HR Manager

Unga Group is seeking a seasoned and dynamic HR Manager to lead the implementation of robust human resource strategies across its business units. This is a high-impact role that sits at the intersection of operational excellence and long-term strategic people management, designed for an HR professional who thrives in a fast-paced, multi-site manufacturing environment.

The HR Manager will optimize business performance and maximize workforce productivity across all functions, ensuring world-class standards in alignment with HR policies and industry best practices. The role also provides strong functional leadership, mentorship, and development to the Human Resource Advisor, making people development a core part of the mandate.

• Structure and implement productive workforce plans within budgeted costs in collaboration with departmental heads to optimize employee productivity and manpower utilization.
• Manage HR financial strategies by estimating, forecasting, and anticipating human capital requirements, market trends, and cost variances.
• Rigorously monitor approved staff costs and headcount budgets to ensure strict alignment with establishment requirements.
• Work closely with Plant Managers to translate business needs into clearly articulated and actionable organization and people requirements.
• Analyze HR trends and metrics in partnership with the broader HR team to develop targeted solutions, programs, and strategic organizational policies.
• Contribute to the continuous updating of HR policies and practices, lead staff training on these policies, and ensure consistent implementation across all sites.
• Oversee the preparation and submission of weekly, monthly, quarterly, and year-end HR management reports.
• Maintain deep knowledge of legal requirements related to employee management, reducing legal risks and ensuring full regulatory compliance in partnership with the legal department.
• Review absenteeism and timekeeping data, flag concerns to line managers, and develop targeted mitigation action plans.
• Ensure comprehensive annual leave plans are established, tracked, and adhered to across all business units and sites.
• Drive and participate in organizational culture and performance initiatives including Continuous Improvement (CI), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Great Place to Work, and Teambuilding events.
• Develop and implement Learning and Development strategies that elevate staff performance and productivity across the organization.
• Maintain up-to-date career growth frameworks and succession planning tools to support talent retention and internal mobility.
• Lead performance management cycles including goal-setting, mid-year reviews, and annual appraisals across all supported business units.
• Mentor and develop the Human Resource Advisor, building team capability and ensuring continuity of HR service delivery.

• Demonstrate ability to design and execute end-to-end workforce planning processes aligned to business budgets and operational timelines.
• Proven track record of managing HR operations in a manufacturing or FMCG environment with multiple sites or plant locations.
• Ability to interpret and apply Kenyan employment law, including the Employment Act, Labour Relations Act, and OSHA requirements, to day-to-day HR decisions.
• Competence in HR analytics — able to pull, interpret, and present workforce data to inform strategic decisions at senior management level.
• Demonstrated experience managing HR budgets including staff cost forecasting, headcount control, and variance reporting.
• Ability to design and roll out L&D programs that address identified skills gaps and support organizational capability building.
• Strong stakeholder management skills — able to advise, influence, and push back constructively with plant managers, department heads, and executive leadership.
• Experience leading or co-leading performance management systems and disciplinary processes with documented outcomes.
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resource Management, Business Administration, or a related field; Higher National Diploma in HR or CHRP (K) certification is an added advantage.
• Minimum 7 years of progressive HR experience, with at least 3 years in a managerial or supervisory HR role.

Unga Group offers a competitive remuneration package commensurate with experience and qualifications. The estimated monthly salary for this role ranges from KES 180,000 to KES 280,000, benchmarked against the Kenyan manufacturing sector for HR Manager-level positions. Additional benefits are offered as part of the total compensation package.

Ideal Candidate: A results-oriented HR professional with deep experience in manufacturing or FMCG settings who can balance strategic thinking with hands-on operational execution. You are comfortable managing multi-site HR functions, leading a small HR team, and engaging confidently with senior plant and business leadership. You bring a strong command of Kenyan labor law and a passion for building high-performing workplace cultures.

Who Should NOT Apply: Candidates with fewer than 5 years of HR experience, those without exposure to manufacturing or industrial work environments, or individuals who have only worked in purely administrative HR support roles without strategic or managerial responsibility. This role is not suitable for HR Generalists seeking their first management position.

• Prepare an updated CV clearly highlighting your HR management experience, industries worked in, and team leadership roles held.
• Write a concise cover letter demonstrating your understanding of HR in a manufacturing context and your specific achievements in workforce planning, compliance, or L&D.
• Submit your application through the Unga Group careers portal or the job platform where this posting was listed.
• Ensure your application is submitted before the stated closing date. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the next stage of the recruitment process.