About the position
We are seeking a Senior HR Officer for a half-day position in Observatory, Cape Town.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Recruitment & Onboarding
- Manage end-to-end recruitment administration, including job advert design, advertising and sourcing, coordination of interviews, facilitate employment checks and liaise with recruitment agencies if relevant
- Prepare and facilitate offer letters, employment contracts and other required sign-on documentation
- Oversee and deliver the HR induction programme for all new employees
- Act as the central coordinator of functional onboarding processes across departments, ensuring consistency, completeness, and timely delivery
- Collaborate with line managers to ensure effective management of probation periods
- HR Records, Policy & Procedure Management
- Serve as the custodian of all HR policies, procedures, and templates
- Ensure accuracy, confidentiality, and up-to-date maintenance of all physical personnel files
- Ensure all HR documentation (contracts, templates, policies, and procedures) aligns with internal Quality Management System (QMS) requirements
- Compile, review, and update HR policies and procedures to ensure compliance with legislative changes
- Provide guidance to line managers and employees on the application and interpretation of HR policies
- Training & Development
- Ensure that training administration is aligned with the internal Quality Management System (QMS) and meets applicable regulatory requirements
- Facilitate the development and implementation of the annual training plan in line with organisational needs as well as coordinate the implementation thereof.
- Facilitate annual WSP and ATR reporting to the relevant SETA
- Employment Equity & Compliance
- Support the Employment Equity Manager in driving the implementation of the 5-year Employment Equity Plan and related initiatives
- Coordinate Employment Equity Committee meetings (incl agenda, attendance registers and meeting minutes)
- Assist with the preparation and timely submission of annual Employment Equity reports to the Department of Labour
- Ensure ongoing compliance with the Employment Equity Act and other applicable labour legislation
- Employee Relations & Disciplinary Process
- Provide guidance on employee relations matters, including disciplinary and grievance procedures
- Manage and document formal hearings and grievance processes in line with legal and internal requirements
- Maintain comprehensive and confidential records of all employee relations cases
- Support line managers in resolving workplace conflicts and addressing performance issues effectively
REQUIREMENTS:
- A Bachelor's degree or National Diploma in Human Resources Management
- A minimum of 5 years' experience in a Human Resources Generalist or HR Officer role, with proven responsibility for the independent delivery of core HR operations and transactional HR functions across the employee lifecycle
- Prior experience in a medical, scientific, research, or technical environment an advantage
- Demonstrated and up-to-date working knowledge of South African labour legislation, including the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), Labour Relations Act (LRA), Employment Equity Act (EEA), and Skills Development Act (SDA)
- Hands-on experience in Employment Equity (EE) is essential, including the development and implementation of EE Plans, facilitation of EE Committee processes, driving EE initiatives, and preparation of annual EE reporting in compliance with legislative requirements
- Experience in drafting, reviewing, and implementing HR policies and procedures in line with legal, regulatory, and organisational frameworks is required
- Strong administrative and organisational skills
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively across all levels of the organisation
- Sound problem-solving and decision-making abilities, with a practical and compliant approach to HR matters
- Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy, particularly in documentation, reporting, and compliance processes
- Self-management and ability to work independently, while also collaborating effectively with managers and cross-functional teams
- Proactive and solutions-oriented mindset, with the ability to anticipate issues and implement preventative HR practices
- Comfort working within structured systems and regulated environments, including familiarity with quality and compliance frameworks (e.g., QMS)
Desired Skills:
- HR
- HR Management
- HR Administration
- HR Officer
