Employee Relations Specialist

Aeciminingchemicals; Sandton; On-site; ZAR 480,000 - 720,000; Full time

Job summary

AECI Group is seeking an Employee Relations Specialist to implement ER strategy and advise line managers on ER matters. The role focuses on ensuring compliance with labour legislation, promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, and leading wage negotiations across multiple operations.

The successful candidate will have 5+ years in Employee Relations, proven dispute resolution experience, and strong abilities in advising and training line management and HR Partners on ER processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR, Labour relations or related field.
• Minimum 5 years experience in Employee Relations at operational, tactical and strategic levels.
• Experience with unions, mediation, arbitration and litigation.
• Proven ability to work with unions and resolve disputes at all levels.

Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with labour legislation and workplace transformation related laws.
• Drive employee relations initiatives aligned to HR strategy across the Group.
• Advise line managers on ER matters and resolve workplace disputes.
• Lead wage negotiations and ensure collective agreements comply with laws.
• Design programs to improve relations between management, employees and unions.

Skills

Planning and organizing

Negotiating agreements

MS Office

Excellent communication and presenting

Analytical and problem-solving

Creative and innovating

Numerical and mathematical

Adhering to principles and values

Relating and networking

Persuading and influencing

Presenting and communicating

Deciding and initiating action

Delivering results and customer focus

Education

Bachelor's degree in Employee / Labour relations or HR

Tools

MS Office

Job description

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The Employee Relations Specialist is responsible for the implementation of the Employee Relations Strategy and must provide Employee Relations advisory expertise to the line managers within business. The ER Specialist must ensure effective implementation of Employee Relations frameworks, agreements and practices of the Group and must drive the creation of a harmonious working environment. Responsible for driving the implementation of proactive diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives within the business.

Role and Responsibilities:

Ensure compliance with Labour legislation:

• Stay up to date and ensure compliance with the latest amendments to the Employment law (labour, diversity and workplace transformation related legislation), which is constantly changing.
• Must be able to interpret, advise and apply employment legislation and ensure alignment to workplace transformation best practices.

Employee Relations:

• Execute and implement Employee Relations initiatives in support of HR strategy and ensure alignment between HR and ER initiatives across the Group.
• Act as a custodian of the Employee Relations and Human Capital policies and best practice programmes.
• Provide guidance and support to business line managers matters in line with respective legislation.
• Lead the Group in various countries of operations in plant wage negotiations.
• Ensure that collective agreements are aligned with in-country legislation and the Group’s values.
• Manage dispute resolution process in business area.
• Serve as an advisor to the HC Fraternity on all ER matters and ensure that equitable and pragmatic resolutions to disputes and major industrial issues are achieved by exercising sound judgment based on relevant knowledge, experience and competence.
• Empower, guide and advise line management and HR Partners on the resolution of employee problems, including incapacity, grievances, workplace disputes, etc.
• Strike / Protest action management in the relevant business area.
• Appropriately support the business through consultation and by providing advice and guidance on ER processes.
• Advise line management and HR Partners on relevant amendments to various in-country labour legislation and on the operation of legal awards and agreements.
• Design, develop and implement workplace forums, programs and activities aimed at improving relations between management, employees and organised labour.
• Initiate training programs and/or forums aimed at improving line management, HR Partners and Shop Stewards ER knowledge and the quality of labour relations.
• Maintain industry and business form involvement in order to protect and foster the interests of the AECI Group.

Union Negotiations, Consultation, Engagement and Information Sharing:

• Engage and participate in all business area related in union negotiations, consultations, engagement and information sharing.
• Ensure a robust and healthy working relationship with the recognized union representatives in the relevant business areas.
• Provide regular employee relations training and development opportunities to union representatives to ensure effective workplace harmony and stability.

Manage and / or coordinate the dispute resolution function of the business:

• Manage and/or coordinate the dispute resolution function for the business at all Mediation, Conciliations, Arbitration.
• Ensure effective legal representation is sourced for all Labour Court applications / litigation proceedings impacting on the business area.

Performance Management

• Lead the implementation and embedment of the Performance Enhancement policy and practices across the organisation.
• Ensure the cascading of the Performance targets down to the lowest level within organisation and ensure appropriate performance contracting that will roll up and deliver on Strategic objectives.
• Enable and support line managers with the conducting of performance reviews and management of feedback to employees.
• Report of the Performance Enhancement process and implement actions to support and drive a high-performance culture across the Group.

Special Conditions

• Pressurized environment especially from Legislative and Union perspective.
• Quick response to request and deliver within agreed timelines.

Qualification and Experience

• Minimum: Relevant Bachelor's degree preferably in Employee / Labour relations, Human Resources or related field
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in Employee Relations with a solid record of accomplishment in problem solving at operational tactical and strategic level.
• Proven experience in labour relations, mediation, arbitration and litigation.
• Proven experience in working with Unions, and dispute resolution at all levels.

A: Skills

• Planning and organizing
• Negotiating agreements
• MS Office
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Creative and innovating
• Numerical and Mathematical
• Adhering to principles and values
• Relating and networking
• Persuading and influencing
• Presenting and communication information
• Deciding and initiating action
• Delivering results and meeting customer expectations