Senior Manager: Employee Relations and Wellness at The National Student Financial Aid Scheme

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Employee Relations Strategy

• Define and implement employee relations strategy, policies and procedures in support of HR and NSFAS strategy to promote a positive and inclusive work culture
• Provide subject matter expertise and support to NSFAS change management and policy development programs.
• Ensure compliance of the unit with all legislation including LRA, BCEA, Collective Agreements etc.
• Oversee employee relations activities, including conflict resolution, disciplinary actions, and grievance procedures
   

Relationship management

• Engage and represent NSFAS in all negotiations such as wage, conditions of employment,
• CCMA and labour court matters.
• Organize and keep records of labour meetings with management.
• Coordinate and facilitate disciplinary hearings and represent NSFAS in all external proceedings accordingly.
• Communicate the contents of all bargaining agreements to management and employees for implementation.
• Conduct a compliance audit on the implementation of the collective agreement.
• Ensure bargaining agreement is submitted with plans on how to address the challenges if any.
• Ensure all customer queries are responded to within 3 days. If not finalized a follow up email needs to be sent on the progress of the incident 

Provide line manager support

• Provide guidance and coaching to HRBP’s, line managers and employees on employee relations matters, ensuring fair and consistent application of policies.
• Communicate union requests for meetings to all employees within a reasonable period.
• Advice line managers in the drafting of charge sheets and notices of disciplinary hearings.
• Proactively identify and mitigate against all employees’ relations risks in the organisation.
• CCMA cases are investigated and ensure that the employer is represented at the CCMA.
• Ensure effective maintenance document and record control of all disciplinary actions.

 Employee Relations awareness and training

• Influence line managers and employees to increase understanding of employee relations topics.
• Identify Employee relations training needs and develop training plans to meet these needs.
• Develop effective training material according to these identified needs.
• Ensure that training is conducted for all employees regarding labour matter.
   

Employee Wellness

• Develop and implement comprehensive employee wellness programmes that promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and deliver wellness initiatives, such as fitness programs, stress management workshops, and mental health support services.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of wellness programs through data analysis, employee feedback, and participation rates, and make recommendations for improvement.
• Partner with external service providers and benefit providers to negotiate contracts and ensure the delivery of high-quality wellness services 

Employment Equity

• Assist in ensuring that EE related consultations and implementation initiatives to drive and support attainment of EE Strategy and Targets.
• Keep track of engagements in accordance with EEA and EE Strategy.
• Ensure EE Committee meets on a regular basis
• Perform operational duties to fulfil EEA requirements of reporting, analysis, insights, and
   

Functional Targets.

• Assist in improving EE processes by undertaking regular reviews and assisting in reviews, administrative systems, and procedures.
• Ensure the accuracy of information by regularly conducting checks and sample audits as appropriate.
• Tracking employee development for EE purposes and workplace profile statistics.
• Tracking employee movements and workplace profile statistics.
• Ensuring reconciliation of data with various systems for accuracy.
• Assist in ensuring compliance Department of Labour and Employment by Reporting, keeping abreast of new developments, advising, and partnering with business and implementing new requirements. 

Research, Benchmarking & Best Practice

• Keep abreast with applicable legislative changes to inform policy updates and implementations.
• Provide advice to the Line managers on dealing with disciplinary cases.
• Submit proposals to the Human Resource Executive on the changes in the legislation and how they affect NSFAS employees.
• Provide a report which identified possible issues that may affect good employee relations and provide a proposal on how to address them.
• Conduct ad hoc requests for labour relations request within 72 hours of requests.
• Stay up to date with employment laws and regulations, and ensure compliance in all employee relations practices 

Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Prepare and present reports for submission to the NSFAS Executives and Governing committees and other relevant stakeholders. 
• Facilitate and oversee the development and monitoring of policies, standard operating procedures, systems and controls.
• Lead the conceptualising of the unit’s risk register.
• Ensure effective support in the provision of evidence to all internal and external audit requirements.
• Ensure the maintenance and enforcement of all Service Level Agreements to minimise Unit’s risk and ensure business continuity.
• Ensure adherence in the unit to all relevant laws, policies and Standard Operating Procedures throughout the organisation. 

Stakeholder Management and relations

• Cultivate strategic partnerships and collaborations with relevant institutions.
• Build and maintain relationships with all NSFAS business units for the purposes of expectations management and knowledge sharing.
• Provide advocacy on matters related to Employee Relations and Employee Wellness to empower the NSFAS stakeholders to make informed decisions. 

People Management

• Build and lead an effective and cohesive team through the effective management of departmental resources.
• Lead the implementation of talent acquisition, succession planning, development, and retention strategies for the Unit.
• Lead the enhancement of relevant knowledge and skills through continuous coaching, mentoring and nurturing of the Unit’s talent.
• Lead and drive a high-performance culture by translating and communicating the annual performance goals and measures based on agreed upon objectives.
• Drive a working environment that augments employee engagement, recognition and productivity
• Lead and drive the management of poor performance and disciplinary matters in line with the NSFAS’s policies and procedures

 DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum requirements:

• NQF Level 8 qualification in Labour Relations/ Human Resources or related field
• At least 8 years’ experience in employee relations with at least 5 years’ experience in a managerial role
• Extensive knowledge and experience dealing with dispute resolutions
• Proven experience in developing and implementing health and wellness programs.
• Knowledge of the South African Labour law

Preferred

• NQF Level 9 qualification in Labour Relations/ Human Resources or related field
• 10 years’ experience in dealing with Labour Relations matters