HR Manager

The successful candidate should be:

• A seasoned HR professional with extensive experience in unionised environments (10 -15 years with a Post Grad related degree).
• Highly skilled in industrial relations (IR), union negotiations, conflict resolution, and maintaining strong employee relations.
• Strategic in outlook, while also hands-on in execution, with the ability to balance operational HR with long-term business goals.
• Exceptionally well spoken, professional and able to represent the company credibly at both local and global levels.
• Experienced in working with global stakeholders, particularly across American and European counterparts, and able to manage a demanding global reporting line.
• Responsible for leading a team of 4 direct reports and driving HR strategy across two manufacturing plants with ±500-550 employees.
• Comfortable engaging with all levels of staff, from senior leadership to plant-floor employees, earning buy-in and respect across the business.
• Prepared to be visible on the ground (safety gear, plant walk-throughs) while also presenting confidently at executive and global forums.
• Strong in performance management, holding people accountable, and addressing underperformance effectively.
• Commercially minded, with a strong grasp of HR metrics and numbers to demonstrate the impact of HR decisions on delivery, productivity, and cost.
• Resilient and able to challenge senior management respectfully and influence decision-making.
• With the potential to transition into a global HR role long-term.

• Change management - navigating shifts in culture, organisational restructuring, and transformation.
• Talent management & succession planning - building a strong pipeline for critical roles.
• Learning & development - ensuring skills growth at both plant and leadership levels.
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) - aligning with global standards and local labour laws.
• Compliance & governance - ensuring labour legislation, health and safety, and global HR policies are upheld.