Director of Human Resources

Background of the Company

Lindt & Sprüngli (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd started operations in May 2011 and forms part of the Lindt & Sprüngli group of companies.

With more than 140 employees, the Company is based in Cape Town with regional presence in Johannesburg, Durban and Port Elizabeth. It has a network of own retail stores of currently 15.

As global leader in the premium chocolate sector, Lindt & Sprüngli looks back on a long-standing tradition of almost 175 years which takes its origins in Zurich, Switzerland. Today, quality chocolate products by Lindt & Sprüngli are made at 12 own production sites in Europe and the USA. They are distributed by 28 subsidiary companies and branch offices, in more than 500 own stores and cafés, and via a comprehensive network of more than 100 independent distributors around the globe. With over 14,000 employees, the Lindt & Sprüngli Group reported sales worth CHF 4.97 billion in 2022.

Position Purpose

Reporting to the Country Manager and participating on the executive management team, the incumbent will direct all of the human capital initiatives for the company and play a critical role in the development of company business and organizational strategies. The leader will be responsible for all aspects of the Human Resources function including talent acquisition and talent management strategies, compensation and benefits, organizational development, training and leadership development, compliance, communication and employee relations.

Key Responsibilities

• Provides HR vision, leadership and expertise through superior, results-driven execution in a dynamic and complex environment;
• Plan, develop, organize, implement, direct and evaluate the organization’s human resources function and performance;
• Participate in the development of the Company’s plans and programmes, particularly as it relates to impact on people. Translates the Company’s strategic and tactical business plans into HR strategic and operational plans;
• Build the organizational development strategy through the enhancement of individual skills and coaching skills of management;
• Ensure human resources policies and practices are consistent with and support the Company’s compliance with local guidelines and regulations;
• Develop and execute talent acquisition and staffing strategies and programmes. Maintain overall coordination of the Company’s recruiting, onboarding, development, promotion and relocation activities;
• Develops, communicates and ensures effective execution of human resources processes: annual performance assessment, succession and manpower planning, and employee/leader development in collaboration with internal clients and key stakeholders;
• Develops progressive and competitive compensation, recognition and reward programmes to provide motivation, incentives rewards for high levels of performance. Establishes programmes to actively engage an effective employee and company partnership to meet short and long-term strategic objectives;
• Ensures the continual delivery of innovative and relevant benefit offerings that align with the Company’s goal, address the needs of the workforce and works to manage cost impacts. Continually assesses the competitiveness of all programmes and practices against comparable companies, industries and markets;
• Build strategies to improve employee relations at all head office, regional offices and retail store facilities;
• Ensure entire workforce strictly adheres to Code of Conduct. Chair disciplinary hearings and represent the Company at the CCMA;
• Develop appropriate policies and programmes for effective management of the people resources. Included in this area but not limited to, are programmes for employee relations, affirmative action, sexual harassment, workers compensation, employee complaints, external education and career development and relocation;
• Maintains knowledge of international HR policies, programmes, laws and issues. Understands the differences of domestic and international policies and programmes and coordinates the integration of all such programmes as needed;
• Provides clear, strategic direction to ensure effective collaboration with benefits, commercial insurance, legal, and training, relocation and compensation partners to develop and implement specific HR programmes that deliver against the employer of choice objectives.

Personal Characteristics

• Strong business acumen and the ability to establish trust and credibility at all levels of the Company;
• Have a client services approach to HR with the ability to manage rapid change;
• Strong collaborator with passion, creativity and an entrepreneurial bent;
• Be someone colleagues will intuitively want to follow and with whom they want to partner;
• A high level of interpersonal skills and ability to engage, communicate and influence internal and external stakeholders at all operational levels;
• Experience working within an international company a plus;
• Able to set priorities and clear targets;
• High sensitivity to the confidential nature of the work;
• Able to grow with the level of responsibilities and with the size and structure of the business.

Skills and Competencies required

• At least 5-10 years of experience within Human Resources with a minimum of four years as the senior HR executive;
• Appropriate experience in FMCG and/or retail industry environments;
• University degree in related field;
• Advanced Human Resources certifications preferred;
• Advanced PC skills consisting mainly of MSOffice (Word, PowerPoint and Excel);
• Skilled in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures, formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures;
• Strong experience with applicable South African human resource-related statutes and regulations;
• Ability to analyse, summarize and effectively present information to small and large groups;
• Ability to analyse problems and develop creative solutions to complex HR issues.