HRBP Supply Chain, Africa

Job Title:          HRBP Supply Chain, Africa

Reporting To: Regional Head of HR, Africa

Location:         Durban, South Africa

ABOUT UPL:

UPL is focused on emerging as a premier global provider of total crop solutions designed to secure the world’s long-term food supply. Winning farmer's hearts across the globe, while leading the way with innovative products and services that make agriculture sustainable, UPL is the fastest-growing company in the industry. Our successes in the field add up to powerful financials. UPL delivers results from protecting crops that translate into attractive investor value. Based on the recognition that humankind is one community, UPL’s overarching commitment is to improve areas of its presence, workplace, and customer engagement.

Our purpose is ‘OpenAg’. An agriculture network that feeds sustainable growth for all. No limits, no borders.

We are one team, for maximum impact. One team with shared goals. We have a laser-like focus on what our customers need and want, on anticipating their future needs, and on how we can create innovative solutions and experiences for them. We think outside the box and go beyond our comfort zone. We believe in agility, we mix the power of speed, with structure from process. And wherever we can, we always believe in having fun

Role Summary

We are seeking a strategic and results-driven HR Business Partner (HRBP) to join our dynamic team in the Supply Chain division. This role is pivotal in aligning our HR strategies with business objectives, enhancing workforce engagement, and ensuring operational excellence within our supply chain operations across Africa. The incumbent of this position is required to partner with the business to ensure that the people agenda supports the business strategy. The HRBP will contribute to company performance by providing tactical and strategic consulting on people and organization development strategies to support business objectives. This role will support the Supply Chain Business Unit (, and will report to the Regional Head of HR, Africa. The successful candidate will have responsibility for talent acquisition, employee relations, consultation, policy interpretation and application, performance and compensation and benefits management, and career development and talent management throughout the employee’s lifecycle. We are seeking a candidate with strong background and knowledge of labour law, its interpretation and application in the South African Context and an understanding of African labour law will be beneficial.

Role Responsibilities

Strategic HR Partnership

• Collaborate with Supply Chain leadership to develop and implement HR strategies that align with business goals.
• Provide guidance on workforce planning, talent acquisition, performance management, and employee development initiatives.

Talent Management

• Lead recruitment efforts for supply chain positions, ensuring alignment with business needs and cultural fit.
• Develop and implement talent management strategies, including succession planning and career development programs.

Employee Engagement and Relations

• Foster a positive work environment by promoting employee engagement initiatives and maintaining open lines of communication.
• Address employee relations issues promptly and effectively, mediating conflicts, and providing guidance on HR policies.

Industrial Relations

• Manage industrial relations by building strong relationships with trade unions and employee representatives.
• Negotiate collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) and resolve disputes, ensuring adherence to labour laws and company policies.
• Monitor labour market trends and potential impacts on the workforce, adjusting HR strategies accordingly.

Performance Management

• Implement performance management processes that enhance productivity and accountability.
• Support managers in setting performance goals and conducting performance appraisals.

Training and Development

• Identify training needs within the supply chain workforce and collaborate with learning and development teams to facilitate training programs.
• Champion continuous improvement and skills development to maintain a competitive edge in the industry.

Compliance and Policy Implementation

• Ensure HR policies and practices comply with local regulations and company standards.
• Monitor and improve HR metrics related to supply chain operations.

Diversity and Inclusion

• Promote diversity and inclusion initiatives within the supply chain to create a more equitable work environment.
• Encourage a culture of respect, belonging, and collaboration among teams.

Change Management

• Support organizational changes within the supply chain through effective change management practices.
• Assist in communication strategies to ensure the workforce is informed and engaged during transitions.

Responsibility Weightage and % of Time Spent Matrix

  Financial Accountability

• Validation of budgets and tracking actuals
• Overtime and Cost of temporary employees

Strategic:                                                         Strategic 55%; Tactical 45%

Number of Direct Reports:                          0

Number of Indirect Reports:                      0

Internal Stakeholders   

• Work closely with Africa HR and Finance Team
• Work closely with Supply Chain leadership
• Consult with legal and compliance teams to ensure adherence to local laws and regulations.
• Global Centres of Excellence from time-to-time

External Stakeholders

• Suppliers
• Outside Council
• Recruiters
• Training and SD Suppliers

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; Master’s degree or professional HR certification is a plus.
• Minimum of 5 years of HR experience, with at least 3 years in a business partner role, preferably in supply chain, manufacturing, or a related industry.
• Strong knowledge of HR practices, industrial relations, labor laws, and compliance issues relevant to the African market.
• Proven experience in talent acquisition, employee relations, and performance management.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proficient in HRIS systems and data analysis tools to drive informed decision-making.

Behavioural Requirements

• Attention to detail and capability to grasp the context and impact of compensation information
• Conscientious, ethical and diligent
• Ability to deal with adversity (Resilience)
• Ability to deal with ambiguity
• Agile and problem-solving mentality
• High level of personal ethics

UPL Competencies 

• Adaptability & Resilience

Recognizes and is open to changing circumstances and alters behavior and scales up as necessary; increases personal awareness and appreciation of individual and cultural differences to create an open, inclusive, and accepting workplace.

• Entrepreneurial Mindset 

Has a creative mindset and ability to think holistically, takes calculated risks and maximizes opportunities?

• Results Orientations

Acts, pursues goals with persistence and achieves results; communicates goals and vision to the team to drive enthusiasm and ambition.

• Execution Excellence

Enhances the speed of execution and builds efficiency in processes, systems, and people; has sharp focus on qualityorientation.

• Strategic Orientation

Demonstrates knowledge of the social, economic, and environmental factors and how they impact the business. Identifies key issues that could impact the business and develops strategy through an analytical lens / design thinking.

• Building Teams and Talent

Empowers colleagues through knowledge sharing and delegation, quickly establishing rapport; provides recognition for achievements and accomplishments.

• Customer Centricity

Understands the customer needs and pain points, fulfills the needs and expectations by focusing on creating value for customers.