Senior Manager Employee Relations Mining

Sasol; Secunda; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Sasol is seeking an experienced Senior Employee Relations professional to lead the ER function in Secunda, Mpumalanga. The role supports management of Employee Relations services and processes, ensuring compliance with group standards and delivering integrated people solutions.

You will drive engagement with trade unions and management, guide complex disciplinary and industrial actions, and build ER capability across the HR team, contributing to business value and risk mitigation.

Qualifications

• 12+ years' experience in labour and employment law within mining or heavy industry.
• Strong knowledge of South African labour legislation and mining-specific regulations.
• Proven ability to interpret and apply labour and employment law in complex environments.
• Ability to provide written and verbal legal advice on individual and collective labour matters.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the Employee Relations landscape across assigned OME(s).
• Lead ER team to ensure consistent labour relations practices and high-quality advisory support.
• Guide disciplinary, grievances, redundancies, and industrial actions in line with policy.
• Drive engagement with trade unions, management and employees to align expectations and outcomes.
• Ensure line management and HR are equipped with ER capabilities and minimum standards.

Skills

Commercial Agility

Inspirational Leadership

Collaboration

Change Enablement

People Advocacy

Stakeholder Management

Relationship Building

Digital Literacy

Education

LLB (Law)

Job description

Job Requisition ID: 13035

Closing Date: 14 September 2026

HR Operations, Location: Secunda, Mpumalanga

Purpose of Job

Be accountable to provide necessary support to the management of Employee Relations services and processes in various portfolios (small, big, less or more complex), in compliance with group and regional minimum standards, leveraging HR expert services and transactional services in the region, in order to drive the business agenda, service the business requirements into integrated people solutions, value generation and reduce business risks.

Key Accountabilities

Overseeing the Employee Relations’ landscape across the assigned OME/s of responsibility i.e., -

• Ensure sound labour relations as well as labour peace and stability (promote democratic workplace; eliminate culture of unjustified preferential treatment and selective discipline; promote culture of consistent application of rules; encourage adherence to agreements and policy framework - each side keeping their end of the stick etc.)
• Promote joint problem-solving culture and values driven relations.
• Guide the processes such as disciplinary; grievances; redundancies; work incapacity; transfer of businesses as going concern; industrial actions etc.
• Ensure effective and functional Partnership Forums.
• Drive relationship and engagement management with key stakeholders (trade unions, management and employees) to actively manage these relationships and ensure all stakeholders are aligned.
• Ascertain and communicate the impact of decisions and actions on wider Employee Relations, precedent setting, morale and reputational risk.
• Ensure that line management and HR are duly equipped with relevant ER capabilities as per defined minimum standards.

Provide leadership, direction and oversight to a team of Employee Relations Specialists and Advisors, ensuring effective ER capability, consistent application of labour relations practices, and quality advisory support to line management and HR across the assigned OME/s.

Technical oversight i.e., - execution of:

• Legally-sound ER guidance and support to business in relation to the relevant Sasolburg Industry related legislation and associated processes e.g., section 54 work stoppage declarations, section 64 fatality related inquiries, appointment of Health and Safety Representatives etc.
• Strategic and specialized facilitation of engagements and dialogue between business and trade union partners e.g., in compliance with COP28 resolutions around climate change and sustainable developments.
• Strategic ER guidance and input in the groupwide strategy development and execution of Just Transition in advancement of 2030 Sustainability Plan.
• Capacity Building Plan for trade union partners around challenges and opportunities associated with Just Transition.

Formal Education

• LLB (University Bachelor's Degree in Law) or equivalent qualification

Working Experience

• 12+ years' experience in labour and employment law.
• Strong knowledge of South African labour legislation and mining-specific regulations.
• Sound understanding of labour dispute resolution processes in South Africa.
• Proven ability to interpret and apply labour and employment legislation within the mining sector.
• Ability to provide written and verbal legal advice on individual and collective labour matters at all levels.
• Experience in developing, reviewing, and interpreting labour policies, agreements, and legal pleadings.
• Solid understanding of key labour and employment law case precedents.

Required Personal and Professional Skills: Commercial Agility, Business Ownership, Innovation, External Focus, Customer Centricity, Collaboration, Inspirational Leadership, Talent Development, Self-Development, Partnerships, Delivery Excellence, Change Enablement, Inclusion, Diversity and Human Connections, Organisational Culture, People Advocacy, Digital Integration, Digital Literacy, Business Acumen, Coaching, Employee Relations, Labour Stability, Compliance Management, and Conflict Management.

Sasol is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Inspired by our Purpose of "Innovating for a better world", Sasol acknowledges that diversity is intrinsic to the fabric of our organisation and is the key to our growth and success. Sasol is committed to the full inclusion of all suitably qualified individuals.

Preference will be given to applicants from designated groups and people with disabilities according to Sasol's Employment Equity Plan. This includes reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.