Senior HR Business Partner

Our client, a well-established multinational manufacturing company, is looking for an experienced Senior HR Business Partner to join their HR team.

This role combines strategic HR partnership with hands-on operational support in a dynamic manufacturing environment. The successful candidate will work closely with business leaders and operational management to drive people initiatives, strengthen HR processes, and support organisational growth while fostering employee engagement and operational excellence.

 

Key Responsibilities

Strategic HR Partnership

• Partner with plant directors and operational managers in business planning and people-related decision making.
• Develop and implement HR initiatives aligned with business objectives across the manufacturing sites.
• Advise managers on organizational changes, shift organization, workforce capacity, and performance improvement.
• Analyse HR metrics, including turnover, absenteeism, and employee engagement, and recommend improvement initiatives.

Recruitment & Onboarding

• Plan workforce needs in collaboration with plant managers and HR Business Partners.
• Lead high-volume recruitment activities to support seasonal growth, new projects, and capacity expansion.
• Design and standardise onboarding programmes tailored to operational and shift-based roles.
• Cooperate with temporary staffing agencies and manage external workforce arrangements.

Performance Management & Talent Development

• Implement and monitor performance management processes across all employee groups.
• Identify development needs and coordinate learning initiatives with the Learning & Development function.
• Support succession planning for key operational positions, including team leaders, shift managers, engineers, and plant managers.

Employee Relations & Compliance

• Ensure the consistent application of labour legislation and internal HR policies.
• Support managers in disciplinary procedures, employee relations matters, and employment lifecycle processes.
• Ensure compliance with labour regulations, collective agreements, and company policies.

Employee Engagement & Organisational Culture

• Plan and conduct employee engagement surveys and pulse checks.
• Analyse engagement results across sites and shifts and develop action plans.
• Initiate employee wellbeing and workplace improvement programmes suitable for a manufacturing environment.

HR Processes & Digitalisation

• Actively utilise and improve HRIS systems to support decision-making.
• Prepare regular and ad hoc HR reports and analyse workforce data.
• Contribute to the standardisation and digitalisation of HR processes.

Requirements

• University degree in Human Resources, Psychology, Law, Economics, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of HR experience, including at least 4 years as an HR Business Partner or HR Manager.
• Previous experience within a manufacturing or industrial environment with shift-based operations.
• Experience working with large employee populations (500+ employees) is considered an advantage.
• Experience in high-volume recruitment and managing workforce turnover is an advantage.
• Strong knowledge of labour legislation and employment practices.
• Experience working with HRIS systems and HR analytics.
• Ability to combine strategic thinking with operational execution.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to build relationships across all organisational levels.
• Strong facilitation, mediation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret HR data and translate insights into actions.
• Proven project management skills and the ability to manage multiple HR initiatives simultaneously.