Human Resources & Public Relations Manager

Position: Human Resources & Public Relations Manager

Industry: Dairy, Beverages & FMCG
Location: Kenya
Reports To: Managing Director / CEO

Salary: Competitive

Gender: Any preferably male

Job Purpose

The role will provide strategic and operational HR leadership across manufacturing plants, sales and distribution operations, warehouses, depots and head office, ensuring the company attracts, develops, engages and retains talent while maintaining a productive and compliant working environment.

The position will also oversee the company's external reputation, government and regulatory relations, community engagement, media relations and crisis communications.

Key Responsibilities

•  Develop and implement the HR strategy in line with business objectives.
•  Lead recruitment, talent acquisition, onboarding, retention and succession planning.
•  Manage employee relations, industrial relations, disciplinary matters, grievances and union engagement.
•  Oversee HR administration, payroll coordination, attendance, leave and employee records.
•  Drive performance management, employee engagement, training and talent development.
•  Provide hands-on HR leadership across manufacturing plants and blue-collar/shift-based workforces.
•  Support workforce planning, productivity and labour cost management.
•  Develop and implement HR policies, procedures and governance frameworks.
•  Ensure compliance with applicable Kenyan employment and workplace requirements, including the Employment Act, 2007 and Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007.
•  Lead corporate communications, public relations and media engagement.
•  Coordinate government, regulatory, community and other stakeholder relationships.
•  Manage corporate reputation, crisis communication and external stakeholder issues.
•  Provide HR analytics, workforce insights and management reports to senior leadership.

  
  

Key Performance Areas

•  HR Strategy & Workforce Planning
•  Employee Retention & Engagement
•  Employee & Industrial Relations
•  Factory HR & Workforce Management
•  Talent Development & Succession Planning
•  Public Relations & Corporate Communications
•  Government & Stakeholder Relations
•  HR Compliance & Governance
•  Payroll & HR Administration
•  Crisis & Reputation Management

  
  

Qualifications & Experience

•  Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Industrial Relations, Public Relations, Communications or a related field.
•  CHRP-K or equivalent professional HR qualification preferred/required in line with company requirements.
• 8–12 years' progressive HR experience, with at least 4–5 years in a managerial/senior HR role.
•  Strong experience in FMCG, dairy, beverages, food processing or manufacturing is highly preferred.
• Experience managing manufacturing plants, unionized / blue-collar employees, sales and distribution teams and multi-location operations is highly desirable.
• Strong knowledge of employee relations, industrial relations, government relations and corporate communications.
•  Experience in crisis management and reputation management is an advantage.

  
  

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a strategic yet hands-on HR leader with strong commercial and people-management skills, capable of operating in a fast-paced manufacturing/FMCG environment. They should be confident in managing complex employee and industrial relations matters while representing the company professionally with government, unions, communities, media and other external stakeholders.