Senior Employee Relations Manager

Dis-Chem Pharmacies; Midrand; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health retail company in Midrand seeks a Senior Employee Relations Manager to enhance ER culture and manage complex cases. The role requires extensive ER experience, strong analytical skills, and the ability to lead a team. You will modernize ER processes and drive compliance while fostering a culture of trust and accountability. Competitive salary and benefits offered.

Benefits

Market-related salary

Medical aid

Provident fund

Staff account

Qualifications

• 8 years of progressive Employee Relations experience in a complex environment.
• 5 years management experience in Employee Relations or Labour Law.
• Strong commitment to fostering a positive employee relations culture.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a progressive ER strategy.
• Redesign ER policies and procedures for fairness and transparency.
• Build and lead a high-performing ER team.

Skills

Understanding of labor laws

Decision-making skills

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Education

Postgraduate Qualification in Industrial Relations/Labour Law

Tools

Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook

Job description

Dis-Chem Pharmacies’ in Midrand has an opportunity available for a Senior Employee Relations Manager to join the Head Office team. Responsible for playing a pivotal role in rebuilding and shaping a positive employee relations culture aligned with the organization’s evolving culture philosophy. Modernize ER policies, processes, and frameworks to foster an environment of trust, fairness, and business effectiveness.

Minimum Requirements…

Essential:

• Postgraduate Qualification in Industrial Relations/Labour Law or equivalent
• 8 years of progressive Employee Relations experience, ideally within a complex, multi-site, or unionized environment
• 5 years management experience in Employee Relations or Labour Law

Job Specification...

ER Strategy & Culture Transformation:

• Partner with HR Snr Management Team in developing and executing a progressive ER strategy that aligns with the organisation business goals.
• Drive a shift from a reactive, compliance-driven ER approach to a proactive, business-integrated model that fosters engagement and accountability.
• Ensure ER policies and processes reflect the company’s values while balancing business needs and legal compliance.
• Act as a key culture contributor, ensuring ER interventions support leadership’s vision for a transformed workplace culture.

Policy & Process Modernisation:

• Review and redesign ER policies and procedures, including disciplinary, grievance, and dispute resolution frameworks, ensuring they are fair, transparent, and support business sustainability.
• Develop an ER governance model that ensures consistency in decision-making while empowering management to handle ER matters effectively.
• Monitor industry trends and regulatory changes to keep ER policies current and competitive.
• Embed an approach to ER that prioritizes early intervention, conflict resolution, and effective employee communication.

ER Capability Building:

• Develop and deliver training programs for managers to enhance their ability to manage employee relations effectively and independently.
• Coach leaders and management teams on ER best practices, including handling grievances, conducting investigations, and managing disciplinary actions.
• Embed ER ownership within the line management structure, ensuring managers feel equipped and accountable for leading people in a fair and performance-driven manner.
• Implement a structured approach to ER case coaching, ensuring that the team provides real-time guidance on complex cases.

Case Management, Risk Mitigation & Compliance:

• Partner with the Group ER Manager in leading the resolution of high-risk and complex ER cases, ensuring outcomes align with company values and legal requirements.
• Develop a robust case management system to track ER trends, analyze root causes, and proactively address recurring issues.
• Ensure compliance with labor laws, industry regulations, and company policies to mitigate legal risks and reputational exposure.
• Partner with legal teams to manage employee disputes, arbitration, and litigation when necessary.
• Oversee the whistleblowing process, ensuring a confidential, transparent, and effective mechanism for employees to report concerns.
• Analyze whistleblowing trends to identify systemic issues, implement corrective actions, and enhance trust in the process, reinforcing a culture of integrity, accountability, and positive employee engagement.
• Build a governance framework that ensures proper investigation, follow-up actions, and alignment with ethical and compliance standards.

Stakeholder Engagement & Change Management:

• Act as a trusted advisor, providing progressive ER insights and data-driven recommendations.
• Partner with HR, Risk & Compliance, Loss Prevention, and Leadership team to drive ER-related change management initiatives.
• Foster strong relationships with employee representative bodies, unions, or work councils, bargaining councils ensuring constructive engagement.
• Liaise with CCMA, Department of Labour and related bodies.
• Lead ER communication strategies, ensuring employees understand their rights, responsibilities, and available support mechanisms.

Leading Team:

• Build and lead a high-performing ER team, ensuring the function is positioned for future growth.
• Collaborate with Group ER Manager & HR Director in building a roadmap for ER transformation that supports business scalability and long-term sustainability.
• Establish ER analytics and reporting mechanisms to provide leadership with visibility on key ER metrics, trends, and risks.
• Collaborate with Group ER Manager & HR Director in shaping a ER strategy that integrates with broader HR and business priorities, influencing workforce planning, performance management, and leadership development.

Competencies...

Essential:

• Deep understanding of labor laws, employment regulations, and ER best practices
• Strong decision-making skills
• Understanding of how ER impacts overall business performance, workforce productivity, and company culture
• Interpersonal skills
• Communication skills
• Strong analytical skills with a proactive and solutions-focused approach
• Management & leadership skills
• Computer skills – Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook

Special Conditions of Employment...

• South African citizen
• MIE, clear criminal and credit
• Driver’s license and/or own reliable transport
• Traveling

Remuneration and Benefits...

• Marketed related salary
• Medical aid
• Provident fund
• Staff account

ONLY SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED. IF YOU HAVEN`T BEEN CONTACTED WITHIN TWO WEEKS AFTER THE CLOSING DATE CONSIDER YOUR APPLICATION AS UNSUCCESSFUL.

Dis-Chem Pharmacies is an equal opportunity employer. Dis-Chem’s approved Employment Equity Plan and targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process aligned to Dis-Chem’s Employment Equity & Transformation Strategy. Dis-Chem actively supports the recruitment of People with Disabilities.