About the position
Postion Summary:
The South African Institute For Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) is a business unit of the National Research Foundation (NRF) with the mandate to improve the quality of life of all South Africans by advancing aquatic research, science, technology and innovation. SAIAB is seeking to appoint a Manager: People & Culture to provide strategic business support. The incumbent will be responsible for providing strategic guidance to the National Facility, aligned with the overall People & Culture function and strategy, business operating model and structure, as well as key areas of transformation, talent management and learning.
Key Responsibilities:
- Interpret, implement, and communicate the People & Culture strategic direction to assist in integrating the people operating plan with business unit strategy
- Create an annual People & Culture operating plan for the business unit, aligned with the stated purpose and direction of the business and the NRF people strategy
- Work with the business unit leaders to identify key trends, shifts or issues relating to people that impact strategy delivery
- Contribute constructively to strategic sessions and discussions, providing input from a position of business knowledge
- Provide support to Senior Leaders on people and organisational development issues
- Conduct organisational diagnosis, facilitate organisational design outputs, and advise on operating models and structural design across the business, with expert guidance from the Organisational Development and Effectiveness
- Actively build relationships and networks with business leaders (including internal and external stakeholders) to gain understanding of operational impacts
- Guiding and advising leaders on key people management principles and processes
- Serve as a liaison between Centres of Excellence functions and business
- Drive optimal service delivery by ensuring collaborative relationships between various functional areas within the Business Unit and People function
- Influence line managers to champion Employment Equity initiatives and compliance in the business
- Participate in the EE Committee and ensure compliance to the EE Act
- Support leadership in driving and enhancing performance measures (performance targets, IDPs, etc
- )
- Align necessary learning and development initiatives to business strategy and identified business outputs
- Influence and translate the Business Unit talent management requirements
- Validate the talent bench strength with Line Managers for meaningful succession and capability planning
- Partner with Senior Leaders in delivering senior appointments within their functional areas
- Drive change management with key business roll-out initiatives
- Drive Employee Value Proposition by embedding it in People & Culture practices and policies
- Build and manage healthy and effective relationships with the workforce and Union
- Prepare and ensure the Business Unit People & Culture budget is utilised within the allocated budget provisions
- Collate and co-ordinate the quarterly and monthly reports to the Head: People & Culture and Managing Director of the Business Unit
- Effectively and timeously analyse, interpret, and report on necessary P&C data and information
- Ensure the integrity of people data within the business unit
- Continuously monitor People practices at the business level
- Lead through sound performance management and transformational leadership practices
- Develop, mentor and coach People Partners to build strategic partnering capability
- Instil a culture of accountability, agility, collaboration, and results orientation within and across teams and businesses
- Drive a high-performance culture within the team and business unit
- Support people partner(s) to build line manager capability to own and lead the talent agenda on how to attract, nurture, develop and retain talent
- Support People Partners in driving learning and development initiatives to drive operational efficiencies
- Ensure consistent application policies, standard operating procedures, and maintain across the business unit
- Attend to CCMA matters where necessary
Minimum Qualification:
- Honours Degree / Post Graduate Qualification / Professional Qualification / NQF 8
Minimum Experience:
- Honours Degree / Post-Graduate Qualification, NQF 8 qualification in HR-related/ industrial psychology field
Experience:
- 8 - 10 Years of People & Culture (HR) generalist experience
- Min 3-5 years experience managing a team and building strategic HR capability, preferably in a research institution
- 3 years proven experience in strategic planning, formulation and execution
- Demonstrable experience with HR Metrics
- Proven experience leading People & Culture function in a unionised environment Proven track record of Organizational Development experience and ability to engage with leaders
- Experience engaging and facilitating group sessions and driving change across the business
Knowledge:
- Sound knowledge of the LRA, BCEA, EEA and all legislation related to human resources
- Demonstrable knowledge of HR Systems and Database
The NRF website provides more details on the initiatives and activities Applicants should submit a comprehensive CV by registering and apply online through the NRF Recruitment and Selection Portal. Applications should be accompanied by a letter of motivation indicating the applicant·s suitability for the position. The names and contact details of at least three referees should be provided.
Desired Skills:
- Skilled in applied field of position
- Knowledge to be relevant
- Responsible in performing duties
About The Employer:
The National Research Foundation (NRF) is established by an Act of Parliament and mandated to contribute to national development by supporting, promoting, and advancing research and human capacity development through funding and the provision of the necessary research infrastructure, in order to facilitate the creation of knowledge, innovation and development in all fields of science and technology, including humanities, social sciences and indigenous knowledge; and supporting and promoting public awareness of, and engagement with, science. The NRF is a well-established organisation that is highly networked within the knowledge system, nationally and internationally. It is the principal organisation responsible for promoting the national research enterprise and is the primary public funder of postgraduate students and researchers and provider of research infrastructure in the country. It has well-developed, best practice research evaluation and support systems.
