Associate Director, HR Business Partner, R&D

Opportunity

As the Associate Director, HR Business Partner, R&D, you will be a key member of the Human Resources function, supporting the delivery of HR initiatives that drive business results and foster a values‑based culture across global regions. Reporting to the Senior Director/Director HR Business Partner, you will work closely with business leaders and HR teams to deliver people solutions that align with both enterprise and local objectives.

You will be responsible for the operational delivery of HR programmes, ensuring best‑in‑class people practices and the consistent application of policies, while considering local legal and cultural requirements.

• Execute HR strategy and initiatives cascaded from the enterprise and business segment, ensuring effective delivery at the regional and local levels.
• Act as a partner to business leaders and managers, providing expert advice and operational support across the employee lifecycle, including talent acquisition, onboarding, development, retention, and off‑boarding.
• Collaborate with business leaders, offering leadership coaching and supporting their development and effectiveness as a unified leadership team.
• Collaborate with HR teams to ensure consistent application of global HR policies, procedures and initiatives, adapting for local compliance and cultural relevance.
• Support and lead organisational change programmes such as restructures, mergers, and acquisitions, ensuring effective communication, stakeholder engagement, and change management.
• Champion a culture of inclusion, wellbeing and high performance by developing and delivering relevant initiatives, training, and engagement programmes.
• Analyse HR metrics and data to identify trends, risks and opportunities; present findings to HR leadership and recommend action plans.
• Support leadership development and succession planning activities, identifying high‑potential talent and facilitating career development initiatives in partnership with senior HRBPs and Talent Partners.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant employment laws and regulations across countries of operation, working closely with Legal and Compliance teams.
• Drive the implementation of global reward and recognition programmes, ensuring alignment with business strategy and local relevance.
• Act as a culture ambassador, promoting the organisation’s values and vision across global locations.

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, or a related field (master’s degree or professional HR qualification such as CIPD preferred).
• Minimum 10 years’ relevant experience within a global or matrixed organisation within the pharmaceutical industry.
• Proven experience as an HR Business Partner or People Partner in a multinational environment, with a strong understanding of global employment law, HR practices, and cultural nuances.
• Demonstrable track record supporting the design and delivery of HR strategies and organisational change programmes.
• Strong project management skills, able to lead and deliver multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Proficiency with HRIS and Microsoft Office suite.
• Fluency in English; additional languages are advantageous.

• Business acumen and results orientation – able to deliver against KPIs and support business strategy.
• Leadership and workforce planning – supporting leadership development and succession planning.
• Change management and transformation – understanding core behavioural change management and supporting business transformation.
• Senior stakeholder management – building relationships across the business and HR functions.
• Data and insights‑driven – leveraging HR data for informed decision‑making.
• Global mindset and cultural agility – able to operate effectively across regions and cultures.
• Relationship building, collaboration, and influencing.
• Communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Integrity, discretion, and a commitment to confidentiality.
• Resilience, adaptability, and agility in a complex, fast‑paced environment.
• High degree of emotional intelligence and cultural sensitivity.

This is a global role based in a major company location with a requirement for periodic international travel to company sites and business meetings. The postholder should demonstrate flexibility and adaptability to operate effectively across time‑zones and cultures.

CSL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please visit