HR Manager

G-Core Capital; Pinetown; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

G-Core Capital’s client, a global manufacturing concern, seeks an HR Executive to lead strategic HR while remaining hands-on in execution. You will balance operational HR with long-term business goals and drive HR initiatives across the two plants.

The ideal candidate has 10–15 years in unionised environments, a Postgraduate degree, strong IR and negotiation skills, and the ability to engage global stakeholders, including American and European counterparts.

Qualifications

• 10–15 years in unionised environments with a Postgrad related degree.
• Extensive experience in industrial relations, union negotiations and conflict resolution.
• Strategic in outlook, with hands-on execution and operational HR balance.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of 4 direct reports and drive HR strategy across two manufacturing plants.
• Engage with all levels of staff, from senior leadership to plant-floor employees.
• Represent the company credibly at local and global levels and with global stakeholders.
• Drive performance management, accountability and underperformance resolution.
• Provide HR metrics and numbers to demonstrate impact on delivery, productivity and cost.

Skills

IR experience

Union negotiations

Strategic HR

Stakeholder management

People leadership

HR metrics

Change management

Performance management

Education

Postgraduate degree

Job description

Our client is a global and stable manufacturing concern seeking the skills of an HR Executive.

• A seasoned HR professional with extensive experience in unionised environments (10 -15 years with a Post Grad related degree).
• Highly skilled in industrial relations (IR), union negotiations, conflict resolution, and maintaining strong employee relations.
• Strategic in outlook, while also hands-on in execution, with the ability to balance operational HR with long-term business goals.
• Exceptionally well spoken, professional and able to represent the company credibly at both local and global levels.
• Experienced in working with global stakeholders, particularly across American and European counterparts, and able to manage a demanding global reporting line.
• Responsible for leading a team of 4 direct reports and driving HR strategy across two manufacturing plants with ±500-550 employees.
• Comfortable engaging with all levels of staff, from senior leadership to plant-floor employees, earning buy-in and respect across the business.
• Prepared to be visible on the ground (safety gear, plant walk-throughs) while also presenting confidently at executive and global forums.
• Strong in performance management, holding people accountable, and addressing underperformance effectively.
• Commercially minded, with a strong grasp of HR metrics and numbers to demonstrate the impact of HR decisions on delivery, productivity, and cost.
• Resilient and able to challenge senior management respectfully and influence decision-making.
• With the potential to transition into a global HR role long-term.

Additional focus areas

• Change management - navigating shifts in culture, organisational restructuring, and transformation.
• Talent management & succession planning - building a strong pipeline for critical roles.
• Learning & development - ensuring skills growth at both plant and leadership levels.
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) - aligning with global standards and local labour laws.
• Compliance & governance - ensuring labour legislation, health and safety, and global HR policies are upheld.