Senior Human Resources Specialist

HR Evolve; Wes-Kaap; Hybrid; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working arrangement

Travel between offices

Job summary

HR Evolve is seeking an experienced Senior HR Specialist to provide strategic and operational HR support across a dynamic business environment in Cape Town. You will act as a trusted advisor to management, handling Employee & Industrial Relations, policy development and the full employee lifecycle.

The role requires independence, strong judgement and compliance with South African labour law, with three days per week in the Cape Town offices and travel to other locations as needed.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of progressive HR experience with strong generalist exposure.
• Proven experience independently managing complex Employee & Industrial Relations matters.
• Strong knowledge of South African labour legislation, disciplinary processes and CCMA.
• Experience developing and implementing HR policies, procedures and compliance frameworks.
• Ability to advise and influence managers at different levels; HR reporting and analytics.
• Proficient in Microsoft 365, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams; familiarity with HRIS and AI tools.

Responsibilities

• Manage Employee & Industrial Relations, including disciplinary matters and grievances.
• Conduct workplace investigations, hearings, and CCMA support.
• Advise management on labour law, ER risks and corrective action.
• Oversee onboarding, probation, performance management and offboarding.
• Develop and implement HR policies, governance and compliance frameworks.
• Maintain HR reporting, analytics and dashboards; monitor turnover and engagement.
• Support recruitment with structured interviews and selection tools.
• Travel between offices and participate in regional HR activities.

Skills

Communication

Problem solving

Emotional intelligence

Stakeholder management

Independent work

Attention to detail

Organisation

Education

HR / Industrial Psychology / Labour Law degree

Tools

Power BI

HRIS

AI tools

Microsoft 365

Excel

PowerPoint

Teams

Job description

Our client is seeking an experienced, hands-on Senior HR Specialist to provide strategic and operational HR support across a dynamic business environment.

The successful candidate will be a trusted advisor to management, with particular expertise in Employee Relations, HR compliance, policy development and the full employee lifecycle. This role requires an independent, solutions-driven HR professional who can balance business priorities with sound judgement, fairness and legal compliance.

Key Responsibilities

Employee & Industrial Relations

• Independently manage disciplinary matters, grievances, poor performance, incapacity, absenteeism and workplace conflict.
• Conduct workplace investigations, prepare documentation and coordinate disciplinary hearings.
• Represent or support the employer in CCMA conciliation and arbitration proceedings.
• Advise management on labour legislation, employee relations risks and appropriate corrective action.
• Identify recurring employee relations trends and implement preventative measures.

HR Advisory & Employee Lifecycle

• Provide practical HR guidance and support to managers and employees.
• Oversee onboarding, probation, performance management, employee changes and offboarding.
• Support management with performance improvement plans, employee development and engagement initiatives.
• Drive consistent and fair HR practices across the business.

HR Policies, Governance & Compliance

• Develop, review and implement HR policies, procedures, SOPs and management guidelines.
• Ensure compliance with relevant South African labour legislation and statutory requirements.
• Coordinate HR-related audits, Employment Equity, Occupational Health and Safety and other applicable compliance activities.
• Maintain HR governance frameworks, compliance calendars and supporting documentation.

HR Reporting & Analytics

• Maintain and analyse HR reports, dashboards and employee data.
• Monitor employee relations trends, turnover, probation, engagement and compliance.
• Identify risks and improvement opportunities and provide actionable recommendations to management.

Talent Acquisition & Selection

• Support recruitment and selection processes, including structured competency-based interviews.
• Develop interview guides, assessment criteria and selection tools.
• Partner with hiring managers to ensure effective recruitment decisions and alignment with business requirements.

Qualifications & Experience

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Human Resources, Industrial Psychology, Labour Law or a related field.
• Approximately 5–7 years' progressive HR experience, with strong generalist exposure.
• Proven experience independently managing complex Employee and Industrial Relations matters.
• Strong working knowledge of South African labour legislation, disciplinary processes and CCMA proceedings.
• Experience developing and implementing HR policies, procedures and compliance frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to advise and influence managers at different organisational levels.
• Experience in HR reporting, analytics and employee engagement.
• Strong Microsoft 365 proficiency, particularly Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Teams.
• Experience with Power BI, HR information systems, AI tools or multi-entity environments will be advantageous.

Key Competencies

• Sound judgement and strong problem-solving skills.
• High emotional intelligence, discretion and professionalism.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work independently, take ownership and manage competing priorities.
• Strong attention to detail, organisational skills and follow-through.
• A practical, proactive and solutions-oriented approach.

Additional Requirements

• Valid driver's licence and own reliable transport.
• Based in Cape Town.
• Willingness to travel between offices and occasionally to other regions.
• Hybrid working arrangement, with three days per week in on of the offices in Cape Town.