Vacant Position – SKA Mid – People & Culture Manager

SARAO; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Research Foundation (NRF) invites applications for the SKA-Mid People & Culture Manager, a senior HR leader responsible for delivering integrated people solutions across SKAO and SARAO in a dual-governance environment. You will partner with managers, guide workforce planning, and shape organisational design while embedding NRF values.

You will oversee recruitment, performance management, talent development, and employee relations, ensuring compliance with South African labour law

Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree in HR, industrial psychology, or related field.
• 8 years HR generalist experience, with at least 5 years at Manager level.
• Experience in matrixed, dual-governance environments.
• Experience in large-scale projects, research institutions, or technical sectors.
• Expert knowledge of South African Labour Law and HR practices.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute people plans aligned with SKA-Mid priorities.
• Partner with managers to understand workforce needs and develop talent strategies.
• Provide thought leadership on organisational design and workforce planning.
• Support transformation programmes and track KPI progress.
• Drive a high-performance culture with accountability and continuous improvement.
• Lead recruitment strategies and onboarding processes.
• Ensure compliance with labour legislation, BBBEE and policies.
• Present workforce analytics to enable data-driven decisions.

Skills

Stakeholder management

People leadership

Change management

HR analytics

Education

Postgraduate degree in HR, Industrial Psychology, or related field

Tools

HRIS

Workforce analytics

Job description

The National Research Foundation (NRF) supports and promotes research and human capital development through funding, the provision of National Research Facilities and science outreach platforms and programmes to the broader community in all fields of science and technology, including natural sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities.

The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) spearheads South Africa’s activities in the Square Kilometre Array Radio Telescope, commonly known as the SKA, in engineering, science and construction. SARAO is a National Facility managed by the National Research Foundation and incorporates radio astronomy instruments and programmes such as the MeerKAT and KAT-7 telescopes in the Karoo, the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO) in Gauteng, the African Very Long Baseline Interferometry (AVN) programme in nine African countries as well as the associated human capital development and commercialisation endeavours.

The SKA-Mid People & Culture Manager is responsible for providing generalist HR leadership, expertise and operational support to the SKA-Mid collaboration team, consisting of SKAO and SARAO employed staff. This role delivers integrated, people solutions that drive organizational performance, workforce alignment and cohesion within a dual-governance environment. Operating as a trusted advisor to
employees, teams and managers, the incumbent will input into HR planning and implementation, ensuring that recruitment, performance management, employee relations, talent development, reward and recognition initiatives are aligned with SKAO and SARAO’s long-term objectives. This role is pivotal in embedding organizational values, strengthening workforce integration and enabling SKA-Mid to achieve its operational goals. Working within a dual reporting context will require the ability to balance priorities, align strategies, influence across two governance structures and deliver HR support compliant with relevant policies and procedures.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the development and execution of people plans that align with SKA-Mid organisational priorities.
• Partner with managers to understand workforce needs and develop proactive talent strategies to achieve those.
• Provide thought leadership on organisational design, workforce planning, and future skills requirements.
• Support transformation programmes and ensure measurable progress against KPIs.
• Drive a high-performance culture by embedding accountability and continuous improvement across SKA-Mid.
• Guide objective setting, mid-and-performance appraisal processes and implementing performance improvement initiatives where needed.
• Ensure training and development plans are aligned with long-term organisational capability needs and support the roll-out of development programmes.
• Implement workforce and succession plans, talent and pipeline development strategies ensuring equitable access to development and clear career paths.
• Lead workforce planning processes to ensure optimal resource allocation.
• Forecast future workforce demand, identify supply risks and capability gaps.
• Deliver recruitment strategies, ensuring alignment with employment equity and transformation objectives.
• Ensure onboarding, induction, performance, recognition and development programmes reinforce SKA-Mids collaborative and inclusive culture.
• Drive and embed a positive employee relations culture, ensuring proactive resolution of workplace issues.
• Act as an expert advisor on complex ER matters, providing guidance on case law and policy interpretation.
• Work with managers and employees to prevent risks from escalating, manage and resolve issues and grievances timely.
• Support initiatives to strengthen organisational culture, including staff surveys, engagement programmes and recognition strategies.
• Ensure compliance with labour legislation, employment equity. BBBEE and organisational policies and process.
• Identify and report on risks and implement mitigation strategies.
• Present workforce analytics and insights enabling data-driven decision-making.

Key Requirements

Qualification

• Postgraduate degree in Human Resources, Industrial Psychology, or related field
• 8 years HR generalist experience, with at least 5 years at Manager level.

Experience

• Proven track record in matrixed, dual-governance, or multi-stakeholder environments.
• Experience in large-scale projects, research institutions, or technical/engineering sectors.
• Skilled at managing complex employee relations matters.

Knowledge

• Expert knowledge of HR practices, South African Labour Law.
• Extensive experience of resourcing, talent and performance management, remuneration and benefits in a technical industry.
• Advanced proficiency in HRIS platforms and workforce analytics.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to influence organisational strategy, policy and process.
• Demonstrated ability to engage across cultural and linguistic diversities.
• Resilience, adaptability, and the ability to drive change in complex environments.

Additional Notes

• Complex Problem Solving
• Project Management
• Stakeholder relationship management
• Organisational Design
• Change Management

Information

The website www.nrf.ac.za provides more details on the NRF initiatives and activities

Closing Date: 02 November 2026

The NRF offers a challenging career and competitive remuneration package which is commensurate with qualifications and experience.

The NRF is committed to employment equity and redress and the appointment to the position will be made in line with the NRF Employment Equity Plan.

The NRF reserves the right not to make an appointment.

Correspondence will be sent to short-listed candidates only