Regional HR Business Partner - LATAM

Regional HR Business Partner - LATAM

Location: Hybrid-  San Roman / San Jose

We are now seeking an experienced HR Business Partner to play a key role in integrating and strengthening our people practices across the LATAM region.

Role Overview

This is a critical, hands-on HR Business Partner role responsible for building, harmonising, and scaling HR practices across multiple LATAM entities (Colombia, Costa Rica and Ecuador), while coordinating closely with colleagues in headquarters and other subsidiaries

The role will focus initially on post-acquisition integration, ensuring alignment of HR frameworks, compliance with local legislation, and implementation of consistent, scalable people processes, while recognising and preserving effective local practices.

Location

Costa Rica (with regional responsibility) Located in the vicinity of San Jose or ideally San Ramon, but must have  access to the San Ramon area of Costa Rica and happy to commute to office 2 times per week< as well as visiting our sites in Columbia and Ecuador on a regular cadence.

Key Responsibilities

HR Integration & Harmonisation:

• Lead the audit of existing HR practices across LATAM sites (including contracts, compensation and policies)
• Drive the standardisation of core HR processes, ensuring synergy with global frameworks while respecting local practices
• Develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) and employee handbooks across entities

Data, Reporting & Governance:

• Implement a standardised monthly headcount and HR reporting framework, providing accurate data to global stakeholders
• Ensure data integrity and consistency across systems and locations
• Support reporting requirements for senior leadership and business planning

Performance & Talent Management:

• Implement a structured performance management process across LATAM entities
• Design and implement initiatives to improve talent retention based on regional challenges and share across other subsidiaries.
• Partner with leaders to embed a culture of performance, feedback and accountability
• Support talent development and succession planning initiatives

Recruitment & Workforce Planning:

• Establish a consistent hiring framework for key roles and define best practice recruitment processes across the region, whilst respecting existing local custom & practice
• Partner with hiring managers to support critical hires and workforce planning
• Ensure recruitment approaches are aligned with both global standards and local market realities

Compensation & Benefits:

• Review and align compensation structures for critical roles across LATAM entities
• Provide insight on local market practices to ensure competitive and compliant reward strategies
• Support benchmarking and harmonisation efforts as part of integration

Legal Compliance & Risk Management:

• Ensure full compliance with local labour laws and regulations across all LATAM entities
• Partner with legal and external advisors where required
• Identify and mitigate HR-related risks during and post-integration

Global Collaboration:

• Partner with HR colleagues in headquarters and other subsidiaries to align approaches and share best practice
• Support the implementation of consistent global HR standards across all regions
• Act as a key regional HR contact within a global matrix organisation

Health and Safety:

• Act as point of contact for outsourced Health and Safety support across Latam and provide monthly reporting to UK Head of Health and Safety.

Reporting to

The Chief People Officer UK with a dotted line reporting into the General Manager Rahan ( based Israel) and  close working relations with Country managers in Costa Rica, Colombia and Ecuador

Travel: Required across LATAM and occasional travel to UK

Skills & Experience

Essential:

• Proven experience as a stand alone HR Business Partner in a multi-country or regional role in Latam and operating across multiple time zones with other HR colleagues.
• Strong knowledge of LATAM labour law and HR practices (ideally Colombia, Costa Rica and Ecuador)
• Experience supporting organisational change, integration or transformation initiatives
• Demonstrated ability to build, improve and implement HR processes
• Strong stakeholder management skills across cultures and geographies
• Fluency in Spanish and English

Desirable:

• Experience in biotech, agriculture or science-led organisations
• Exposure to global HR structures and matrix environments
• Experience working across  APAC  regions

Personal Attributes:

• Comfortable as the only dedicated HR support for the Latam region ( 3 sites) operating on a different timezone to other global HR colleagues.

• Self -driven  and used to operating as a business partner at a Senior level but also Hands-on and pragmatic, with a strong delivery focus.
• Culturally aware with the ability to balance global consistency and local nuance
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability
• Resilient and adaptable in a fast-paced, evolving environment
• Collaborative, with excellent communication and influencing skills

About Tropic

Tropic Biosciences is a leading biotechnology company focused on developing innovative crop solutions through gene editing and advanced plant science. As part of our continued growth, we are expanding our global footprint through acquisition, bringing together teams across Latin America, Middle East/ Africa , South-east Asia and UK.

Closing Date: 28th August 2026