HR Business Partner

Wild Dreams Hospitality; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 400,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious collection of luxury hotels is seeking an HR Business Partner who is focused on creating a human-centered culture. This role involves handling recruitment, employee relations, and compliance while working directly with management to foster a high-performance team environment. With a focus on emotional intelligence and communication, the position requires a proactive individual who can effectively handle sensitive HR matters and contribute to the overall guest experience.

Qualifications

• 5+ years' HR Generalist experience in hospitality or luxury service environments.
• Strong knowledge of South African labour legislation.
• Proven experience in managing sensitive people issues.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end recruitment processes and ensure legal compliance.
• Support performance reviews and manage employee relations.
• Identify training needs and coordinate learning interventions.

Skills

Emotional Intelligence

Conflict Management

Communication

Organizational Skills

Education

Diploma or Degree in HR Management / Industrial Psychology

Tools

Sage

ESS

Job description

A collection of upmarket hotels is looking for an HR BUSINESS PARTNER who leads with care and delivers with confidence.

Supporting a team that values warmth, consistency, and professionalism, the HR Business Partner will play a critical role in shaping culture, supporting leaders, and ensuring compliance and structure are never at odds with humanity.

Based on-site at selected properties within this distinctive collection of luxury hotels and lodges, situated in Cape Town, this role offers the opportunity to make a tangible impact in a fast-paced, people-first hospitality environment.Ca

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 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.

Standardize and maintain current documentation, job descriptions, and SOPs.

Required Skills & Experience

Diploma or Degree in HR Management / Industrial Psychology (NQF 6–7).

5+ years' HR Generalist experience, preferably in hospitality or luxury retail / service environments.

Strong working knowledge of South African labour legislation, including unionized environments.

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.

Organized, detail-oriented, and passionate about creating meaningful work experiences.

Maximizing Impact as a Member of a Distinctive Collection of Luxury Hotels and Lodges

Excellent attention to detail.

Guest focus philosophy, living the brand and driving the experience.

Excellent communication skills (written and verbal), practicing honest communication.

Team player with positive attitude, enthusiasm, and emotional control.

Excellent time management and self-discipline, interpersonal & solution seeking skills.

Proactive, use initiative and creative flair when required.

Committed and loyal, adaptable, and flexible.

Must work accurately under pressure.

People skills – tolerance, patience, and care, ability to receive constructive feedback openly.

Opportunities and experiences are created for people to enrich their lives.

Values guide behaviors and actions, and they help find the right partnerships for growth.