Director Global Functions People & Organizational Performance

Our story goes back more than 150 years, to the chilly southern coast of Scandinavia. From our early success in Sweden and Denmark, we’ve grown into the world’s leading specialist producer of plant-based oils, employing more than 4,000 people across the globe. We work with our customers to make the products you love even better. The oils we produce go into making your chocolate extra-creamy or putting the crunch into your croissant. And it’s not just food — we work across industries to make products that are higher quality, healthier and better for the planet. Everything we do is about Making Better Happen™. #LI-Hybrid AAK Location
The role will be in Malmo, a vibrant city known for its diverse culture and strategic location in southern Sweden. The successful candidate will be required to spend four days a week at the office with reasonable business travel to other locations as required to effectively fulfil the responsibilities of the role. This travel is essential to support our international operations and enhance visibility and collaboration with leaders. About the role
The Director for Global Functions is a new position which will play a pivotal role in contributing to the design of the People & Organizational Performance strategy and directing the deployment of strategic initiatives into the global functions. With two direct reports, the role will serve as a strategic business partner to members of the Executive Committee for Commercial Development & Innovation, Sourcing, Trading & Sustainability, Finance & Corporate Functions and Global Operations. The role is responsible for driving change through our cultural journey and linking people and business strategy to further drive organizational performance. Responsibilities
As Director for Global Functions your main tasks and responsibilities will be:
- Strategic Planning: Developing and implementing strategies aligned with organizational goals to attract, retain, and develop talent.
- Talent Acquisition: Implementing, managing, and administering talent acquisition policies and programs to ensure a skilled, engaged, and fit-for-purpose workforce for the future.
- Organizational Development & Succession Planning: Collaborate with leadership in the organizational design of reporting relationships and career paths to ensure retention of high potential colleagues and succession planning.
- Learning & Development: Identify training needs, designing learning initiatives, and facilitating professional development programs to enhance employee skill and performance.
- Compensation and Benefits: Designing and administering competitive compensation and benefit programs to attract and retain top talent.
- Strategies, Policies and Procedures: Advise members of the Executive Committee within Global Functions on the application of HR strategies, policies, and procedures.
- Diversity and Inclusion: Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to foster a culture of belonging and support diversity in the workplace.
- HR Analytics: Utilizing HR data and analytics to drive informed decision-making, measure HR metrics, and continuously improve HR processes and initiatives. About you
We are proud to have a team that excels in cultural intelligence and thrives on making a genuine impact within truly global environments. You will consistently demonstrate a deep understanding and respect for diverse cultural perspectives, allowing us to collaborate effectively across borders and time zones. You will hold a bachelor’s degree in human resource management, organizational development, business administration, or a related field and be a chartered member of a relevant professional body. Whilst time-served is not a primary determinant, you are likely to have a minimum 10 years functional management experience, preferably with at least 3 at director level within a matrixed organization. You will hold exceptional business knowledge, general management, and leadership capability to lead business and functional teams. To be successful in the role you will also need:
- Organizational Leadership: Knowledge of leadership concepts and ability to use strategies and skills to enlist others in setting, embracing, and achieving objectives.
- Strategic Thinking: Knowledge of the importance of "big picture" thinking and planning; ability to apply organizational acumen and competitiveness to identify and maintain focus on key success factors for the organization.
- Matrix Management: Ability to build and use effective working relationships across department, functional, and geographic reporting lines, to coordinate work across organizational business units and lead cross functional teams.
- Talent Management: Knowledge of how an organization attracts, recruits, retains, identifies, and develops talent; ability to develop the talent required for an organization to achieve its short term and long-term goals.
- Workforce Development: Knowledge of the importance of continuous growth and development; ability to develop practices that maximize learning and development and improve team members' focus on performance objectives.
- Workforce Analytics: Knowledge of HR and workforce issues and trends; ability to analyze workforce data, information and metrics and apply the results to support business decisions. AAK offers you
- An exciting new role with visibility and impact following a rescoping of the function with additional competences, empowerment to drive change and support successful execution of the business strategy.
- A pioneering multi-oil ingredients house, specializing in plant-based oils and fats, driving innovation and sustainability.
- International exposure and collaborating with a diverse team.
- Investment in your development with training, mentorship, and career paths.
- A diverse and inclusive workplace that values every individual's perspective and talents. Contacts and Applications
For further information about the position, please contact Global Director, People & Organizational Performance Allan Hider at  [email protected] or Recruitment Manager Europe Luuck van Kooten at [email protected]. The closing date for applications will be 5 July 2024. About AAK
Everything AAK does is about Making Better Happen™. We specialize in plant-based oils that are the value-adding ingredients in many of the products people love to consume. We make these products better tasting, healthier, and more sustainable. At the heart of AAK’s offer is Customer Co-Development, combining our desire to understand what better means for each customer, with the unique flexibility of our production assets, and deep knowledge of many products and industries, including Chocolate and confectionery, Bakery, Dairy, Plant-based Foods, Special Nutrition, Foodservice and Personal Care. Our 4,000 employees support our close collaboration with customers through 25 regional sales offices, 15 dedicated Customer Innovation Centers, and the support of more than 20 production facilities. Listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and with our headquarters in Malmö, Sweden, AAK has been Making Better Happen™ for more than 150 years. AAK prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, religion, veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under state or federal law in any aspect of the access to, admission, or treatment of students in its programs and activities, or employment and application for employment.