Head of People Operations - 5345 at Auditor-General of South Africa

Requirement Overview

• The purpose of this role is to provide strategic leadership and oversight of all People Operations functions to ensure reliable, compliant, and scalable HR services that support the AGSA’s mandate. The role is accountable for the integration and optimisation of core people operations. People operations include people partnering, HRIS and data architecture, payroll governance, employee lifecycle management, and policy and compliance. The role also drives continuous improvement, automation, and data driven insights to enhance employee experience, operational efficiency, and decision quality.

Roles & Responsibilities

Strategic Function

• Contribute to the formulation and drive the implementation of the AGSA’s long term strategy
• Lead the formulation and execution of People Operations strategic initiatives
• Design and deliver the People Operations strategy, service catalogue, in alignment with organisational strategy and audit delivery cycles
• Develop and drive BU Balance Score Card (BSC) and oversee the implementation and reporting thereof
• Provide strategic leadership, technical expertise, and guidance on employee-centred people practices

Product Management 

• Provide strategic leadership of the HRIS roadmap and data architecture, including major system implementations
• Establish enterprise-wide people data integrity, master data governance, controlled access, and audit-ready records
• Drive the design of enterprise self-service solutions and automation of high-volume processes to enhance scalability and efficiency
• Lead the development of advanced people analytics to deliver integrated reporting and strategic workforce insights (i.e. headcount, capacity, attrition, cost, DEI, etc)
• Oversee the governance of end-to-end payroll operations with Finance to ensure accuracy, compliance, and risk mitigation
• Ensure alignment of operational processes with reward cycles (increases, bonus, job architecture, allowances)
• Lead the standardising and optimising of the employee lifecycle processes to ensure consistency, compliance, and seamless workforce transitions
• Oversee BU cyclical people processes (performance, moderation, promotions) from an operations perspective
• Provide strategic oversight of ER operations to ensure fair, consistent, and legislatively compliant case management in line with relevant legislative frameworks (i.e. LRA, BCEA, EEA, OHSA, and POPIA) and other organisational policies
• Govern the People policy framework, periodic reviews, and governance forums
• Ensure organisational readiness for legislative and audit requirements and lead implementation of corrective actions
• Support the process of embedding the EVP and culture aspirations through partnering with centres of excellence
• Guide the operationalisation of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion through robust data, reporting, and equitable process design
• Oversee strategic risk management through maintenance of risk registers and ensuring business continuity for critical cycles
• Mitigate employee relations risks by embedding compliance, proactive interventions, and consistent governance
• Champion HR technology innovation to enhance operational efficiency and digital enablement across People Operations
• Conduct strategic reviews of the BU operating model to identify digital transformation opportunities
• Evaluate, select, and implement HR technology solutions that strengthen process effectiveness and data-driven decision-making. 
• Provide strategic oversiht to ensure the success of the employee wellness initiatives

Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Implement BU stakeholder engagement plans aligned with AGSA frameworks
• Engage with oversight structures and committees on audit outcomes
• Represent the BU in professional forums and maintain relationships with recognized bodies
• Provide value added advice to engagement teams by providing timely coaching and high-quality review observations for the enhancement of integration work

People Management

• Implement BU People Strategy and transformation initiatives
• Manage team performance, coach, and mentor staff for maximum productivity
• Drive culture change and employee engagement
• Participate in talent attraction and retention initiatives

Financial Management

• Support the compiling of the centre budget. 
• Implement and monitor the budget for the allocated project
• Ensure compliance to AGSA policies and procedures
• Ensure compliance with internal processes and procedures
• Manage supply chain processess within scope of work

Other Responsibilities

• Perform and/ or manage other projects, tasks and assignments delegated by the Chief People Officer not stipulated in the role profile description as and when required

Skills, Experience & Education

Formal Education

• Minimum qualification of a Post-graduate Degree in Human Resources Management, Industrial Psychology, or equivalent field. Professional registration with a recognised HR body is an added advantage.

Experience

• Minimum of 10 years’ post qualification experience, including at least 6 years Senior Management experience. Exposure to public sector or highly audited environments is an added advantage.

Closing Date: 05 March 2026