HR Manager – Corporate HR

Our client is pioneering strategic platform dedicated to unlocking the vast potential to process and transform Africa's minerals and metals. The company believes that shifting from raw-material exports to local processing and transformation will strengthen Africa's industrial base, reduce import dependence, and drive economic growth - positioning Africa as a global leader in the metals value chain.

Headquartered in Dubai, the platform spans 11 countries (9 in Africa) with 16+ mineral assets and a growing base of processing facilities across gold, bauxite/alumina, manganese ore and alloys, copper, lithium, iron ore and colored gemstones. The Trading Business is the platform's commercial and trading arm, responsible for moving physical commodities from mine and port to global markets - making world-class freight and logistics capability central to the platform's competitiveness and its sustainability agenda.

They are looking for an experienced HR Manager to lead the Corporate HR and administration function for their mining operations in Gabon. The manager will own the full people agenda, from workforce planning, recruitment and payroll to employee relations and statutory compliance, and act as the company's main HR interface with Gabonese government authorities.

This role suits a hands-on HR leader with industrial or mining experience, strong administrative grounding and a working command of Gabonese labor law. The incumbent will balance corporate HR governance with the practical realities of site-based operations and will be accountable for keeping every person's process compliant, timely and well documented.

Key Responsibilities

Workforce Planning:

• Build and maintain the annual and rolling manpower plan aligned to operational and project needs. Track headcount against budget; maintain the organization structure, grading and role definitions.
• Develop succession plans for critical roles and a national vs. expatriate staffing and localization roadmap.
• Maintain visibility of contractor and third-party manpower.

Recruitment & Onboarding:

• Run end-to-end recruitment for corporate, site and technical roles, including vacancy declarations and sourcing through the national employment office, agencies and universities.
• Issue offer letters and employment contracts that comply with the Labor Code; manage background verification and due diligence.
• Manage expatriate mobilization, including work authorizations, visas and residence permits.
• Deliver a structured onboarding experience for all new joiners.

Payroll & Benefits:

• Ensure accurate, monthly payroll on time in coordination with Finance and any payroll vendor.
• Manage overtime, allowances, leave, end-of-service entitlements and statutory deductions and remittances.
• Issue individuals pay slips and maintain wage records as required by law.
• Administer medical, insurance and other employee benefits Statutory Compliance under Gabonese Law.
• Ensure compliance with the Gabon Labor Code (Law No. 022/2021), covering contract types, probation, working time, overtime, rest and leave, public holidays, wages, remote work, expatriate employment, discipline, termination and staff representation.
• Manage registrations, contributions, claims and returns with CNSS and CNAMGS, including work-accident and occupational-illness declarations.
• Ensure correct payroll tax withholding and other applicable employer taxes and levies.
• Track work authorization, visa and residence permit compliance for foreign employees.
• Meet mining-sector obligations on local employment, training and reporting under the Mining Code and the company's permits or conventions, plus any applicable collective agreement.
• Maintain the internal rules (règlement intérieur), statutory registers and personnel files; run a compliance calendar; keep the company audit- and inspection-ready.

Employee Relations:

• Manage grievances, discipline and terminations through fair, documented processes with valid grounds and correct notice and severance.
• Engage with staff representatives, unions and collective agreement bodies.
• Handle disputes through the Labour Inspectorate and coordinate with legal counsel on labour court matters.
• Promote a workplace free of discrimination and harassment.

Government & External Liaison:

• Represent the company before the Ministry of Labor, Labour Inspectorate, national employment office, social security and health insurance bodies, tax authority, immigration authorities and the Ministry of Mines.
• Prepare for and respond to inspections, audits and information requests within deadlines.
• Build and maintain constructive relationships with regulators and external partners.

Performance, Learning & Localization:

• Run appraisal cycles and the annual training plan.
• Develop and progress Gabonese nationals and report against local-content and training commitments.

HSE & Welfare Interface:

• Work with HSE on occupational health, medical fitness, rotation schedules, working-time limits and camp welfare Administration.
• Oversee office and facilities administration, travel and logistics, expatriate housing and vehicles, insurance, and vendor and service contract.

HR Governance & Team Leadership:

• Develop and update HR policies and SOPs in line with Gabonese law.
• Provide HR MIS and dashboards to leadership.
• Lead, coach and develop the HR and admin team

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Industrial Relations, Law, Management, or a related discipline.
• 8+ years of progressive HR experience managing full-cycle operations, compliance and payroll.
• Proven experience in mining, metals, heavy industry, construction, oil & gas, or another industrial/site-based environment.
• Experience managing HR for a workforce with both national employees and expatriates.
• Strong experience with payroll, benefits, recruitment, employee relations, performance management and HR administration