Country HR Manager Job in Douala: 10 Powerful Career Facts

Job Description

Country HR Manager – Barry Callebaut Group | Douala

Barry Callebaut Group is recruiting a Country HR Manager job in Douala, Cameroon, to lead the company’s human resources agenda at country level. The role works closely with the HR Director Africa and the country management team to translate business priorities into effective HR strategies, policies and operational plans. The position is particularly focused on HR governance, employee relations, talent management, performance management, workforce planning, compensation, compliance and organisational development. The successful candidate will also lead local HR professionals and contribute to building a strong and diverse leadership pipeline. For experienced HR professionals in Cameroon, this vacancy represents a senior opportunity requiring extensive experience in human resources management, HR business partnering and industrial or manufacturing environments.

About Barry Callebaut Group

Barry Callebaut is a global manufacturer of chocolate and cocoa products, serving customers across the food industry. The company states that it has more than 12,000 employees operating across more than 40 countries. The company’s Douala operation is part of its broader African business, making the Country HR Manager an important link between local operations and the regional HR leadership structure.

Country HR Manager job in Douala details

• Company: Barry Callebaut Group
• Position: Country HR Manager
• Location: Douala, Cameroon
• Work arrangement: On-site
• Employment: Full-time
• Contract: Permanent
• Reports to: HR Director Africa
• Department: Human Resources
• Experience: At least 10 years of combined HR experience
• Education: Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in people management
• Languages: French and English — mandatory
• Industry experience: HR business partnering/HR management experience in a manufacturing 
• Official Country HR Manager vacancy – Barry Callebaut

Country HR Manager job in Douala Key Responsibilities

The Country HR Manager will be responsible for:

• Leading HR execution and operational excellence at country level.
• Ensuring compliance with company policies and applicable labour regulations.
• Supporting managers with organisational design, workforce planning, skills and capabilities.
• Monitoring mandatory compliance requirements, including SMETA, FDA, local requirements and mandatory training.
• Identifying employee and business risks and taking appropriate corrective action.
• Advising managers on employee engagement, performance, talent management and reward.
• Coordinating performance reviews, performance improvement plans, promotions, development initiatives and exits.
• Supporting annual compensation reviews and analysing market compensation information.
• Anticipating workforce changes, retirements and replacement requirements.
• Developing a proactive employee-relations strategy.
• Participating in employee-relations activities, including regular factory visits.
• Supporting managers in understanding and applying HR policies and processes.
• Leading talent reviews and calibration sessions.
• Contributing to country skills-development plans.
• Coaching managers on career and employee-development discussions.
• Supervising external HR service providers and monitoring the quality of their work and reporting.

Country HR Manager job in Douala Candidate Profile

Barry Callebaut is looking for a senior HR professional who can combine strategic HR leadership with strong operational execution.

The required profile includes:

• A bachelor’s degree, with an advanced qualification in people management or organisational development strongly preferred.
• At least 10 years of combined HR experience.
• Strong knowledge of core HR functions, including recruitment, reward, employee relations, industrial relations, diversity and inclusion, learning and development, and organisational effectiveness.
• Proven experience as an HR Business Partner and HR Manager.
• Experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment within an international organisation.
• Experience managing HR professionals and experts.
• Knowledge of applicable local labour legislation.
• Experience negotiating with unions and employee representatives.
• Experience handling disciplinary cases, workplace conflicts and employment litigation.
• Strong understanding of workforce management, including outsourced or extended workers.
• Ability to analyse HR data and develop business cases.
• Strong planning, budgeting and time-management skills.
• Results-oriented and solutions-driven thinking.
• Strong talent-development and performance-management capabilities.
• Commercial awareness and experience using performance metrics.
• Excellent leadership, communication and presentation skills.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-management abilities.
• High integrity, adaptability and attention to detail.
• Good IT skills.
• Fluency in both French and English is mandatory.

Who Should Apply?

This vacancy is primarily suited to senior HR professionals rather than early-career applicants. Candidates should be able to demonstrate substantial experience managing HR functions and advising business leaders, particularly within multinational, industrial or manufacturing environments.

Experience with employee relations, labour law, union negotiations, HR compliance, talent management and workforce planning will be particularly relevant to the responsibilities described in the vacancy.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where is the Country HR Manager position located?
The position is based in Douala, Cameroon.

2. What type of contract is offered?
The official vacancy states that it is a permanent/full-time position.

3. Who does the Country HR Manager report to?
The position reports to the HR Director Africa.

4. How much HR experience is required?
The current vacancy specifies at least 10 years of cumulative HR experience.

5. Is manufacturing experience required?
The company asks for proven HRBP and HR Manager experience in a manufacturing or industrial context within an international organisation.

6. Are French and English required?
Yes. The vacancy explicitly states that fluency in French and English is mandatory.

7. Will the successful candidate manage an HR team?
Yes. The role involves leading local HR Business Partners and other HR professionals.

8. Does the role involve employee relations?
Yes. Employee relations, labour issues, conflict management, compliance and employee-relations strategy are important components of the position.

9. Does the role involve talent management?
Yes. Talent reviews, succession considerations, development plans, performance management and leadership-pipeline development are among the responsibilities.

10. Where can candidates apply?
Candidates should use the official Barry Callebaut careers vacancy rather than relying solely on third-party job reposts.

How to Apply for Country HR Manager job in Douala

Interested and qualified candidates should review the complete requirements and submit their application through Barry Callebaut’s official recruitment platform.

Official Country HR Manager vacancy – Barry Callebaut

Conclusion

The Country HR Manager – Barry Callebaut vacancy is a senior HR opportunity based in Douala, combining strategic HR leadership with hands-on responsibility for employee relations, compliance, talent management, workforce planning and organisational effectiveness. The position requires significant HR experience, international industrial or manufacturing exposure, leadership capability and fluency in both French and English. For professionals who meet the experience requirements, careful alignment of their CV with HRBP experience, labour relations, HR compliance, talent management, workforce planning and people leadership will be important when preparing an application.