HR Business Partner – Plant HR

Position Title: HR Business Partner – Plant HR
Location: Nairobi
Reporting To: Country Head
Note: The position is open only for Kenyan nationals.
Role Purpose
The HR Business Partner (HRBP) will act as a strategic and operational partner to the Management team at our client’s plant, driving people strategies that enable productivity, quality, safety, and cost efficiency. The role focuses on building a skilled, compliant, and high-performing workforce aligned with the company’s growth ambitions in the paints and coatings industry.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic HR Business Partnering
•    Collaborate with Country Head and functional leaders to align HR initiatives with production and business goals 
•    Translate organizational HR strategy into plant-level execution plans 
•    Drive workforce productivity, cost optimization, and operational efficiency initiatives 
•    Support change management initiatives (automation, process improvements, expansion projects)
2. Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning
•    Plan and manage manpower requirements (permanent and contract workforce) 
•    Manage onboarding programs to accelerate operational readiness 
•    Implement induction programs for new hires 
•    Lead end-to-end recruitment for plant roles (operators, technicians, quality, maintenance etc.) 
•    Ensure timely hiring aligned with production schedules and capacity expansion 
•    Build talent pipelines for critical and technical roles.
3. Performance Management & Productivity
•    Drive goal setting and performance management processes across plant teams 
•    Align KPIs with production targets, quality standards, and safety metrics 
•    Partner with line managers to improve team productivity and accountability 
•    Support performance improvement plans and capability enhancement
5. HR Operations & Employee Lifecycle Management
•    Oversee onboarding, confirmation, transfers, and exit processes 
•    Ensure accurate maintenance of employee records and HRMS systems 
•    Manage attendance, leave, and shift scheduling in coordination with operations 
•    Ensure smooth HR service delivery at the plant
7. Compliance & Governance
•    Ensure adherence to local labor laws, factory regulations, and company policies 
•    Maintain statutory records and support audits and inspections 
•    Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure governance standards are met 
•    Drive compliance awareness among employees and supervisors
 
8. Employee Engagement & Culture Building
•    Drive engagement initiatives suited to plant workforce demographics 
•    Strengthen communication between management and employees 
•    Support initiatives to enhance morale, retention, and workplace satisfaction 
•    Promote company values and ethical practices on the shop floor
Qualifications & Experience
•    MBA / PGDM in Human Resources 
•    8 years of HR experience in manufacturing / plant HR set up.
•    Experience in paints, chemicals, or FMCG manufacturing preferred 
•    Strong exposure to HR operations, talent management, and compliance
Key Competencies
•    Strong business and operational understanding 
•    Data-driven decision-making and analytical mindset (excellent skills in MS Excel mandatory)
•    Execution excellence and attention to detail 
•    Problem-solving and process improvement orientation
Behavioral Attributes
•    Hands-on, proactive, and solution-oriented 
•    High ownership and accountability 
•    Strong interpersonal and communication skills 
•    Ability to work in a fast-paced plant environment
Additional Requirements
•    Willingness to be based at plant location 
•    Flexibility to align with plant working hours and production cycles 
•    Familiarity with ERP/HRMS systems