Group Executive: Human Capital (Durban North) at Aspen Pharma Group

Description

• The Group Executive: Human Capital (GE:HC) will assume overall strategic responsibility for all Human Capital related aspects across the Group with a strong focus and strategic approach to workforce planning, culture building and engagement, succession planning, and strategic talent management. The GE:HC will work collaboratively with Executive leaders across the Group, non-executive board members and external partners to ensure optimal and sustainable business performance.

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement HC strategies, objectives and processes to support the overall strategy of the organisation.
• Leading human capital heads across all Group business units, while directly managing a Centre of Excellence team at head office.
• Continuously ensures an optimal human capital function which is efficient and cost effective.
• Develop, implement and maintain sound global human capital policies, procedures and practices flexible to relevant local legislation and ensure these are executed in accordance with guidelines.
• Lead a functional Global Human Capital Leadership Council that is responsible for key HC decision making processes and HC governance matters.
• Providing direction and support to the Group executives on all strategic human capital matters
• Ensuring human capital policy and practice in all Group business units meets requisite standards.
• Maintenance and communication of Group Human Capital policies
• Supports the monitoring of organisation design by ensuring effective & efficient organisation structures

Talent and Performance Management

• Establishing a human capital development plan which is aligned with the development of the Group. Lead the implementation of the performance management system aligned with Group and business unit objectives that includes performance development plans (PDPs) and employee development programs aligned to key organisational capability requirements.
• Developing and fully supporting the business with a talent management process which includes talent acquisition, succession planning, training and development.
• Specifically focusing on in-house development programmes to ensure a rich pipeline of skills aligned to the needs of the Group, with specific focus on transformation and D&I objectives across the Group and employment equity plans in the South African business
• Drive initiatives that will promote the Aspen Group vision, values, ethics, code of conduct, and high-performance culture
• Assessment of climate and culture in all business units, ensuring employee engagement is maintained through various HC programmes and proposing remedial action in response to unfavourable outcomes

Transformation

• Specifically focusing on in-house development programmes to ensure a rich pipeline of skills aligned to the needs of the Group, with specific focus on transformation and D&I objectives across the Group and employment equity plans in the South African business.
• Supporting the Group Risk, Sustainability and Compliance team to deliver on human capital deliverables under the BBBEE Codes
• Ensure the Employment Equity Plan, Workplace Skills Plan are compliant and executed/updated timeously.

Governance

• Strategy design around effective and reliable HC administration processes and cost-effective Human Capital Information Systems (HCIS) strategy
• Define key metrics (KPIs) for measurement of HC performance.
• Collaborate with TESS to ensure systems, reporting and processes are implemented.

Employee Relations

• Monitor, maintain and support a positive ER/IR framework within all business units and continually monitor, drive and support employee relations/industrial relations initiatives that cultivate and promote a healthy working environment
• Maintain and develop close and productive relationships with trade unions and workers’ representatives where relevant and keep abreast of national legislation and developments in labour relations
• Ensures compliance with all labour laws and industry regulations and advising the business of the legal implications for the business
• Provide advice on appropriate actions to be taken and deliver a fair and consistent employee relations service
• Present and interpret statistical reports, using records of actions taken concerning disciplinary action, grievances, labour disputes and other relevant labour relations activities, to identify problem areas
• Serve as a link between Executive Leadership and employees by handling questions, interpreting and administering contracts and helping resolve work-related problems/grievances
• Resolve issues at Group level, including mediating disputes, and administering/advising management on disciplinary policies and procedures

Leadership

• Plan, manage and monitor the HC, Skills Development and Transformation budgets in accordance with Aspen’s philosophy and practices.
• Ensure adherence to limits on expenses (actual vs budget) as stipulated in the budget, rectify, or justify deviations from planned expenditure in quarterly reporting meetings and prepare forecasts as and when requested

Requirements
Formal qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant Business related discipline, Human Capital or similar
• An advanced degree such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a Master's degree in a relevant manufacturing / commercial / FMCG / pharma or other similar industry is preferred
• Proven track record of performance and achievement preferably in Business Management, Human Capital (“HC”) or other business functions, in a large/ global multinational organisation at a senior management level
• Minimum of 15 years relevant corporate experience with 10 years of senior leadership experience, preferably in HC and/or talent acquisition and performance
• Specific experience, knowledge & exposure
• A track record of delivering in a global/multinational enterprise/large organisation
• Proven track record of strategic people development aligned with the organisation’s business objectives
• Experience leading an organisation through transformative change
• Understanding of specific areas of organisational design and organisational effectiveness
• Track record of successfully building a culture of engaged employees
• Expert communicator: solid verbal, written and interpersonal skills to engage and mobilise the organisation and its employees to embrace and change and deliver against organisational goals, vision and purpose
• Demonstrated collaborative skills, both internally and externally
• Embraces and demonstrates Aspen’s core values of integrity, innovation, teamwork, commitment and excellence
• Confident, politically and commercially savvy, and singularly accountable
• Skilled negotiator and counsellor
• Preferred experience with mergers & acquisitions and international business exposure
• Preparedness to travel, if required

Skills and attributes

Strategic mind-set:

• Strategic business orientated thinking skills and ability to articulate a vision for the HC function
• Entrepreneurial spirit
• Global thinker
• Ability to challenge status quo with predictive analytics
• Experience in positioning their business area at executive committee and board level
• Considerable knowledge of business processes, management, budgeting and business operations
• Project management skills

Judgment/Decision Making/critical thinking:

• Identify and solve internal and external challenges
• Ability to manage complexity

Interpersonal skills: 

• Ability to form strong relationships with other leaders in the organisation and obtain significant input from the organization so that objectives can be met
• Proven leadership ability by demonstrating ability to motivate employees to deliver high quality output in line with set priorities
• Active listening skills
• Ability to show empathy and consideration for others in order to engage and motivate

Analytical skills: 

• Excellent problem-solving skills
• Identify complex problems and review related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions

Leadership skills: 

• Must manage the team effectively by aligning the team’s performance with the organization’s HC goals and business requirements 
• Capable of cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills: 

• Need to be an excellent communicator (verbal and written) and maintain a degree of charisma to inspire employees to invest in their work and vision of the organisation
• Empathy 
• Excellent cultural sensitivity across global markets

Communication skills: 

• Need to be an excellent communicator excellent influencing skills

Social Perceptiveness:

• Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do
• Passionate customer advocacy

Commercial Awareness:

• Considerable knowledge of business processes, general business management practices, budgeting and business operations
• Extremely strong business acumen, combined with the ability to succeed at a strategic, tactical, and operational level
• Stays abreast of new business and human capital innovations/ best practices, understands strategic implications of such change and responds appropriately

Knowledge

• Business understanding at strategic level
• Pharmaceutical, FMCG and/or manufacturing industry knowledge required
• Labour Relations Act, Employment Equity Act and other labour legislation, Companies Act and other corporate governance principles (local and international) is required
• Strategic business knowledge and human capital management is required