HR Business Partner

Merchant West; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 480,000 - 750,000; Full time

Job summary

Merchant West is seeking an HR Business Partner to provide hands-on HR support to allocated business units and partner with managers to deliver practical people solutions. The role focuses on operational excellence, employee relations, and the implementation of HR initiatives while building broader business partnering capability over time.

Responsibilities include advising on day-to-day employee relations, supporting recruitment and onboarding, managing performance cycles, coordinating training,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR or related field.
• 3-5 years HR generalist or junior HRBP experience.
• Experience managing employee relations processes.
• Exposure to recruitment, performance management and HR reporting.
• Financial services experience advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on HR support to allocated business units and managers on policies, procedures and people matters.
• Advise on day-to-day employee relations issues and ensure fairness and consistency.
• Escalate complex or high-risk matters to Head of HR.
• Support recruitment processes including job specs, shortlisting, interviews, and offers; coordinate onboarding and probation tracking.
• Monitor new hire integration and retention; assist with performance management cycles and goal setting.
• Assist with Training Needs Analysis and IDPs; coordinate training and track compliance.

Skills

Labour legislation expertise

HR case management

HR reporting & data analysis

Recruitment & interview support

HR systems proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR / Industrial Psychology

Tools

HRIS

ATS

Job description

Role Purpose

The HR Business Partner provides hands-on HR support to allocated business units, partnering with managers to deliver practical people solutions that support performance, engagement, and compliance. The role focuses on operational excellence, employee relations, and implementation of HR initiatives, while developing broader business partnering capability over time.

Role Purpose

The HR Business Partner provides hands-on HR support to allocated business units, partnering with managers to deliver practical people solutions that support performance, engagement, and compliance. The role focuses on operational excellence, employee relations, and implementation of HR initiatives, while developing broader business partnering capability over time.

Main Accountabilities

• HR Advisory & Business Support
• Act as first point of contact for managers and employees on HR policies, procedures, and people matters.
• Provide practical guidance on day-to-day employee relations issues.
• Support managers with people decisions, ensuring fairness and consistency.
• Escalate complex or high-risk matters to Head of HR where required.
• Recruitment & Onboarding
• Support the recruitment process (job specs, shortlisting, interview coordination, offers).
• Partner with managers to ensure quality hiring decisions.
• Facilitate onboarding and probation tracking.
• Monitor new hire integration and retention.
• Performance Management
• Support the implementation of the performance management cycle.
• Guide managers on goal setting, feedback, and performance conversations.
• Assist with underperformance processes under guidance from Head of HR.
• Learning & Development
• Assist with Training Needs Analysis.
• Coordinate training initiatives and track compliance training.
• Support implementation of Individual Development Plans (IDPs).
• Employee Relations & Compliance
• Manage routine ER cases (disciplinary, grievance, incapacity) in line with labour legislation.
• Ensure compliance with BCEA, LRA, EE Act and internal policies.
• Maintain accurate case documentation and HR records.
• Support audits and reporting requirements.
• Engagement & Culture
• Support engagement surveys and action planning.
• Assist with implementation of culture and recognition initiatives.
• Partner with managers to address team engagement concerns.
• HR Operations & Reporting
• Ensure accurate HRIS data management.
• Provide monthly HR metrics (turnover, absenteeism, recruitment tracking, ER cases).
• Support payroll inputs and checks where required.
• Identify practical process improvement opportunities.
• Additional HR Projects & Duties
• Undertake any other reasonable duties, special assignments, or HR projects as requested by the Head of HR or business leadership, ensuring flexibility and responsiveness to evolving organisational needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in HR / Industrial Psychology / related field.

Experience

• 3-5 years' HR experience in a generalist or junior HRBP role.
• Experience managing employee relations processes.
• Exposure to recruitment, performance management and HR reporting.
• Financial services experience advantageous.

Skills

• Strong understanding of South African labour legislation
• HR case management and documentation
• HR reporting and data analysis
• Recruitment and interview support
• HR systems proficiency

Competencies

• Relationship building and stakeholder engagement
• Professional communication
• Problem solving and judgement
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Customer service orientation