Job Description

DS Smith, part of International Paper, are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 30,000 colleagues in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation, manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!

HR Director, BE, NL, CH, AT, CZ, SK

Reporting to the HR Director, Central EMEA, the HR Director (BE, NL, CH, AT, CZ, SK) is responsible for the leadership of the Packaging HR functions and is an integral part of the Central EMEA region. Own and drive the implementation of HR initiatives that support and drive business growth, efficiency and productivity whilst strengthening organisational capability and talent. Partnering with the business, this position is a key member of the Central EMEA HR team, providing overall HR leadership to all DS Smith entities in BE, NL, CH, AT, CZ, SK on cross Divisional/Group policies, programmes, and delivery.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities

• Own and drive the Central EMEA HR corporate plan to BE, NL, CH, AT, CZ, SK, including local programmes that ensure the continued growth of our business.

• Develop strong and trusted partnerships with the Packaging leadership teams across BE, NL, CH, AT, CZ, SK.

• Lead programmes to support cost optimisation and efficiency by challenging how the business operates.

• Act as a change ambassador driving performance to deliver results.

• Responsible for the relevant HR budgets and for optimising people costs.

• Drive effective change management and deploy internal communications and engagement to colleagues to deliver value-added solutions and programmes.

• Drive the talent and performance agenda across BE, NL, CH, AT, CZ, SK, deploying DS Smith standard policies and programmes to attract, retain and develop talent and deliver a high-performance culture.

• Lead all negotiations with the Unions/Works Councils in BE, NL, CH, AT, CZ, SK on behalf of DS Smith where applicable.

• Foster and deliver effective working relationships with employee reps, Unions, Works Councils and EWC members.

• Provide leadership and guidance to business leaders to minimise business risk in relation to industrial action.

• Build strong relationships with the Centres of Excellence in Group/Division/Region to align and deliver key corporate priorities across Talent / Reward, Engagement, Resourcing, Learning & Development, Data & Governance.

• Provide overall direction for Service Delivery working to optimise Shared Service Centres, implement consistent Policies, Practices and Ways of Working across DS Smith and deliver HR best practice.

• Drive accountability and delivery through the Cluster HR Teams.

• Drive “fit for purpose” use of data and systems.

• Build a highly competent HR team and build strong succession candidates and talent pipelines for critical roles.

• To support Health & Safety (H&S), operating in line with company procedures to enable a safe working environment, and the change initiatives surrounding this agenda.

About you

• Operate comfortably within a matrix environment and sometimes competing priorities while remaining focused on delivery.

• Ability to interpret and work with the wider strategic agenda within BE, NL, CH, AT, CZ, SK.

• Strong commercial acumen, proven efficiency and stakeholder management skills, a track record of embedding culture, leadership influence, and change.

• Good knowledge of operational costs, financial drivers.

• Change management.

• Excellent communication skills, able to work in a systematic and rigorous way.

• Degree educated.

• Minimum 10 years of general HR experience in a multinational, manufacturing environment.

• Min. 2 years’ experience in regional (multi country) management.

• Experience of HR leadership across a diverse workforce, senior populations, and management background in a large direct and indirect workforce (circa 1,500 FTE).

• A strong HR background working within high pace environments and a good understanding of manufacturing environments and challenges.

• In-depth generalist experience with good knowledge of strategic and operational HR processes.

• Experience in leading multi-cultural teams across disparate geographies.

“To fulfil our purpose of redefining packaging for a changing world, we aim to build a diverse, motivated, and engaged workforce. Our goal is to create a culture of inclusion where everyone is treated fairly, differences are valued, and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.

Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.”