Job Description

Newberry International are seeking a

Head of People

to join our senior leadership team.

The successful candidate will be a strategic and operational leader responsible for shaping and driving the people agenda across the FMCG food manufacturing business. This role oversees all aspects of Human Resources -- including organizational development, recruitment, talent management, industrial relations, compliance, learning, culture, and leadership development. The Head of People also ensures that the company attracts, develops, and retains the best talent while fostering a culture of high performance, collaboration, and continuous improvement that supports the company's business growth and manufacturing excellence.

Key Responsibilities

1. People Strategy & Leadership

Develop and execute a comprehensive People & Culture strategy aligned with the company's business goals, operational demands, and growth plans. Act as a trusted advisor to the Managing Director and leadership team on people, culture, and organizational issues. Develop a HR team to support the vision and goals of the business. Build a strong HR capability that supports both corporate and factory environments.

2. Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning

Drive strategic workforce planning across manufacturing, supply chain, sales, and corporate functions. Build a talent pipeline by implementing robust recruitment, employer branding, and succession planning strategies. Collaborate with production and operations teams to ensure optimal staffing levels aligned with production cycles and business peaks. Manage end-to-end recruitment for factory and corporate roles, ensuring timely hiring of skilled and unskilled labour. Build partnerships with technical institutes, local communities, and recruitment agencies to maintain a strong talent pipeline

3. Organizational Development & Culture

Lead initiatives to build a high-performance, inclusive, and values-driven culture. Design and implement organizational development programs to improve leadership effectiveness, employee engagement, and collaboration. Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion across the business.

4. Learning, Development & Performance

Design and implement learning and capability-building programs across all employee levels, including leadership development and technical training. Oversee the performance management system, ensuring goal alignment, accountability, and continuous feedback. Drive employee growth and succession planning through structured career pathing and mentorship programs.

5. Industrial Relations & Compliance

Oversee labour and industrial relations strategies across all manufacturing facilities. Manage grievances and conflict resolution while maintaining a positive employee relations climate. Ensure compliance with labour laws, factory regulations, health & safety standards, and food industry-specific requirements. Conduct regular audits of HR and payroll processes to ensure accuracy and compliance. Maintain all employee records and HR documentation in accordance with company policies and government regulations.

6. Compensation, Benefits & HR Operations

Oversee the design and management of compensation and benefits frameworks to ensure internal equity and market competitiveness. Lead the digital transformation of HR systems (HRIS, payroll, attendance, and analytics). Monitor HR metrics and analytics to drive data-driven decision-making.

7. Leadership & Change Management

Partner with the leadership team to support organizational transformation, cultural integration, and change management initiatives. Build HR capabilities to support innovation, agility, and employee well-being.

Qualifications & Experience

Chartered MCIPD or working towards Or Master's degree in human resources, Business Administration, or related field. Proven track record of progressive HR leadership, with at least 5 years in a senior HR role within the FMCG or food manufacturing sector. Strong understanding of labour laws, factory compliance, and food industry workforce dynamics. Proven ability to lead across multiple sites (plants and offices). Exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and communication skills. Experience in union management, organizational culture building, and HR transformation preferred.

Core Competencies

Strategic and commercial acumen Leadership and people development Change management and organizational design Industrial relations expertise Data-driven decision-making Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills High integrity and emotional intelligence

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Employee engagement and retention rates Talent acquisition and succession readiness Compliance and audit performance HR operational efficiency and digital adoption Leadership development and capability growth Cultural alignment and employee satisfaction
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 60,000.00-70,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Company events Company pension Cycle to work scheme Free parking On-site parking
Work Location: In person