Lead HR Business Partner

Nestle; East London; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

A global food and beverage leader is seeking a Lead HR Business Partner in East London, Eastern Cape. This role involves implementing HR strategies aligned with the business agenda, fostering effective relationships, and ensuring compliance with labor laws. The ideal candidate has 3-5 years of HR management experience and is skilled in managing HR functions in a unionized environment. Competitive compensation and growth opportunities are offered.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR or a similar qualification.
• Minimum 3 - 5 years’ experience in a HR Management position.
• Exposure to Core HR processes: Talent Management, Learning & Development, Employee Relations, Compensation & Benefits, Recruitment, Performance management.
• Proven working experience in a highly unionized manufacturing environment.
• In-depth knowledge of labour laws.

Responsibilities

• Implement people agenda within East London factory.
• Contribute to and execute HR strategy aligned with business plan.
• Pro-actively challenge organizational structure.
• Ensure people issues are considered in business planning.
• Establish effective working relationships with managers and employees.
• Promote a productive and safe culture.
• Ensure compliance in HR policies and practices.
• Drive performance and talent management.
• Lead talent review and succession planning.

Job description

Overview

Job title: Lead HR Business Partner

Job Location: Eastern Cape, East London

Deadline: October 18, 2025

Responsibilities

• You will be responsible for the implementation of people agenda within the East London factory and the driving force behind implementation of people plan aligned with business agenda. You will also represent the complete HR Service / Value Chain for the site.

A day in the life of a Lead HR Business Partner at Nestle

• Contribute to & Execute the HR Strategy: Contribute to the execution of the business plan through the creation (where appropriate) and implementation of People Strategies that attract, develop and retain employees.
• Organizational Design & Development: Pro-actively challenge the established organizational structure of the function to drive superior performance (taking account of Nestlé principles, policies & local business context).
• Ensure people issues are a key consideration when discussing and planning business activities.
• Employee Engagement: Establish and maintain effective win-win working relationships with managers, employees and their representatives through an environment that fosters communication and co-operation.
• Promote and foster a culture and environment that is productive, open, empowering, safe and equitable and coach others to behave and make decisions in line with Nestlé Management and Leadership Principles and Nestlé Corporate Business Principles.
• Responsible for compliance in HR (policies and practices).
• Performance & Talent Management: Ensure Performance and Talent Management at individual and team level, drive the achievement of business goals through objective and development plan setting, performance calibration and talent development.
• Lead talent review / calibration at the site to ensure high performance is rewarded and developed in line with the Management Development Cycle.
• Facilitate implementation of function succession planning and talent management plans that support business goals.

What will make you successful?

• Bachelor’s degree in HR or a similar qualification.
• Minimum 3 - 5 years’ experience in a HR Management position.
• You must have exposure to Core HR processes, i.e. Talent Management, Learning & Development, Employee Relations, Compensation & Benefits, Recruitment, Performance management.
• Proven working experience in a highly unionized manufacturing environment and handling CCMA proceedings such as conciliations and arbitrations.
• In-depth knowledge, application and understanding of labour laws such as LRA-Labour Relations Act, BCEA-Basic Conditions of Employment Act, EEA- Employment Equity Act and SDA-Skills Development Act.
• Experience in implementation & execution of people strategies for a business, function or unit.
• Experience working in a matrix environment and driving results through effective influence and collaboration.
• Exemplify integrity and practice high level of confidentiality.
• Demonstrable courage to constructively challenge.