2018 (2 years 4 months)

Supported health records and IT activities at Karatina Sub County Hospital, assisting with routine documentation and system-related tasks. Contributed to maintaining organized records and supporting day-to-day administrative workflows.

IT Support Records Filing Administrative Support

Health Records Officer

Rafeek Medical Center

Jul 2017 - Jan 2018 (6 months)

Managed patient appointments and front-office operations, providing customer-focused support to ensure smooth clinic service delivery. Maintained organized medical and administrative records, handled petty cash and ledger entries, and performed monthly reconciliations of income and expenses.

Medical Records Management Petty Cash Administration Ledger Maintenance

Health Records & IT Intern

Kenyatta National Hospital

Aug 2015 - Dec 2015 (4 months)

Assisted with health records and IT-related tasks at Kenyatta National Hospital, supporting routine documentation and operational needs. Helped ensure records were properly organized for workflow continuity.

IT Support Data Entry Records Filing Administrative Support

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

Kenya Medical Training College

Health Records and Information Technology, Health Records and Information Technology

2015 - 2017

Studied Health Records and Information Technology at Kenya Medical Training College in Nairobi, Kenya from 2015 to 2017.

Kenya Institute of Management

Diploma in Human Resource Management, Human Resource Management

Completed a Diploma in Human Resource Management from the Kenya Institute of Management in Nairobi, Kenya.

Management University of Africa

Bachelor of Management and Leadership, Management

Activities and societies: Selected trainings include HR Analytics (2024), Power BI (2024), Lean Sigma White Belt (2024), AI Essentials (2024), Occupational Health & Safety (2025), and Documentation/Risk Assessment & Objectives Setting (2026).

Earned a Bachelor of Management and Leadership with a management focus from the Management University of Africa in Nairobi, Kenya.