Employment Relations Specialist

West Coast Personnel; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 609,000 - 730,000; Full time

Job summary

West Coast Personnel is seeking an experienced Employment Relations Specialist in Woodstock, Cape Town. The role focuses on handling complex labour relations, disciplinary matters, and union engagements, representing the employer at the CCMA and other dispute forums.

You will guide managers through sensitive issues, draft agreements, and identify labour risks before they escalate, ensuring fair treatment and compliant processes across sites.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5–7 years' employment or industrial relations experience.
• Experience in a unionized operational environment.
• Hands-on experience in disciplinary matters, grievances and labour disputes.
• Experience representing employers at the CCMA.
• Experience drafting collective and recognition agreements and supporting union consultations.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical employment relations advice to management, HR teams and employees.
• Guide disciplinary, grievance, incapacity and dismissal processes with fair procedures.
• Support union engagements, consultations and negotiations preparation.
• Draft, interpret and implement recognition, substantive and collective agreements.
• Represent the employer at CCMA and assist with bargaining councils and dispute forums.
• Prepare case files, evidence and documentation for conciliation/arbitration.
• Identify labour risks and trends, recommending appropriate action.
• Facilitate employee engagement and clear communication on industrial relations matters.
• Review disciplinary policies for alignment with legislation and operations.
• Maintain accurate case records and monthly reporting.
• Collaborate with Employment Relations Manager on complex cases.

Skills

Unionized environment

CCMA representation

Disciplinary matters

Grievances & disputes

Labour law knowledge

Industrial relations

Education

Bachelor-level degree in Industrial Relations/Labour Law

Postgraduate qualification in Labor Law or dispute resolution

Job description

EMPLOYMENT RELATIONS SPECIALIST

Woodstock, Cape Town | R60 000 per month

When labour relations get complex, are you the person others turn to? If you can handle tough conversations, navigate union engagements and confidently represent an employer at the CCMA, this opportunity deserves your attention. We are looking for an experienced Employment Relations Specialist who combines sound labour law knowledge with practical judgement. Someone who can guide managers through sensitive matters, resolve disputes and build constructive working relationships while maintaining fair, consistent employment practices. This role offers scope to put your expertise into action—from disciplinary matters and dispute resolution to collective agreements, consultation processes and identifying labour risks before they escal.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide practical employment relations advice to management, HR teams and employees.
• Guide disciplinary, grievance, incapacity and dismissal processes, ensuring procedural and substantive fairness.
• Support union engagements, consultations and preparation for negotiations.
• Draft, interpret and assist with implementing recognition, substantive and collective agreements.
• Represent the employer at the CCMA and assist with matters before bargaining councils and other dispute resolution forums.
• Prepare case files, evidence, formal correspondence and documentation for conciliation and arbitration proceedings.
• Identify labour risks, recurring disputes and emerging trends, and recommend appropriate action.
• Facilitate employee engagement and clear communication on industrial relations matters.
• Review disciplinary policies and procedures for alignment with applicable legislation and operational requirements.
• Maintain accurate case records and contribute to monthly employment relations reporting.
• Work closely with the Employment Relations Manager on complex cases and collective labour matters.

What you need to bring

• A minimum of 5–7 years’ relevant employment or industrial relations experience in fishing, maritime, FMCG, manufacturing or food processing.
• Proven experience in a unionized operational environment.
• Hands-on experience managing disciplinary matters, grievances, consultations and labour disputes.
• Experience representing employers at the CCMA, including preparing documentation for dispute resolution and arbitration.
• Experience drafting collective and recognition agreements and supporting union consultation processes.
• A completed three-year degree in Industrial Relations, Labor Relations, Law or a related field.
• A postgraduate qualification in Labor Law or dispute resolution.
• Relevant training in CCMA processes, bargaining council proceedings or chairing disciplinary enquiries.
• Strong working knowledge of South African labour legislation, including the Labor Relations Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act, relevant codes of good practice and bargaining council agreements.
• Own transport and willingness to travel to operational sites.

What will set you apart

You remain composed under pressure, communicate clearly and approach sensitive matters with discretion. You can assess the facts, prepare a sound case and give managers advice they can confidently act on. Above all, you understand that effective employment relations require both legal knowledge and the ability to work constructively with people.