Company Overview

Kakira Sugar Limited is a leading integrated agricultural and processing company in a rural area of Uganda, accounting for approximately half of the national output in its sector. The company processes more than two million tonnes of raw material each year and manufactures a diverse range of primary and downstream products. Its large-scale agricultural operations and processing facilities employ more than 10,000 people, and it is committed to sustainable business practices and positive societal impact.

Role Context

On behalf of Kakira Sugar Limited, we now invite applications from experienced professionals to fill this vacancy: Head, Human Resources. The Head of Human Resources develops and implements the organisation’s HR strategy, oversees key HR functions and legal compliance, and provides strategic guidance on workforce needs to executive management, shareholders and the board of directors.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop and implement HR strategies for a large-scale manufacturing operation that support the company’s mission, strategic vision and production and business objectives.
• Lead industrial relations, including union engagement, collective bargaining, grievance handling, workplace discipline, disputes and investigations, with a hands-on approach on the factory floor and in the field.
• Apply a thorough understanding of labour and employment law to advise management, manage legal and compliance risk, and represent the organisation in labour disputes and before regulatory bodies.
• Develop, review and implement HR policies, processes, training and best practices that ensure compliance with employment laws and suit a large, labour-intensive manufacturing workforce.
• Lead large scale workforce planning, talent acquisition and retention for seasonal, skilled and unskilled labour to meet current and future production requirements.
• Promote workplace health, safety and employee welfare, working closely with operations and plant management.
• Develop succession planning, career development and leadership programmes to strengthen the management pipeline and support business continuity.
• Manage HR operations, including the HRIS, departmental budget and development of HR staff, and analyse workforce trends to prepare quarterly HR reports for the board.

Required Competencies and Skills

• Extensive hands-on experience leading HR in a large-scale, labour-intensive manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Expertise in industrial relations, including union engagement, collective bargaining, grievance handling and dispute resolution.
• Thorough understanding of labour and employment law, with proven ability to manage compliance and represent the organisation in labour disputes.
• Practical, hands-on approach with a visible presence on the factory floor and in the field.
• Proven experience managing seasonal, skilled and unskilled workforces to meet production requirements.
• Strong knowledge of workplace health, safety and employee welfare in a manufacturing setting, working closely with operations and plant management.
• Expertise in developing HR strategies and aligning them with business objectives.
• Expertise in succession planning and leadership development.
• Expertise in compensation, benefits and total reward management.
• Proven ability to lead, supervise and develop teams.

Education, Professional Qualifications and Experience Required

• A Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MSc) in Human Resources or a related field is preferred.
• A Bachelor of Science (BSc) /Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from an accredited college or university is required.
• SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) or SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) certification is preferred.
• A registered member of Human Resource Manager’s Association of Uganda (HRMAU) is required.
• A minimum of 15-20 years of progressive Human Resources experience is required, including at least 10 years in a manufacturing environment and at least five (5) years in a senior HR leadership role.

• Develop and implement HR strategies for a large-scale manufacturing operation that support the company’s mission, strategic vision and production and business objectives.
• Lead industrial relations, including union engagement, collective bargaining, grievance handling, workplace discipline, disputes and investigations, with a hands-on approach on the factory floor and in the field.
• Apply a thorough understanding of labour and employment law to advise management, manage legal and compliance risk, and represent the organisation in labour disputes and before regulatory bodies.
• Develop, review and implement HR policies, processes, training and best practices that ensure compliance with employment laws and suit a large, labour-intensive manufacturing workforce.
• Lead large scale workforce planning, talent acquisition and retention for seasonal, skilled and unskilled labour to meet current and future production requirements.
• Promote workplace health, safety and employee welfare, working closely with operations and plant management.
• Develop succession planning, career development and leadership programmes to strengthen the management pipeline and support business continuity.
• Manage HR operations, including the HRIS, departmental budget and development of HR staff, and analyse workforce trends to prepare quarterly HR reports for the board.

• Extensive hands-on experience leading HR in a large-scale, labour-intensive manufacturing or industrial environment.
• Expertise in industrial relations, including union engagement, collective bargaining, grievance handling and dispute resolution.
• Thorough understanding of labour and employment law, with proven ability to manage compliance and represent the organisation in labour disputes.
• Practical, hands-on approach with a visible presence on the factory floor and in the field.
• Proven experience managing seasonal, skilled and unskilled workforces to meet production requirements.
• Strong knowledge of workplace health, safety and employee welfare in a manufacturing setting, working closely with operations and plant management.
• Expertise in developing HR strategies and aligning them with business objectives.
• Expertise in succession planning and leadership development.
• Expertise in compensation, benefits and total reward management.
• Proven ability to lead, supervise and develop teams.

• A Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MSc) in Human Resources or a related field is preferred.
• A Bachelor of Science (BSc) /Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree from an accredited college or university is required.
• SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) or SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) certification is preferred.
• A registered member of Human Resource Manager’s Association of Uganda (HRMAU) is required.