Principal Employee Relations - Johannesburg at South32

ABOUT THE ROLE:

This role is a permanent full-time position.

• As a Principal Employee Relations, you will be responsible to provide support to the HR Leadership Team to develop and execute short / medium / long term ER strategies consistent with current and future trends in ER / IR practice. The Principal Employee Relations develops and maintains appropriate governance structures to ensure compliance with workplace relations legislation and global consistency.

Other key responsibilities include, but aren’t limited to:

• Support HR Operations Managers in Africa to review and execute IR/ER documents;
• Assist in delivery of Employee Relations activities for South32 functions in JHB;
• Represent South32 in internal and external engagements, high-risk disputes and arbitrations as required (including CCMA referral matters for complex cases (HMM/Hillside) and full coverage for JHB Office.  This may include initiating internal disciplinary proceedings;
• Where required, act as an independent Chairperson to any internal South African cases deemed as dismissible offences or sensitive cases, for e.g. Harassment;
• Provide ER legal advice in general to the South Africa Operations, as and when required;
• Develop training content, as required for HR to deploy to line leaders;
• Contribute to the development of ER procedures, guidelines and reporting requirements;
• Assist in strategy setting and guide HR Business Partners in management of complex cases;
• Support HR Managers to review and audit ER risks and support where corrective mitigation plans are put in place;
• In conjunction with HR Managers provide input into, briefings and advice on employment-related matters for the South Africa Operations and the JHB Office;
• Facilitate the interpretation and implementation of employment arrangements, policies, procedures and applicable employment legislation;
• Support HR Managers during wage agreements, as required;
• Provide regular labour law updates and establish an ER network for all Africa ER personnel;
• Support the Mozal ER Principal where required.

ABOUT YOU:

You will have experience and demonstrate capability in the following:

• 5 years’ experience in a Legal or ER role;
• Sound understanding of the interpretation and governance requirements for Legislation and IR / ER Standards;
• Awareness of Labour laws (South Africa and Mozambique), Occupational Health and Safety Acts and Workers Compensation requirements;
• Experience in risk management and governance;
• Proficient negotiation, written and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to interpret and explain complex legal regulations, policies, or procedures to a diverse group of stakeholders;
• Skilled advisor in challenging environments;
• Able to present complex ideas and material to a varied audience, internal, external, key stakeholders, senior leaders;
• Proficient level expertise in developing ER policy and practices.

Qualifications for this role are:

• Tertiary qualified LLB/Law or Bachelor IR/ER, Labour Relations.