Senior HR Manager

Smith Garb; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 1,500,000 - 2,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Smith Garb, a premier HR leader in Gauteng, seeks an executive HR professional to craft and execute an integrated HR strategy aligned with long-term business goals. You will partner with executive leadership to shape workforce planning, organizational development, and people-driven business decisions across multiple units.

The ideal candidate will bring 8–10 years of HR leadership experience, deep knowledge of SA labour legislation, EEO, and transformation, plus a proven track record in

Qualifications

• Degree in Human Resources Management is essential.
• Postgraduate qualification in HR, Labour Relations, Business Management or Leadership preferred.
• MBA advantageous.
• 8-10 years' experience in HR leadership, including executive level.
• Experience in complex, multi-business-unit or group environments.
• Strong knowledge of SA labour legislation, employment equity, B-BBEE and transformation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement an integrated HR strategy aligned with business objectives and growth plans.
• Partner with EXCO and senior management on workforce planning and people-related business decisions.
• Lead and develop the HR team across multiple business units.
• Drive succession planning, talent management and leadership development.
• Oversee HR policies, governance, and compliance with labour legislation.
• Manage payroll, recruitment, onboarding, performance management, remuneration, benefits and ER.
• Champion transformation, diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• Monitor HR performance against strategic objectives with a long-term sustainability view.

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement an integrated HR strategy aligned with the organisation's business objectives and long-term growth plans.
• Partner with EXCO and senior management to provide strategic guidance on workforce planning, organisational development and people-related business decisions.
• Lead and develop the HR team, ensuring consistent delivery of effective HR practices across multiple business units.
• Drive succession planning, talent management and leadership development initiatives to support the organisation's future capability requirements.
• Oversee HR policies, procedures and governance frameworks, ensuring alignment with applicable labour legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Manage employment equity, skills development reporting, B-BBEE compliance and other statutory HR submissions.
• Provide oversight of payroll, recruitment, onboarding, performance management, remuneration, benefits and employee relations.
• Champion transformation, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives throughout the organisation.
• Drive employee engagement, wellness and recognition programmes that support retention and a positive workplace culture.
• Oversee executive recruitment and the development of critical talent pipelines.
• Manage HR budgets, workforce planning and organisational structures to ensure effective resource allocation.
• Lead change management initiatives and implement training and development programmes that strengthen organisational agility and performance.
• Monitor HR performance against strategic objectives, delivering measurable results while maintaining a long-term focus on business sustainability.

Minimum Requirements

• A degree in Human Resources Management is essential.
• A postgraduate qualification in Human Resources, Labour Relations, Business Management or Leadership is preferred.
• An MBA will be advantageous.
• At least 8-10 years' experience in HR leadership, including a minimum of three years in an executive-level position.
• Proven experience managing HR within a complex, multi-business-unit or group environment.
• Strong knowledge of South African labour legislation, employment equity, B-BBEE and transformation requirements.
• Experience overseeing payroll, HR information systems, performance management and organisational change.
• Demonstrated ability to engage confidently with executive leadership and influence strategic business decisions.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder management, analytical and decision-making skills.

The Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will be a credible and commercially astute HR leader who combines strategic thinking with sound operational knowledge. They will have the ability to influence at executive level, lead and develop high-performing teams, navigate complex organisational challenges and translate people strategies into measurable business outcomes.