Operational Lead HR Business Partner (East London)

Nestlé; East London; On-site; ZAR 400 000 - 500 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food and beverage company seeks an Operational Lead HR Business Partner to oversee the implementation of HR strategies at its East London factory. This role involves ensuring compliance with HR policies, enhancing employee engagement, and managing performance and talent development. The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s degree in HR with 5-8 years of relevant experience in a factory setting. Strong knowledge of labour laws and experience in a unionized environment are essential.

Qualifications

• 5 - 8 years’ experience in a Factory or Operations HR Management role.
• Proven experience in a highly unionized environment.
• In-depth knowledge of labour laws like LRA, BCEA, EEA, SDA.

Responsibilities

• Implement the people agenda within the East London factory.
• Support long-term business needs to drive competitive advantage.
• Ensure HR compliance with policies and practices.

Skills

Employee Relations

HR Generalist experience

Talent Management

Learning & Development

Performance Management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in HR or similar

Job description

Location: East London

Company: Nestle

Qualification: Bachelor’s Degree in HR or similar.

Experience: 5 - 8 years’ experience in a Factory or Operations HR Management role with strong ER and HR Generalist experience.

Closing Date: 30 October 2025

Position Summary

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 Operational 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.
• Support the organizational short, long-term business needs to drive competitive advantage and address opportunities and threats.

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 5 - 8 years’ experience in a Factory or Operations HR Management position with strong HR Generalist and ER experience.
• 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.