Head of HR and Compliance 

Position based in Koforidua, Ghana (West Africa)

 

Company description

 

Maagrace Garment Industries Limited (MGIL) is a leading apparel manufacturing firm established in 2003 in Ghana. With a current workforce of approximately 850 operators, the factory is currently in an expansion phase and will accommodate up to 1,800 employees by the end of 2026. Situated in a region with a population of over a million people, MGIL stands as the largest employer, contributing significantly to the local economy.

 

At MGIL, our vision is to pioneer ethical manufacturing practices on a large scale within the African context. We aspire to establish a model factory that exemplifies innovation, efficiency, and integrity, while delivering high-quality products to our customers. We specialize in both heavy and light weight garments including fleece, sweats, nightwear, underwear, shirts, schoolwear, dancewear. We work with mainly large scale brands in the USA and have strict quality and compliance requirements.

Central to our mission is the empowerment of our workforce, with a particular focus on promoting opportunities for women and ensuring their health and wellbeing. 

 

MGIL is majority owned by Ethical Apparel Africa (EAA), a sourcing company that specializes in delivering ethical, cost-competitive, and high-quality manufacturing solutions to international apparel brands operating in West Africa. EAA boasts a dynamic team with extensive expertise garnered from various corners of the globe, spanning product development, quality assurance, account management, social impact, operations, and finance. EAA collaborates with factories across West Africa to elevate technical and ethical standards to meet international benchmarks. Their clients are international brands hailing from Europe and the USA, all seeking to establish and expand their manufacturing presence within the African continent.

 

Position overview

 

The Head of HR and Compliance will oversee all human resources and compliance functions within MGIL. This role is crucial for ensuring that HR strategies align with business goals, fostering employee engagement, and maintaining compliance with local laws and industry standards. This person will report to the General Manager (Production) and work closely with the MGIL and EAA teams. They will have the following responsibilities: 

 

HR strategy and employee engagement

• Conduct regular reviews of HR strategies, systems, policies, and procedures to identify areas for efficiency and improvement in both compliance and employee engagement.

• Implement changes and updates to HR policies and procedures based on head of department, workers’ feedback, industry best practices, and the goal of enhancing employee engagement.

• Provide training and support to HR assistant managers on the implementation of HR strategies and policies, based on participative and meaningful training 

• Conduct regular employee engagement surveys to gather feedback and identify areas for improvement in workforce health, wellbeing and satisfaction in close collaboration with the different Workers Committee  to gather feedback and address concerns to improve trust and motivation.

• Regularly monitor the effectiveness of the Company Grievance Mechanism and take proactive measures to address employee concerns and enhance overall employee experience.

 

Recruitment and talent management

• Collaborate with department heads to develop a comprehensive recruitment plan based on business needs and workforce requirements.

• Develop proactive and strategic talent pipelines with a focus on middle management (e.g., Graduate Trainee program).

• Hold the management team accountable for Career development and Succession planning implementation.

• Implement recruitment strategies to attract qualified candidates, including job postings, networking events, and referrals.

• Conduct rigorous interviews and assessments to evaluate candidates' suitability for specific roles.

• Develop and implement an onboarding program to ensure new employees receive comprehensive orientation and training on company policies, procedures, and culture.

• Design and deliver training programs to enhance employees' skills and competencies in line with organizational goals and objectives.

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Compensation and Benefits

• Collaborate with the executive management team to design and refine performance incentive programs that align with organizational goals and objectives.

• Ensure compliance with local laws and company policies regarding compensation and benefits administration for local and expat employees.

• Review and update compensation and benefits packages to remain competitive in the market and attract top talent.

• Implement systems for tracking and managing compensation and benefits administration processes efficiently.

• Lead proactive negotiations and discussions with worker committees around pay reviews.

• Provide education and support to employees on understanding their compensation and benefits packages.

 

Factory Expansion

• Lead HR and compliance planning for MGIL’s expansion from 850 to 1,800 employees by 2026.

