Operational HR Manager — Compliance & Employee Relations

Dananda Talent; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Dananda Talent in Gauteng is seeking an experienced HR Manager to lead day-to-day HR activities across the full lifecycle. You will work closely with employees and line managers to resolve issues, ensure compliant processes and accurate records, and push forward HR policy and reporting improvements.

You will report to the CHRO/HR Director, driving employee relations, compliance, onboarding and performance management with a hands-on, operational approach that emphasizes practical delivery and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in HR management, industrial psychology, labour relations or related field.
• Relevant HR management experience.
• Additional labour relations or HR compliance qualifications are advantageous.
• Professional Registration with SABPP or another recognised HR body would be advantageous

Responsibilities

• HR Operations and Employee Lifecycle – Manage recruitment support, employment contracts, onboarding and induction, employee transfers, promotions, leave, attendance, resignations, terminations, and employee records.
• Employee and Industrial Relations – Manage disciplinary hearings, grievances, workplace complaints, investigations, misconduct, incapacity, poor performance, absenteeism, and CCMA proceedings where applicable.
• HR Compliance and Statutory Reporting – Ensure compliance with South African labour legislation, manage Employment Equity processes and submissions, coordinate Workplace Skills Plans (WSP) and Annual Training Reports (ATR), and maintain audit-ready compliance records.
• Performance Management – Coordinate performance reviews, monitor performance objectives and deadlines, advise managers, and support fair and legally compliant poor-performance processes.
• Recruitment and Onboarding – Coordinate recruitment activities, liaise with hiring managers and agencies, conduct reference and background checks where required, prepare employment offers and contracts, and ensure complete pre-employment documentation and effective onboarding.
• Learning and Development – Conduct training needs analyses, manage training plans, coordinate training programmes, maintain training records, monitor training effectiveness, and ensure timely WSP and ATR submissions.
• HR Policies and Procedures – Implement, review, and update HR policies, ensure consistent application across the organisation, and recommend improvements to HR processes.
• HR Administration and Payroll Support – Maintain accurate employee files, contracts, leave and attendance records, benefits documentation, payroll inputs, and other HR records. Work with Finance and Payroll to resolve discrepancies and employee queries.
• Employee Engagement and Support – Provide professional HR advice, build relationships with employees and managers, support engagement initiatives, and promote a respectful and accountable workplace culture.
• HR Reporting and Analytics – Prepare reports on headcount, staff turnover, absenteeism, vacancies, employee relations, training, Employment Equity, and compliance. Identify trends, risks, and areas for improvement.
• HR Projects and Process Improvement – Support HR system implementation, audits, restructuring, job evaluations, salary benchmarking, policy development, and organisational change initiatives.
• People Management, Governance and Confidentiality – Supervise and develop HR team members where applicable, monitor workloads and performance, maintain confidentiality, manage HR-related risks, and ensure proper documentation and governance.
• Main priorities of the role: Employee Relations, HR compliance and statutory submissions, accurate HR administration, onboarding, performance management, and timely HR reporting. The position is a hands-on operational management role reporting to the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) / HR Director.

Skills

Employee relations

HR compliance

HR administration

Statutory reporting

People management

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR Management

Industrial Psychology

Labour Relations

HR professional registration

Job description

Dananda Talent in Gauteng is seeking an experienced HR Manager to lead day-to-day HR activities across the full lifecycle. You will work closely with employees and line managers to resolve issues, ensure compliant processes and accurate records, and push forward HR policy and reporting improvements.

You will report to the CHRO/HR Director, driving employee relations, compliance, onboarding and performance management with a hands-on, operational approach that emphasizes practical delivery and