Head of Human Capital

This position is based in Tangier (Morocco).

Who are we?

Studio 21 and the Design Studio group are a name synonymous with the end-to-end sourcing of high-end ladieswear for UK and European high street retailers including Primark, ASDA, Sainsbury’s, ASOS, Next and River Island.

What is the role?

The Head of Human Capital guides , manages and provides strategy on the people function across our entire business . This role is fundamental to developing a company’s culture, development, organisation and recruitment. This role originates an d leads HC practices and objectives that will provide an employee oriented, high performance culture that emphasizes empowerment, quality, productivity and standards, continuous professional development and self improvement, in house career progression, goal attainment, staff wellbeing, relationships built on trust, and the recruitment and retention of a superior workforce.

Typically, you will lead the implementation of policies and programmes and execute the overarching strategy through the smaller HC teams who are localised at our individual companies and locations, by effectively managing them. This means sharing a close working relationship with HC colleagues from across the localised parts of our business, providing guidance and actively removing impediments that deter them from delivering the HC strategies, programmes and policies that have been committed to.

What will be your key accountabilities (outcomes you will drive)?

• Fully responsible for maintaining the factory level employee carder at full capacity, absenteeism at below 3%, and turnover at a n agreed level
• Running employee retention programmes within the factory, and ensuring Design Studio company behaviours & values are promoted and enforced at all times within your respective factory
• Managing your factory HC department incl. supporting local HC teams with impediment resolution; timely talent reviews & performance management and hosting regular check ins & feedback sessions; the co creation and validation of team objectives, roadmaps and status updates / progress reports
• Working closely with the Audit & Compliance function to ensure all compliance requirements (particularly ethical criteria) are adhered to.
• Taking full ownership of all HC pillars including Compensation & Benefits, Employee Relations, Talent Acquisition, L&D, Performance Management and Administration, within your factory leading your direct reports effectively to ensure they have the right coaching & guidance to fulfil their job roles ( e.g. you will be ultimately fully responsible for ensuring accurate and on time payroll submissions for your factory).
• Submitting, maintaining & tracking against budgets for transport, recruitment and other HC activities ensuring you obtain any relevant approvals in a timely manner and follow Design Studio’s due process for expenses, claims & reimbursements.
• Liaise with all local stakeholders to ensure Design Studio is fully integrated with the locality and maintains a good reputation this includes local legal authorities, police, military, PHIs, banks, suppliers, neighbours, clergy
• Being an escalation point for grievance handling, employee counselling and other requests / concerns raised by employees at all levels
• Ensuring workplace standards, including cleanliness, hygiene and compliance with HSE requirements, are maintained at a high level
• Full compliance with all company processes, policies & procedures at all times, in line with our Operating Model (e.g. onboarding / offboarding, overtime etc.)
• Developing, documenting and implementing modern, fit for purpose HC policies (including but not limited to policies across the areas of recruitment, company values & ethics, employee handbook, conduct, safety, disciplinary & termination)
• Ensuring compliance with all legal requirements and labor laws, as well as internal compliance with recommended ways of working e.g. IT & Data best practices)
• Identifying, designing and directing training programs and workshops that help achieve our target corporate culture as well as provide technical expertise on par with apparel industry best practices

What knowledge and skills are expected in an ideal candidate?

As we continue to grow rapidly in our operations, we are keen to welcome genuine, passionate and creative self-starters who are keen to drive meaningful change, into our family. If this sounds like you, we can offer you a challenging and diverse working environment where we are always learning from each other, with clear talent pathways and opportunities to climb up the corporate ladder!