People & Organization Head – South Africa

Travel required 5%

Role Summary

The Head of People & Organisation will lead the end-to-end people strategy across the African market. This strategic role is central to driving organisational transformation, fostering a high-performance culture, and ensuring compliance with local and international employment regulations. The incumbent will act as a trusted advisor to the leadership team, embedding best practices in people management while ensuring operational excellence across all HR functions.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Business Partnering

• Strategy & Transformation:

1. Develop and implement a comprehensive people strategy aligned with the business’s strategic objectives.
2.  Lead organisational transformation initiatives, ensuring the business remains agile and future ready

• Culture & Engagement:

1. Champion a positive organisational culture that promotes engagement, inclusion, and innovation.
2. Design and implement initiatives to measure and improve employee engagement.

• Performance:

1. Establish and drive a robust performance management framework to foster a high-performance culture.
2. Ensure alignment between individual and organisational goals.

• Talent:

1. Lead talent acquisition, retention, and succession planning strategies to secure and develop top-tier talent.
2. Implement leadership development and career progression frameworks.

• Governance:

1. Ensure HR policies and practices adhere to governance requirements and local labour laws.
2. Provide guidance on ethical practices and compliance matters.

• Skills Development:

1. Oversee the implementation of skills development programs to upskill employees and meet business needs.
2. Ensure compliance with Skills Development legislation and manage related statutory filings.

• Employee Relations (ER):

1. Act as a key advisor on complex employee relations issues.
2. Promote a harmonious work environment by resolving disputes effectively and in compliance with labour laws.

• Employment Equity (EE):

1. Drive the organisation’s EE agenda, ensuring alignment with local legislation and diversity goals.
2. Personnel and Business Administration

• Insurances:

Ensure employee insurance policies are in place, up-to-date, and meet organisational needs.

• Employee Benefits:

Own the end-to-end management of employee benefits, ensuring they are competitive, compliant, and value-adding.

• Reward:

Ensure the organisation’s reward strategy complies with local regulations and is aligned with market benchmarks providing value to all stakeholders.

• Statutory Filings:

Ensure all statutory filings (e.g., Employment Equity, Skills Development) are accurate and completed on time.

• Overheads Management:

Manage HR-related overheads effectively, ensuring cost efficiency meeting budget commitments.

Stakeholder Management and key Interfaces

• Internal: Executive leadership team, department managers, and employees across all levels to ensure alignment of HR strategies with organizational goals and foster a high-performance culture.
• External: Recruitment agencies, labour unions, external consultants, regulatory bodies, and training providers to support talent acquisition, compliance, and development initiatives. 

Skills and Experience

• A bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or a related field. A Master’s degree is advantageous.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a senior HR leadership role. Exposure to the African market is advantageous.
• Proven track record in strategic HR leadership, driving transformation, and managing complex organisational change.
• Deep knowledge of labour laws and regulations.
• Experience in managing HR operations, including benefits, compliance, and employee relations in a unionised manufacturing environment.

What we are looking for

We are seeking a dynamic and visionary individual with unwavering integrity and a solution-focused mindset. The ideal candidate is a resilient self-starter who thrives under pressure and adapts seamlessly in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment. This role is perfect for someone with the passion and drive to pioneer innovative initiatives and leave a lasting legacy within our organisation.