• Ensure workforce scaling is aligned with production needs, labor law requirements, and international compliance standards.

• Build systems and processes to support large-scale recruitment, onboarding, and training at pace.

• Anticipate and mitigate risks associated with rapid workforce growth (e.g., turnover, absenteeism, worker wellbeing).

• Partner with management and EAA to ensure the expanded site meets requirements for both local regulations and international brand audits.

• Oversee the integration of EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) certification standards into HR and compliance practices during the expansion, ensuring that workforce development supports MGIL’s sustainability and efficiency goals.

 

Compliance and Safety

• Lead the Compliance and Health & Safety team to ensure the factory site is not only compliant with all legal and safety requirements but also successfully pass and maintain international certifications standards (e.g. WRAP or GRS, GOTs)

• Ensure compliance is maintained at all times and continuously improved; own factory audit readiness at all times.

• Oversee all audit activities and ensure corrective action plans are implemented and maintained.

• Build relationships with local and national authorities to stay informed about changing compliance regulations and ensure continuous adherence.

 

Leadership Development

• Run initiatives that contribute to the MGIL Model Factory role.

• Conduct leadership competency assessments and 360-degree feedback sessions to evaluate leadership effectiveness in various domains.

• Provide leadership development programs and coaching to enhance leadership skills and competencies.

• Implement leadership training initiatives focused on areas such as respect, resource management, teamwork, transparency, delivering results, self-awareness, people management, engagement, problem-solving, and change management.

• Foster a culture of continuous open feedback and development to support leaders in seeking feedback, understanding areas for improvement, communicating well and actively working on personal and professional growth.

 

Regulations and Impact

• In close relationship with the EAA compliance, sourcing and logistics team integrate Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) in the supply chain to ensure compliance with international human rights standards.

• Maintain and update a comprehensive risk register to identify, assess, and mitigate risks related to compliance and operations.

• Ensure compliance with new EU regulations affecting the textile and apparel industry.

• Work closely with the EAA Compliance and Impact team to assess worker needs and profiles via baseline surveys and contribute to the design of workers’ engagement, empowerment and wellbeing programs (with the EAA Foundation) 

• Complete Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) framework for each benefit programme and make recommendations for future programmes.

• Support Brands’ / clients’ visits at the factory and highlight progress and vision on impact in order to develop engaged / sustained partnerships

• Complete monthly reports on factory progress, risk analysis and next priorities.

• Support the development of marketing material on factory social compliance and impact to share with partner brands, development agencies and funding partners (e.g. foundations).

 

Qualifications & Attributes

 

• Degree in Human Resources. Master’s degree is preferred.

• Strong knowledge of Ghana Labour Law and compliance requirements.

• Experience in HR management within manufacturing is strongly preferred.

• Proven ability to liaise successfully with stakeholders including GRA, SSNIT/GLICO, Labour Commission, Government, Municipalities, Immigration, and Free Zone authorities.

• Strong leadership and communication skills, with cultural sensitivity.

• Proven experience scaling HR systems and teams in line with rapid workforce growth.

• Experience managing HR contributions to sustainability and certification processes (e.g., EDGE, ISO, WRAP) a plus

• Demonstrated ability to coach, inspire, and guide teams toward achieving goals.

• High resilience, adaptability, and emotional intelligence.

• Evidence of the following: proactive, resourceful, integrity-driven, able to multitask and thrive in a fast-paced environment, with a positive and collaborative approach.

 

How to apply 

 

• This position will start asap

• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis

• Please send a resume and a specific cover letter for the position to talent@ethicalapparelafrica.com with the reference in the subject line “Head HR 25”

• Only completed applications with accurate reference will be considered and only the most qualified candidates shortlisted for interview

• MGIL is dedicated to equal opportunities in employment, welcoming talents from Africa and around the world. We strongly encourage applications from women, individuals with disabilities, and ethnic minorities.

For more information: Maagrace and Ethical Apparel Africa

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