HR Business Partner

Phoenix Recruitment; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A boutique hotel and restaurant in Cape Town seeks an HR Business Partner to lead the HR team. You will enhance team culture, manage recruitment, and ensure compliance while supporting employees in a fast-paced environment. Candidates should have 5+ years of HR experience and a relevant diploma or degree. The role includes partnering with management and dealing with employee relations and development. This position allows for a meaningful impact in a vibrant hospitality setting.

Qualifications

• Grade 12 qualification is required.
• At least 5+ years of HR Generalist experience.
• Strong knowledge of South African labour legislation.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary HR contact for day-to-day queries.
• Manage the end-to-end recruitment process efficiently.
• Support performance reviews and employee relations.

Skills

Emotional intelligence

Strategic thinking

Administrative precision

Communication skills

Education

Diploma or Degree in HR Management / Industrial Psychology

Tools

Sage

ESS

Job description

Overview

Boutique Hotel & Restaurant in Gardens, Cape Town is looking for an HR Business Partner. We are looking for a professional to lead the team with care, supporting a team that values warmth, consistency and professionalism. You will play a critical role in shaping culture, supporting leaders, and ensuring compliance and structure. This role offers the opportunity to make a tangible impact in a fast-paced, people-first hospitality environment.

This is a hands-on role requiring equal parts emotional intelligence, strategic thinking and administrative precision. You will partner closely with the General Manager and HODs to ensure operational excellence and a values-driven employee experience.

Responsibilities

• People Operations & Support: Act as the primary HR contact for all day-to-day queries and people matters. Partner with the General Manager and HODs to reinforce a high-performance, inclusive team culture. Support the delivery of a consistent, human-centered employee experience across departments.
• Recruitment & Onboarding: Manage the end-to-end recruitment process, ensuring efficiency and legal compliance. Lead warm, structured onboarding processes aligned to brand and operational needs.
• Performance & Employee Relations: Support performance reviews, KPIs, probation feedback, and appraisals. Manage employee relations, including disciplinary and grievance processes. Engage directly with shop stewards and trade unions, maintaining open, constructive dialogue and supporting wage negotiations and procedural fairness. Coach managers in handling IR matters with legal and emotional intelligence.
• Training & Development: Identify training gaps and coordinate relevant internal and external learning interventions. Track compliance with skills development and employment equity obligations. Support succession planning and the development of internal talent pipelines.
• Compliance, Administration & Transactional Delivery: Maintain all HR records, including contracts, performance documentation, and leave registers. Prepare monthly payroll input and liaise with central payroll for accurate processing. Ensure full compliance with BCEA, LRA, EE Act, and company policies. Standardise and maintain current documentation, job descriptions, and SOPs.

Qualifications

• Requirements: Grade 12
• Education: Diploma or Degree in HR Management / Industrial Psychology (NQF 6–7).
• Experience: At least 5+ years’ HR Generalist experience, preferably in hospitality or luxury service environments. Strong working knowledge of South African labour legislation, including unionised environments.
• Skills: Experience with Sage, ESS or other HRIS platforms. Mature, emotionally intelligent, and able to manage sensitive people issues with discretion and professionalism. Comfortable working flexibly, including weekends or evenings when operations require it. Confident communicator with the credibility to coach managers and support change. Organised, detail-oriented, and passionate about creating meaningful work experiences.