HR Operations Manager - M4

Sandvik Group; Kempton Park; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Sandvik Mining is seeking an experienced HR Operations Manager to lead the HR Operations function across Southern Africa, ensuring compliant, efficient service delivery in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

The role operates strategically, tactically, and operationally, advising leaders, driving people development, and promoting safety and engagement while aligning with Sandvik standards and local requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in HR or related field.
• Master’s degree and/or HR certification advantageous.
• Computer literacy and HR systems knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement regional HR Operations strategy aligned to business aims.
• Lead HR Operations teams across Southern Africa with multi-country governance.
• Ensure compliance with labour legislation, global policies, and audits.
• Drive digitalization and standardization of HR processes with Shared Services.
• Coach and develop HR Operations professionals and manage performance.

Skills

HR operations

Multi-country HR

People leadership

Digital transformation

Workday

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR or related

Master’s degree or HR certification advantageous

Tools

Workday HRIS

Job description

Sandvik Mining is a global leading supplier in equipment and tools, parts, service and technical solutions for the mining and infrastructure industries. Applications include rock drilling, rock cutting, loading and hauling, tunnelling and quarrying. We are proud to be recognized on the Forbes Top 50 Global Employers List.

The Role:

The HR Operations Manager leads the HR Operations function across Southern Africa, with accountability for ensuring high quality, compliant, efficient HR service delivery across South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia. This role plays a pivotal role in strengthening the Sales Area’s operational performance and customer impact.

Acting at strategic, tactical, and operational levels, the role operates with agility across diverse business situations and cultural contexts. It serves as a trusted advisor to leaders, enabling them to build high‑performing teams, navigate change, and make informed people‑related decisions that support long‑term business competitiveness. Success in this position requires strong collaboration, clear communication, and effective coordination across a geographically dispersed organization. The role will work closely with managers at all levels to drive people development, organizational performance, and a proactive safety culture—ensuring that our teams are engaged, compliant, capable, and aligned with both local requirements and global Sandvik standards.

This role is essential to the modernization and digitization of HR, enabling a seamless employee experience and strengthening business agility across the Sales Area.

Key Performance Areas:

STRATEGIC PLANNING

• Participate in the formulation of the People strategy aligned with the Sales Area strategy.
• Develop the Human Resource (HR) Operations Strategy for the Sales Area aligned to the Business Area People strategy.
• Implement the approved HR Operations strategy within the Sales Area and communicate to the team.
• Adjust the Human Resource operations strategy to meet changing markets and competitive conditions.
• Develop, review and update HR policies within the sales area in consultation with key stakeholders.
• Scan the environment (both international and national) and identify HR emerging trends that would impact the business and the management of people therein.
• Provide strategic advice on compliance and implementation of M&As from the management of people perspective.

TACTICAL LEADERSHIP AND DELIVERY OF HR OPERATIONS

• Translate the HR Operations and People Strategy into regional, actionable plans and SLAs.
• Accountable for tactical target setting for HR Operations across the Sales Area.
• Ensure decisions are guided by functional HR Strategy and priorities with mid to long-term horizon.
• Lead teams delivering across the HR operations value chain in areas including but not limited to:
  • HR master data management,
  • Talent acquisition/onboarding/offboarding,
  • performance management,
  • talent management and succession planning,
  • employee relations,
  • employee engagement,
  • contractual documentation,
  • payroll interface activities,
  • compensation and benefits,
  • and process governance.
• Allocate resources effectively and monitor performance to ensure operational outcomes meet functional priorities.

COMPLIANCE, GOVERNANCE AND RISK MANAGEREMENT

• Ensure compliance with labour legislation, global policies, Workday data standards, and audit requirements across the countries.
• Lead the implementation of corrective actions following audits or risk reviews.
• Serve as the accountable owner of HR operational compliance for the region.
• Comply with safety regulations and internal standards and procedures.
• Comply with applicable legislation.
• Monitor compliance of team members to safety regulations, applicable legislation and internal standards and procedures.

OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

• Drive standardization and digitalization of HR processes in collaboration with HR Shared Services and Global HR Operations.
• Lead cross-border initiatives to improve process efficiency and eliminate fragmentation.
• Evaluate HR operational KPIs to identify and implement improvements.

PEOPLE LEADERSHIP

• Lead, coach, and develop HR Operations professionals, ensuring capability growth and high engagement.
• Establish performance standards and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Manage performance of subordinates through the development of performance agreements and conducting performance reviews.
• Create learning opportunities for subordinates through the identification of areas for development, coaching and recommending formal functional training when required.
• Implement talent management and succession planning frameworks.
• Manage sound employee relations in accordance with HR policy and procedures.

Your Profile:

Education and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in HR or equivalent , Business Administration, Industrial Psychology, or related discipline
• Master’s degree and/or HR certification advantageous Computer literacy

Experience:

• 8+ years relevant HR experience, with significant exposure to HR operations
• Strong experience managing multi-country HR environments
• Experience leading senior specialists or team leads
• Proven track record driving digital HR transformation and process improvement
• In-depth understanding of HR Operations, HR governance, employment legislation, HR systems (Workday), and workforce data principles.
• Must understand both HR functional strategy and business operational demands.

Sandvik is an equal opportunity employer, striving for practices and programs that are bias free and in which employees are treated fairly to ensure fair opportunity with the best outcome for every individual securing no discrimination on grounds including but not limited to, age, gender, gender expression, race, ethnicity, language, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. To ensure an inclusive, equitable and diverse work environment where people can develop and perform well, our focus areas are: great leadership, lifelong learning & development, career opportunities & open job market and safe & fair work environment.