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 workingMonitor 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 qualificationPost graduate qualification would be advantageous7+ years of experience in an HR Business Partner/Generalist role, preferably within a matrix multinational organisationPrevious experience working across different markets within Sub-Saharan Africa is required

 

Functional competencies

Interpretation of law and HR policiesKnowledge of compensation principles and job evaluationAbility to relate to, influence and coach employees at all levels in the organizationAbility to work independentlyAbility to work well across different functions and locationsAbility to thrive in a fast-paced environment whilst being able to navigate and guide leaders through a variety of organizational changes 

Skills

InfluencingExecution excellenceChange managementBusiness acumenEffective communication skills - written, verbal and listening skillsStrong Project/Program Management SkillsHR analytics and data storytellingCompu Literacy (MS Power Point, Excel, Word and Outlook)Proven ability to diagnose problems using strategic thinking skills as well as identify and drive appropriate solutionsConsultingProject 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.

Requisition ID:R357331