HR Operations Specialist – Capetown
Sub-Saharan Africa | Full-time
Responsibilities
- Develop, implement, and maintain HR policies, procedures, and employment documentation that comply with South African labour legislation and align with the Company’s global standards.
- Act as the local subject-matter expert on employment law; monitor legislative and regulatory developments to proactively update contracts and practices.
- Embed compliance into the employee lifecycle: verify right-to-work, issue compliant employment contracts, and ensure the lawful handling of personal data (POPIA compliance) from day one.
- Manage core HR operations (onboarding, internal moves, promotions, offboarding) and keep employee records accurate, complete, and audit-ready.
- Analyse HR metrics to identify trends, mitigate people-related legal/operational risks, and drive employee engagement and retention initiatives.
- Ensure both substantive and procedural fairness across all people processes — discipline, incapacity, grievances, dismissals, and retrenchments.
- Provide expert guidance, coaching, and support to managers through disciplinary, grievance, and conflict matters, ensuring correct procedures are followed and documented.
- Lead end-to-end formal enquiries and hearings, conducting thorough, impartial investigations.
- Resolve issues early and fairly to prevent escalation, and represent the organisation professionally at the CCMA or Labour Court, preparing all necessary case documentation and evidence.
- Oversee day-to-day office operations and organize convenient office space for the local team, acting as the primary point of contact for facility coordination, vendor management, and basic procurement.
- Handle local administrative logistics for on- and offboarding (e.g., workspace setup, equipment and access provisioning) to ensure a seamless employee experience.
Requirements
- 3+ years of experience in a similar position.
- Bachelor’s degree or above in Human Resources, Human Resources Management, Labor Relations, Business/Management, Psychology, or a related field.
- Strong knowledge and hands-on experience in South African labour law (LRA, BCEA, EEA, POPIA, and related regulations), with a proven track record of applying it in an HR setting.
- Proven ability to independently manage and support a broad range of HR operations across the full employee lifecycle, including core administrative processes such as document management, onboarding and offboarding, and the maintenance of personnel records.
- Demonstrated experience developing HR policies and managing employee relations, including disciplinary, grievance, and CCMA matters, with sound procedural and substantive fairness.
- Strong organizational and planning skills with attention to detail in documentation and reporting.
- Exceptional investigation, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
- Takes full ownership of HR processes in the region, operating independently and reliably as the local point of contact.
- Proactive and self-directed, with a strong instinct for identifying and addressing what needs attention.
- Operates with integrity, sound judgment, and transparent communication, befitting a trusted standalone role.
- Meticulous and detail-oriented, particularly when handling compliance matters and sensitive employee data.
- Comfortable managing multiple priorities at once without sacrificing quality.
Will be A Plus
- Experience in an international company.
- Prior experience building a team from the ground up.
We offer
- 15 paid vacation days per year
- 10 paid sick leave days per year
- 10 public holidays
- Medical budget
- Professional education budget
- Language learning budget
- Wellness budget (gym membership, sports gear, and related expenses)