HR Business Partner at Merchant West

Role Purpose:

• The HR Business Partner provides hands-on HR support to allocated business units, partnering with managers to deliver practical people solutions that support performance, engagement, and compliance. The role focuses on operational excellence, employee relations, and implementation of HR initiatives, while developing broader business partnering capability over time.

Main Accountabilities:

HR Advisory & Business Support

• Act as first point of contact for managers and employees on HR policies, procedures, and people matters.
• Provide practical guidance on day-to-day employee relations issues.
• Support managers with people decisions, ensuring fairness and consistency.
• Escalate complex or high-risk matters to Head of HR where required.

Recruitment & Onboarding

• Support the recruitment process (job specs, shortlisting, interview coordination, offers).
• Partner with managers to ensure quality hiring decisions.
• Facilitate onboarding and probation tracking.
• Monitor new hire integration and retention.

Performance Management

• Support the implementation of the performance management cycle.
• Guide managers on goal setting, feedback, and performance conversations.
• Assist with underperformance processes under guidance from Head of HR.

Learning & Development

• Assist with Training Needs Analysis.
• Coordinate training initiatives and track compliance training.
• Support implementation of Individual Development Plans (IDPs).

Employee Relations & Compliance

• Manage routine ER cases (disciplinary, grievance, incapacity) in line with labour legislation.
• Ensure compliance with BCEA, LRA, EE Act and internal policies.
• Maintain accurate case documentation and HR records.
• Support audits and reporting requirements.

Engagement & Culture

• Support engagement surveys and action planning.
• Assist with implementation of culture and recognition initiatives.
• Partner with managers to address team engagement concerns.

HR Operations & Reporting

• Ensure accurate HRIS data management.
• Provide monthly HR metrics (turnover, absenteeism, recruitment tracking, ER cases).
• Support payroll inputs and checks where required.
• Identify practical process improvement opportunities.

Additional HR Projects & Duties

• Undertake any other reasonable duties, special assignments, or HR projects as requested by the Head of HR or business leadership, ensuring flexibility and responsiveness to evolving organisational needs.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in HR / Industrial Psychology / related field.

Experience:

• 3–5 years’ HR experience in a generalist or junior HRBP role.
• Experience managing employee relations processes.
• Exposure to recruitment, performance management and HR reporting.
• Financial services experience advantageous.

Skills:

• Strong understanding of South African labour legislation
• HR case management and documentation
• HR reporting and data analysis
• Recruitment and interview support
• HR systems proficiency

Competencies:

• Relationship building and stakeholder engagement
• Professional communication
• Problem solving and judgement
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Customer service orientation