PURPOSE OF THE ROLE:
- The National People Operations Manager leads the delivery of all People Operations processes across the organisation. This role drives excellence in recruitment, learning & development, employee relations, performance management, and HR governance across all business units.
- The role ensures consistency, compliance, and operational efficiency while enabling a high-performance, values-driven culture.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
People Operations Leadership
- Drive the People Ops strategy in alignment with business priorities and culture initiatives.
- Lead the national People Ops team and ensure aligned execution of HR practices across all regions.
- Drive the People Ops strategy in alignment with business priorities and culture initiatives.
- Ensure Line Leaders receive accurate, timely People Ops support to enable operational success.
- Partner with business leaders to support growth, productivity, organisational effectiveness, and leadership capability.
- Drive People Ops alignment across Retail, Logistics, Production, B2B, and Central Office environments (where applicable).
Team Management
- Lead, coach, and develop regional and site-based People Operations teams.
- Ensure clear role clarity, capacity planning, and performance management within the People Ops function.
- Build strong capability across the team in recruitment, IR, performance management, employee engagement and company culture.
- Foster collaboration, accountability, and a service-oriented People Ops culture.
Recruitment, Workforce Planning & Talent Management
- Oversee workforce planning process, aligned to business demand and budget.
- Oversee recruitment strategy, quality of hire, time-to-fill, and succession pipelines.
- Ensure consistent recruitment standards, tools, and assessment practices across the business.
- Partner with leadership on succession planning, leadership development, and critical role coverage.
Employee Relations & Labour Relations
- Provide oversight and escalation support on complex employee and labour relations matters.
- Ensure consistent and fair application of disciplinary, grievance, incapacity, and performance management processes.
- Support organisational changes, restructures, and retrenchment consultations when required.
Performance Management, Rewards & Recognition
- Lead the implementation and continuous improvement of performance management frameworks.
- Drive pay equity, maintain role grading integrity, and reward governance.
- Support meaningful recognition practices that reinforce desired behaviours and culture.
Learning & Development, Capability & Leadership Development
- Lead the implementation of national training programs, including leadership, compliance, and skills development.
- Support the School of Excellence and SETA learning initiatives.
- Monitor training effectiveness, workplace application, and make recommendations on ROI.
- Support the design and rollout of national learning and development initiatives.
- Ensure leadership development programs are aligned to organisational values and capability needs.
- Promote a continuous learning culture across all levels of the business.
Policy, Governance & Legislative Compliance
- Ensure compliance with South African labour legislation (LRA, BCEA, EEA, SDA, OHSA) and internal policies.
- Oversee the development, review, and consistent application of People Ops policies and procedures.
- Ensure strong People Ops governance, audits, and risk mitigation practices.
People Data, Insights & Reporting
- Own national People Operations metrics, reporting, and dashboards (e.g. turnover, vacancies, IR cases, training, engagement).
- Use people data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities for operational improvements.
- Prepare people-related inputs for People Operations Executive.
- Drive continuous improvement through evidence-based People Ops practices.
Culture, Engagement & Change Management
- Champion organisational culture, values, and employee engagement nationally.
- Embed company values (e.g., HO HOLA culture) into People Ops practices.
- Lead initiatives that enhance engagement, retention, and employee experience.
KEY SUCCESS METRICS (KPI’S):
- Quality of hire, workforce stability, reduce turnover and capability growth.
- Leadership Development and Learning and Development program execution.
- Leadership satisfaction and effectiveness of People Ops partnering.
- Employee engagement and culture indicators.
- Compliance and governance outcomes.
Requirements
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:
- HR / Industrial Psychology / Business Degree (Honours advantageous).
- 7–10 years HR generalist experience, with at least 3 years in a managerial role – leading a HR team.
- Experience in retail, FMCG, manufacturing, supply chain, or multi-site environments strongly preferred
- Proven experience in a national, multi-site or distributed environment.
- Experience leading a team of People Operations and working with Senior leadership teams.
- Proven experience representing organisations at CCMA and/or bargaining councils.
- Exposure to change management.
SKILLS & COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:
- Exceptional relationship-building and interpersonal skills, aligned to the HO HOLA values.
- Friendly, helpful, confident, humble, and team-oriented with strong emotional intelligence.
- Deep knowledge of South African labour law and People Ops (HR) best practice.
- Proven ability to lead multi-site, multi-disciplinary teams.
- Excellent stakeholder management and executive presence.
- Data-driven decision-making and problem-solving.
- Change leadership and resilience.
- High emotional intelligence and sound judgement.
- Ability to operate in a competitive, high-pressure, dynamic retail environment.
- Strong planning, prioritisation and execution skills.
- Strong communication skills (written and verbal) with the ability to influence and build trust.
- High accuracy, attention to detail, and strong administrative capability.
- Demonstrates integrity, ownership, resilience, and a willingness to go the extra mile.
- Willingness to travel.
CLOSING DATE
Gmail
Yahoomail