Employee Relations Manager

OutsideCapital; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 300 000 - 400 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading firm in South Africa seeks an experienced Employee Relations expert to drive strategic change and develop robust industrial relations policies. This role requires a post-graduate qualification and at least 8 years of progressive experience in Employee Relations. The candidate should demonstrate a strong record of managing mediations and understand South African labour legislation. This is an excellent opportunity to influence decision-making and implement enabling technology for effective employee relations tracking.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive experience in Employee Relations.
• Proven success at operational, tactical, and strategic levels.
• Sound understanding of South African labour legislation.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic change in Employee Relations.
• Develop industrial relations policies aligned with HR vision.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership.

Skills

Employee Relations expertise

Creative problem-solving

Leadership skills

Business acumen

Education

Post-graduate degree in Labour Relations or equivalent

Job description

Overview

Are you a seasoned Employee Relations expert ready to lead strategic change in a dynamic, large-scale environment? This is a unique opportunity to move beyond day-to-day management and drive the development of robust industrial relations policies and cutting-edge ER strategies aligned with a major group HR vision. You will be instrumental in assessing and integrating complex labour models (including insourcing/outsourcing strategies) to build a truly best-in-class structure. This role offers significant scope to influence decision-making, implement enabling technology for ER tracking, and act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership across multiple key operational regions. If you thrive on complex problem-solving, championing organizational culture, and translating legal requirements into practical, effective solutions, this leadership role is your next career move.

Qualifications

• Post-graduate degree in Labour Relations, HR, or an equivalent qualification.
• A minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in Employee Relations, demonstrating proven success at operational, tactical, and strategic levels.
• Demonstrable track record managing mediations, conciliations, and arbitrations, with specific success documented at the CCMA/Labour Court.
• In-depth, sound understanding of core South African labour legislation (e.g., BCEA, LRA, EEA).
• Exceptional business acumen, coupled with strong creative problem-solving and decisive leadership skills, ideally within the FMCG sector.