Job Description

Job Purpose

The HR Business Partner will serve as a strategic partner to pharmaceutical business leaders across the Sub-Saharan Africa operations, aligning HR strategies with business goals to drive sustainable growth and talent development in a complex and evolving healthcare environment. The role requires a deep understanding of the pharmaceutical sector, local labor laws, and cultural diversity across African markets.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic HR Partnership

• Partner with senior management to develop and execute HR strategies that support business objectives, including product development, manufacturing, sales, and distribution.
• Provide insights on workforce planning to address talent shortages and skill gaps.
• Support leadership in navigating regulatory requirements related to employment, safety, and compliance in various African jurisdictions.

Talent Acquisition & Retention

• Support recruitment strategies targeting specialized pharmaceutical professionals (e.g., pharmacists, regulatory affairs specialists, clinical research specialists etc.).
• Develop retention programs to reduce turnover in critical roles, considering competitive market conditions.
• Collaborate with Learning & Development to implement continuous professional development aligned with industry standards and certifications.

Employee Relations & Compliance

• Ensure adherence to local labor laws, pharmaceutical industry regulations, and company policies across multiple African countries.
• Manage employee relations proactively, addressing cultural sensitivities and diverse workforce expectations.
• Facilitate resolution of workplace conflicts, disciplinary actions, and grievance procedures in a fair and compliant manner.

Organizational Development & Change Management

• Support organizational design initiatives to optimize pharmaceutical operations and improve cross-functional collaboration.
• Lead change management efforts during product launches, regulatory changes, or business expansions.
• Promote a culture of compliance, ethics, and patient safety.

Transformation Activities

• Drive and support large-scale transformation initiatives such as digital HR adoption, process reengineering, and cultural change programs.
• Partner with business leaders to identify transformation needs and develop HR interventions that enable agility and innovation.
• Facilitate workshops, communication campaigns, and training to embed ways of working
• Monitor transformation progress through Priorities (KPIs) and employee feedback, adjusting strategies to ensure successful adoption.
• Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives as part of broader organizational transformation.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align transformation efforts with business strategy and regulatory requirements.
• Support on Transformation strategy (BBBEE)

HR Analytics & Reporting

• Utilize HR data to monitor workforce trends, diversity metrics, and compliance status across African sites.
• Provide actionable insights to business leaders to inform decision-making and improve HR effectiveness.
• Prepare reports for internal stakeholders and external regulatory bodies as required.

Qualifications

 

Background Requirements

• Degree in HR related studies (including Labour Relations/Industrial Psychology) or a Commerce related equivalent qualification
• Post graduate qualification would be advantageous
• 7+ years of experience in an HR Business Partner/Generalist role, preferably within a matrix multinational organisation
• Previous experience working across different markets within Sub-Saharan Africa is required

 

Functional competencies

• Interpretation of law and HR policies
• Knowledge of compensation principles and job evaluation
• Ability to relate to, influence and coach employees at all levels in the organization
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to work well across different functions and locations
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment whilst being able to navigate and guide leaders through a variety of organizational changes 

Skills

• Influencing
• Execution excellence
• Change management
• Business acumen
• Effective communication skills - written, verbal and listening skills
• Strong Project/Program Management Skills
• HR analytics and data storytelling
• Compu Literacy (MS Power Point, Excel, Word and Outlook)
• Proven ability to diagnose problems using strategic thinking skills as well as identify and drive appropriate solutions
• Consulting
• Project management

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Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Required Skills:

Change Management, HR Best Practices, HR Initiatives, Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS), Labor and Employment Law, Learning and Development (L&D), Organizational Development (OD), Project Management, Talent Development, Transformation Strategy, Workforce Analytics, Workforce Planning

 Preferred Skills:

Job Posting End Date:

07/24/2025

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.