Head of Employee Relations

Pedros; Durban; On-site; ZAR 250,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

Pedros in Durban seeks an experienced Head of Employee Relations to lead our Group ER function. You will drive standards across the organisation, guide on complex and high-risk matters, and partner with HR and operations to reduce ER risk.

With 8–10 years in ER/IR and strong SA labour-relations background, you will ensure legally defensible, fair, and practical outcomes while building capability and governance across multiple sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Industrial Relations, or Labour Law required.
• Postgraduate qualification advantageous.
• Professional HR/Employee Relations certification advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead and strengthen the Group Employee Relations function across the organisation.
• Establish consistent ER standards throughout the company.
• Provide expert guidance on complex and high-risk ER matters.
• Strengthen capability of HR and operational leaders in ER.
• Use data and trends to proactively reduce ER risk.

Skills

Employee relations leadership

Industrial relations

CCMA knowledge

Data-driven approach

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/IR/Labour Law

Postgraduate qualification in Labour Relations/HR/Business Administration

HR/Employee Relations certification (SABPP/CIPD)

Job description

Location: Durban, KwaZulu-Natal

We are looking for an experienced and commercially minded Head of Employee Relations to lead and strengthen our Group Employee Relations function.

This is a senior role for an ER leader who can operate beyond reactive case management. You will establish consistent ER standards across the organisation, provide expert guidance on complex and high-risk matters, strengthen the capability of HR and operational leaders, and use data and trends to proactively reduce employee relations risk.

You will need to combine deep South African labour relations expertise with sound commercial judgement, understanding that the best ER solution must be legally defensible, fair and practical within an operational environment.

Education Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Industrial Relations, Labour Law or a related field – required.
• Postgraduate qualification in Labour Relations, Labour Law, Human Resources or Business Administration – advantageous.
• Professional HR / Employee Relations certification such as SABPP, CIPD or equivalent – advantageous.

Experience Requirements

• 8–10 years’ progressive Employee Relations / Industrial Relations experience, with at least 3 years in a senior ER, IR or Labour Relations leadership capacity.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex disciplinary, grievance, incapacity, investigation and dismissal matters across a large workforce.
• Strong track record representing employers at the CCMA and/or bargaining councils, including complex arbitration matters.
• Experience operating within a large, multi-site, high-volume environment, ideally within retail, logistics, FMCG, hospitality or a comparable sector.
• Proven experience advising senior executives and operational leaders on sensitive, high-risk and precedent-setting employee relations matters.
• Experience leading and developing ER / HR practitioners and building labour relations capability within line management.
• Demonstrated ability to analyse ER trends and case data, identify root causes and implement preventative interventions.
• Experience supporting restructuring, consultation and organisational change from an Employee Relations perspective.
• Track record of improving ER governance, case quality, turnaround times and consistency across multiple business units.