Strategic HR Business Partner – Human Resources

The Role

Location: Le Havre, France

We have an exciting opportunity for a Bilingual (French and English) Strategic HR Business Partner – Human Resources to join our team in Le Havre. In this role, you will play a key part in ensuring the company’s activities comply with legal frameworks and internal guidelines. You will provide expert legal guidance to various operational services and customers, ensuring that all decisions align with legal and regulatory standards.

This role acts as a key point of contact for all business unit components and is responsible for the day-to-day execution of tasks (with support from local Expert Centers and the People and culture Ops team) to ensure company performance meets the necessary standards for consistent success. The Strategic HR Business Partner – Human Resources is a member of the Management Team (MTM) of the business unit and actively participates in decision-making processes.

Join a dynamic, inclusive, and innovative global FMCG business, powered by a talented team of 25,000 employees worldwide.

Principle Accountabilities

• Act as a strategic partner within the factory management team, supporting collaboration to achieve Le Havre’s short- and long-term objectives.
• Ensure a strategic workforce plan is in place, identifying key capability gaps and implementing action plans to support the business strategy.
• Utilise core management information to oversee performance management, talent development, succession planning, and recruitment processes, ensuring the right employees are in the right roles.
• Develop and implement training and career development programs aligned with organizational needs to maintain a sustainable talent pipeline.
• Ensure implementation and compliance with global policies, processes, and governance standards across all people processes while developing and sustaining necessary local policies.
• Partner with and lead local Works Council and Trade Unions, continuously reviewing employee relations and collective terms and conditions to foster a positive working environment.

Skills & Experience Required

• Strong knowledge of HR principles, including workforce planning, talent development, recruitment, and employee relations.
• Ability to align HR policies with business objectives and drive workforce strategies that support growth.
• Experience in engaging with senior management, trade unions, and external bodies to negotiate and implement workforce initiatives.
• Strong understanding of local labor law, compliance standards, and HR governance frameworks.
• Fluent in both French and English, with excellent communication skills in both languages.
• Experience leading HR-related projects, such as reorganisations and Lean Principles implementation.

What We Offer

In return for playing your part in building our future, you will receive a comprehensive compensation package with salary, bonus scheme, various family friendly policies and many extras including a great pension scheme, generous holiday entitlement and hybrid/flexible working opportunities as well inspiring places to work and collaborate with purpose. Here at Imperial, we will give you the opportunity to grow and learn, innovate at pace and be a part of our purpose to forge a path to a healthier future for moments of relaxation and pleasure for our consumers.

Next Steps

Interested applicants should apply with their CV highlighting their suitability for the role.

Everyone Belongs

Everyone belongs in Imperial. We are proud of being a truly inclusive organisation. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, nationalities, disabilities, sexual orientation, religions or beliefs and of neuro divergence. We give fair and equal consideration to all our applicants. Please contact us at resourcing@uk.imptob.com to let us know if we can provide support in helping you complete an application and/or attend an interview.

About Us

We're a truly international company, fourth largest in our industry and operating across 120 markets. An inclusive, innovative global FMCG business supported by 25,000 employees. As we embrace a new era of growth, we are transforming. Our ways of working and culture are driven by a challenger mindset, constantly questioning the status quo where people can bring their best selves to work. Our agility and collaboration are driving our ambitions, innovation and success all supported by our award-winning development programmes that creates exciting and rewarding career opportunities for all. Encouraging inclusion at local levels and supporting a developing and robust diversity agenda globally, we’re fully committed to creating and maintaining an environment that celebrates and respects difference.

As a matter of policy, Imperial Tobacco or its subsidiaries never requests or requires payment as part of any recruitment process.

Everyone Belongs