Senior HR Manager, Supply Chain Europe

CHEP helps move more goods to more people, in more places than any other organization on earth via our 347 million pallets, crates and containers. We employ approximately 13,000 people and operate in 60 countries. Through our pioneering and sustainable share-and-reuse business model, the world’s biggest brands trust us to help them transport their goods more efficiently, safely and with less environmental impact.

The Senior HR Manager will provide HRBP support and guidance to the Differentiating Markets Supply Chain organisation. Managing a team of four HR Generalists, this role will focus on the delivery of HR services to our Supply Chain colleagues based in UK, Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands, Nordics, Spain & Portugal. This population will include Supply Chain colleagues who are office, field and plant based, circa 1270 employees in 8 countries. The role will focus on key HR activities including strategic workforce planning, talent management, employee wellbeing & engagement programmes whilst also ensuring day to day operational HR support is provided to our people managers and employees. This role will support and lead HR transformational programs across our Differentiating Markets Supply Chain organisation.

Key Responsibilities May Include:

• Partner with business leaders and HR Business Partners (HRBPs) to develop and implement people and organizational strategies that enhance business performance.
• Act as a key point of contact for all employees regarding HR queries, ensuring timely resolution and, where necessary, direct interaction with HR Operations teams.
• Build strong relationships with leadership teams, providing coaching and advice on people-related matters to influence decision-making and promote employee engagement.
• Oversee the entire employee lifecycle, from talent acquisition to retirement, ensuring adherence to HR policies and collaboration with the wider HR team for seamless processes.
• Lead the implementation of organizational design initiatives, including workforce planning, talent management, and succession planning, to support business objectives.
• Proactively manage and resolve employee relations issues by conducting thorough investigations and driving cases to resolution, maintaining compliance and mitigating risks.
• Coach and mentor a team of HR professionals, driving development and ensuring the team consistently meets organizational goals and HR best practices.
• Monitor the effectiveness of HR initiatives and programs, ensuring alignment with broader business strategies and recommending improvements where necessary.

Major/Key Accountabilities:

• Act as HR Business Partner to our senior European Supply Chain Leadership team in the Differentiating Markets team (1 VP & 3 Directors).
• Manage a team of four HR Generalists to deliver pro-active HR Service Delivery to our twenty three CHEP owned plants & OSS sites, based in UK, Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands & Spain.
• Lead and implement HR transformational programs across our Differentiating Markets Supply Chain organisation including the digitisation of our plant network, implementation of Kronos/UKG Pro and our Women in Plant program.
• Active leadership of Employee and Labour Relations across our Differentiating Markets Supply Chain plant network.
• Working closely with local country HR Managers in France, UK, Ireland, Belgium, Netherlands & Spain to align strategy and implementation of labour agreements with Unions and Workers Councils.
• Work with Differentiating Markets Supply Chain Leaders to create a strategic plan for pay negotiations with internal and external union, W/C bodies.
• Provide support, coaching and advice to the HR Generalists on ER/LR case management to minimise risk to the business.
• Be point of escalation for ER cases including appeals, grievances, and disciplinary hearings.
• Work with the European ER Senior Manager and local country HR Managers to ensure all HR policies and process are up to date and meeting current legislation.
• Act as a Change leader and change coach to Supply Chain Leadership teams when implementing organisational, automation and other change programs across the Plant network.
• Develop the people management capabilities of our Differentiating Markets Management teams through the development of our First Line Leading program, Employee Relations/HR Skills Capability, one-to-one coaching and ensuring IDP’s are in place which utilise the central Talent & Learning leadership interventions.
• Work closely with the Capability lead for Differentiating markets across the whole area.
• Work closely with the Brambles Talent Acquisition teams to ensure a robust recruitment and sourcing strategy is in place to fill plant vacancies in a quick and efficient matter.
• Identify key critical roles within the Differentiating Markets Supply Chain team and ensure succession plans are in place for these positions, including build and buy plans.
• Promote and lead Inclusion & Diversity programs across the Differentiating Markets Supply Chain teams with a key focus on our “Women in Plants” initiative.
• Develop KPI’s and HR/ER data reporting for the Differentiating Markets Supply Chain European team including trends such as employee turnover, absence rates to identify route causes and implement plans to address issues.
• Ultimate ownership of the employee lifecycle from recruit to retire in adherence to the Group processes and procedures, resource planning, recruitment and selection, performance management, talent management, development, succession, salary review, bonus assessment, leavers etc. in partnership with the local HR resources.
• Manage and monitor sickness across all areas of Differentiating Markets, to achieve 2% or below annual average.
• Work closely with our HR Operations function to enhance the HR service delivery to our Differentiating Markets Supply Chain team with focus on payroll, Kronos & AskHR delivery.

Qualifications:

Essential: Professional HR qualification in local Country base, Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification.

Desirable: Accredited coaching qualification, Change management qualification.

Experience:

• Experienced HR professional with a breadth of exposure across leadership development, talent management, organisation design and employee engagement in a fast-paced manufacturing/production environment.
• Experienced ER/LR leader working in a highly unionised manufacturing/industrial environment.
• Experience of supporting and implementing large scale HR transformation in a fast paced, highly technical/ manufacturing environment with a strong focus on high operational standards and consistent delivery.
• Experience of working within a global, matrix-based organisation, with the ability to influence and navigate within a complex organisation with an awareness of different geographical and cultural differences.
• Experience outside of the HR function would be a distinct advantage.
• Proven track record in program management.
• Strong cultural/change management experience supporting highly technical groups of employees.
• Strong HR Analytical skills, designing & implementing KPI reports.

Skills and Knowledge:

• Business focused and pragmatic with an open and communicative style able to build strong relationships with senior stakeholders based on trust.
• Resilient HR leader who can build strong relationships, be able to negotiate and influence internal and extern union officials on ER case management, annual pay negotiations and plant transformation programs.
• Stakeholder management – ability to influence and coach highly technical stakeholders and enhance their people focus.
• Strong focus on change management and cultural development.
• Creative, collaborative, energetic and resourceful.
• Thinks about the business outside of the HR function.
• Challenges courageously, but respectfully.
• Can quickly establish credibility and build strong working relationships.
• Able to problem solve both operational and strategic issues through a common sense and commercially sound approach.
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholder priorities.
• Results focus - tenacious approach to delivery and quality of output.

Languages:

Essential: English

Desirable: Other European language

Perks:

• Certified Top 17 Global Employer
• Annual bonus (typically 20 %)
• Car allowance
• Generous share scheme
• Private healthcare (family cover)
• Flexible / remote working
• 25 days holiday + statutory leave, with option to buy/sell 5 days
• Up to 10 % company pension
• Life Assurance & Employee Assistance Programme

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to developing a diverse workforce in which everyone is treated fairly, with respect, and has the opportunity to contribute to business success while realizing his or her potential.