Job Purpose
- Responsible for the operational HR delivery aligned to the business or functional agenda and to the HR agenda
- In their area of responsibility they help the business or function to achieve objectives by giving good quality HR advice and guidance based on sound HR knowledge, professionalism and an understanding of the AkzoNobel HR Strategy and practices
- This role will take the lead in managing employee and industrial relations at the relevant level working with employee or works councils and local Union representatives. SSA has a significantly Unionized, diverse and complex IR environment requiring extensive conflict management and disputes resolution ability. Strong change management bias in the role requiring sound consultation skills and abilities to execute projects and agreements effectively.
- Work with other areas of the HR Operating Model (People Services and CoE) to ensure a comprehensive high quality HR service to our internal customers
Employee Lifecycle Management:
- Coach and support people managers so that they have the necessary capability to carry out activities in the annual employee calendar (P&DD and talent management processes, annual Reward calendar etc). Where necessary guide managers to the other areas in the HR model that will support them (people services, CoEs)
- Facilitate the P&DD and Talent calibration processes
- Facilitate Operational Workforce Planning at the relevant level working with the business/function.
- Provide day to day coaching and advice to managers to facilitate planning and decision making in areas such as recruitment, development and local restructuring requirements (subject to the standard business/function approval processes)
- Support and coach managers in dealing with day to day employee management, including individual performance issues and absence management
- Support and coach managers in discussions relating to job evaluation, pay and reward working with the Regional Rewards CoE as required.
- Work with local business/functional teams to identify learning and development requirements and liaise with the regional CoE partners to deliver solutions
- Work with the regional CoE partners to roll out AkzoNobel global learning initiatives in their area.
- Work with managers to identify and manage talent locally. Leverage the CoE's expertise and resources to define an actionable development plan and ensure follow-up to build a talent pipeline and ensure succession planning.
- Work with managers to improve employee engagement. Work with site or other management teams to encourage employee communication and support local engagement or community events.
- Be a role model for the company values and leadership behaviors and champion these locally.
- Support and/or lead local plans for standardization and continuous improvement within the country
- Work with other HR colleagues in the country to ensure that AkzoNobel global HR processes are implemented within their area of responsibility
- Explain and support the standard HR Operating model, directing managers and employees to the correct part of the model
- Take ownership where they identify data inaccuracies and address them with the appropriate part of the model/business
- Ensure managers and employees are using the self-service tools available and address transactional HR topics with People Services.
- Act as CoE Champions i.e. as a local extension of the CoE team to provide delivery of services such as training or rewards.
- Assess quality of service and provide customer feedback to the HR function to drive continuous improvement
- Safeguard the company by ensuring compliance to local legal requirements in all aspects of HR policy, taking advice from outside legal advisors where required
- Help to promote awareness of the AkzoNobel Speak Up process and participate in investigations as required. Manages local labor relations (unions, works councils etc.) and supports local managers in dealing with front line employee issues. This includes autonomy in functioning for disputes resolution and litigation (i.e. Lead company cases at Labour Court, Arbitration, and Conciliation and Strike management). Conclude labour agreements on a mandated basis. Provide senior level guidance on disciplinary and grievance matters to safeguard business precedent and effective Industrial relations. Must mitigate business risk (financial and smooth functioning in volatile IR climate).Part of Country Life Save Rules committee as well as Dawn Raid team etc. Drives understanding of SA transformation requirements supporting delivery of business Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment strategy to maximize status level achievement. Integrates Employment Equity in terms of numeric targets and goals with Workplace Skills Plan delivery requirements to achieve mandatory compliance local requirements. Manages legal risks related to labour broking interface. Responsible to harmonize policies and practices across multi Union environment.
- Manage local labor relations (unions, work councils)
- Counsel line managers and/or employees in employee relations procedures, including labor disputes.
- Participate in local internal and external audits
- Provide the relevant level of HR input to the AkzoNobel internal compliance processes e.g. In Control
Competencies and Experiences:
- Bachelors Degree required.
- At least 5 years of HR generalist experience in HR
- Native local and fluent English (both written and spoken)
- Service and solution focused mindset
- Ability to work with some level of ambiguity
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, highly developed interpersonal skills individual, group
- Ability to excel in a fast paced, complex environment and meet tight deadlines
- Ability of travel when needed
- Influencing and problem solving skills
- Business acumen
- Conceptual, analytical and result-oriented approach
- Interpersonal, integrity and relationship skills. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Customer-oriented
- Decision making and courage to challenge. Sound judgement. Rational deductive approach
