IR Specialist at Unilever

MAIN JOB PURPOSE:

• To lead Industrial relations / Employee relations expertise to the business within area of responsibility.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Industrial Relations

• Responsible for the maintaining good relations with employees and the union in the business.
• Managing and leading all Union and Management Meetings
• Development and Implementation of the site IR & ER Strategy
• Be the specialist on disciplinary / grievance procedures for the factory site. Pro-actively identify areas of potential conflict. Represent the company at CCMA and brief attorneys to assist with labour court disputes.

Employee Relations

• Manages relationships between management and employees and lead initiatives to improve relationships between management and employees
• Accountable for Employment Equity on site, alongside HR Manager/EE Manager
• Drives the employment equity forum / committee on site. (Organise meetings ensure minutes are taken and distributed.)
• Ensure actions are followed up from meetings
• Communication Forum (Total site)
• Active Participation in Comms forum
• Active Participation of drafting of constitutions with a view to positively influence the constitution
• Coordinating and leading meetings between Management and Union
• Support site HRBP on coordinating and involvement at team building sessions
• Ensuring record keeping of all IR/ER related proceedings and maintaining a database e.g. Minutes, disciplinary documents, agreements etc.
• Drafting agreements reached at meetings
• Liaising between Union and Management to keep dialogue open
• Making recommendations regarding way forward discussions
• Company Benefits
• Deals with employee queries, employee policies and procedures, and site Management Union agreements (substantive and recognition – and committee related as well as project related. As well as updates thereof

SKILLS/EXPERIENCE:

• Must have a completed Bachelor’s Degree or National Diploma (Industrial Psychology, Industrial & Labour Studies, LLB preferable)
• Key Experience: An in depth understanding of application of the Employment Law and various policies and procedures regulating employment conditions, workplace conflict and resolution in South Africa
• Minimum 5 years proven IR/ER experience in a manufacturing/factory/unionized environment.
• IT Literate on MS Office Packages
• Knowledge of SAP advantageous