HR Country Head - South Africa at Deutsche Bank

PURPOSE OF THE JOB:

• Overseeing all Human Resources (HR) operations within Deutsche Bank, South Africa (SA), develop HR strategies and people plans, provide guidance to senior management and ensure HR’s alignment with the global and local business objectives.  To work in close partnership with the various business stakeholders locally and globally. To work as a first point of contact to ensure that the client is provided with professional advice, support and guidance on HR, people and processes issues.  Ensuring corporate HR programs and processes are delivered to the client effectively and efficiently. Leading and positioning the HR team as business partner and trusted advisor, with both internal clients and HR colleagues globally.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

HR Management:

• Implement and continually review the SA Business Strategy and People Plan – for the franchise as a whole, and the specific business divisions
• Manage and direct the Human Resources department and team, focused on operations and employee service delivery
• Act as a strategic business partner to the organisations’ leadership team. 
• Responsible for ensuring that all HR processes are in line with local legal regulations, and the Bank’s local and global strategy. 
• Act as a member of the local Operational Committee (OpCO) and the Executive Committee (Exco) as well as the Transformation & Diversity Committee (TDC)
• Effectively manage vendor relationships
• Support the company’s goals to build a diverse and inclusive workplace. Implement required diversity initiatives to raise awareness and improve diversity stats.
• Ensure that the HR department is compliant with the POPIA (Protection of Personal Information) Act which is aimed at protecting the employee’s personal information.
• Deploy a performance management process that is alighted to the DB Group HR directions, and which ensures that employees set clear and relevant annual objectives, managers perform regular reviews and employees set meaningful development plans. 
• Headcount planning and optimization – aligning with global HR business partners, COO’s and Business Managers for optimal headcount solutions. 
• Providing full employee life cycle management whilst embedding the organisations’ values, and beliefs through a strategic people agenda, including retention and succession planning.
• Together with the local management represents the legal entity in case of internal or external audits.
• Go to person for the global organization for regulatory updates, contractual changes and any additional reporting and information need on HR matters.
• Build a talent management strategy to support career development and succession planning. 

HR Advisory:

• Work closely with management and employees to improve working relationships, build morale and increase productivity and retention by having regular status discussions to assess the current situation and proposing relevant actions to improve where needed (eg people survey/ culture survey results). 
• Work closely with managers in order to identify relevant learning, access the existing resources, prioritize the most impactful work and assist in delivering appropriate solutions. 
• Coordinate the Suitability Assessment process for Branch Managers by conducting fit and proper assessments and related activities using regulatory risk awareness & investigation skills and ensuring effective record.
• Leverage available reports and dashboards to provide data-driven recommendations.

HR Operations:

• Ensuring that the core HR information systems and personal files are updated and maintained accurately.
• Oversee the full-on payroll process and manage the payroll vendor relationship in line with the local regulations and DB policy.
• Responsible for managing employee relations related topics which may include ensuring compliance with relevant policies and practices, providing day-to-day advice on individual employment law issues, managing investigations, disciplinary processes, grievances/complaints or corrective action processes and restructuring measures.
• Manage risk by being compliant with South Africa Labor legislation (LRA, BCEA, EE, SDA) legislation

Compensation & Benefits:

• Promote a healthy working environment and review and reflect on mental wellbeing for all employees. 
• Involvement and advice for compensation process, ensuring consistent and fair decisions are made in the promotion, bonus and salary increase processes in line with company guidelines.  Management of the compensation and promotion process, including planning, analysis and execution.  Review the compensation strategy aligned to the Global process to ensure competitiveness and effectiveness in motivating and retaining high performers
• Accountable for leading and managing the regional or divisional delivery and / or governance of reward, recognition and/or benefits activities.
• Work alongside the Transformation and Diversity Forum to ensure Employment Equity Compliance and that these processes, policies, plans and reports are driving meaningful transformation.  Involvement with the Company’s Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) strategy and implementation.

Talent Acquisition & Employer Branding:

• Responsible for the full-cycle recruitment and selection process from CV’s screening to onboarding new joiners, including processing employment paperwork
• Define and execute the local employer brand strategy, including social media, digital marketing, events and creative communications to enhance the banks employer value proposition. 
• Responsible for developing, analysing and implementing the bank's relocation activities and policies.
• Ensure that the processes are appropriately governed and documented.

REQUIREMENTS:

Skills / Competencies:

• Extensive experience in HR disciplines (preferably in a generalist and/or advisor role), and deep knowledge of HR systems and processes/procedures
• Develop and enforce HR policies and procedures that supports organizations objectives and are in compliance with local legislation
• A strong track record of implementing and leading HR strategies and ensuring best practice
• Strong track record in recruiting, growing and retaining employees
• Technically strong, with a good understanding of local and global HR processes and regulations
• The ability to communicate professionally and effectively to all levels of management
• Well-developed interpersonal skills including the ability to influence people at senior levels and to challenge management, when and where appropriate
• The ability to effectively balance global HR relationships and integrate DB group requirements in an appropriate way locally
• Comfortable in a complex, dynamic, high pressure, and fast changing environment
• Change management experience and the ability to drive change
• The ability to foster and support DB’s cultural change
• A hands-on leader who is prepared to work hard and get things done
• Ability to work under pressure without compromising quality
• Shows awareness and ability to work through sensitive and emotionally charged situations
• Flexible and able to take on projects and work beyond job scope as required
• Builds trust, and is recognized for sharing information, fostering partnerships and alliances.
• Business Acumen and customer perspective
• Strong organizational and leadership skills and demonstrated ability to manage conflicting priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Build relationships quickly to act as a trusted partner and advisor to managers and employees
• Must have strong problem-solving skills, be able to make decisions in a timely manner and develop creative solutions to complex HR challenges
• Excellent organization / prioritization skills, with an ability to multi-task
• High level of computer literacy/skills

Educational:

• A Bachelor’s Degree / Honours in Human Resources or Industrial /Psychology

Experience:

• At least 10-15 years of experience with significant experience as a successful HR generalist, including significant and strong “stand-alone” experience of leading an HR function at a senior executive level in an international multinational environment
• Experience of working in a complex, multicultural matrix organisation
• Strong leadership skills to guide an HR team and support and motivate staff
• HR experience of working closely with front line senior business heads locally and abroad
• Broad generalist experience of handling multiple priorities
• A strong track record of successful HR leadership in driving change management
• Proven understanding of the key principles of local employment law/practices

Personal Characteristics:

• Self-motivated with commitment and drive
• Solid ethics and morals and sound judgement
• Client focused, with strong management skills
• Self-assured and energetic
• Good interpersonal skills
• Excellent active-listening skills  
• Good relationship building skills, coaching, mentoring and emotional intelligence skills
• Demonstrates grit
• Structured, methodical and organized
• Proactive and a self-starter
• Excellent verbal and writing skills