Senior Employee Relations Specialist

Purpose of the Role

The Senior Employee Relations Specialist will serve as the primary subject matter expert on all employee and industrial relations matters across the organisation. This is a critical, high-impact role responsible for ensuring sound labour practices, legal compliance, and the maintenance of constructive relationships between the organisation, its employees, and
organised labour. The successful candidate will operate with a high degree of autonomy and be expected to provide strategic ER guidance to senior leadership and HR Business Partners alike.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage the full spectrum of ER matters including disciplinary hearings, grievance procedures, incapacity processes, and appeals.
• Serve as the primary point of contact and representative for all CCMA and Bargaining Council matters, including conciliation and arbitration proceedings.
• Lead and manage retrenchment and restructuring processes in line with Section 189 and Section 189A of the Labour Relations Act.
• Manage and facilitate strike contingency planning, strike management, and post-strike normalisation processes.
• Oversee and manage relationships with recognised trade unions, including shop steward engagement and union consultation forums.
• Lead or participate in wage and collective bargaining negotiations with organised labour.
• Draft, review, and manage collective agreements, recognition agreements, and procedural agreements.
• Monitor compliance with collective agreements across all operational sites.
• ER Case Resolution within SLA.
• Advise management on complex ER issues, including interpretation of collective agreements and mining-specific labour laws.
• Lead investigations into serious misconduct, safety breaches, and operational disputes.
• Represent the company at CCMA, Labour Court or Bargaining Council for dispute resolution meetings.
• Disciplinary hearing schedules including dispute resolution attendance registers.
• Provide general administrative support as required (set up meetings, arrange venues, take minutes etc.).
• Ensure timeous implementation and monitoring of Performance Improvement Plans (PIP's)
• Develop, review, and implement ER and HR policies and procedures in line with current South African labour legislation.
• Ensure full organisational compliance with the Labour Relations Act (LRA), Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), Employment Equity Act (EEA), Mine Health and Safety Act (MHSA), and other relevant legislation.
• Prepare and submit Employment Equity reports and support the organisation's transformation agenda.
• Provide expert ER advice and coaching to line managers, supervisors, and HR Business Partners on ER procedures, best practices, and risk mitigation.
• Compile and present ER metrics, case statistics, and trend analysis reports to HR leadership and EXCO.
• Drive union engagement strategies and facilitate wage negotiations in line with industry benchmarks.
• Liaise with site managers and operational leadership to ensure consistent application of ER practices across the business.
• Navigate the unique ER dynamics of a unionised, shift-based mining and manufacturing environment.

Knowledge and Experience

• At least 8 years' experience in a dedicated Employee Relations or Industrial Relations role
• Proven, hands-on experience representing employers at the CCMA and/or Bargaining Council
• Demonstrated experience managing complex disciplinary, grievance, and incapacity cases independently
• Experience managing Section 189 retrenchment processes (is a MUST)
• Experience working in the Mining, Chemical Manufacturing, or Heavy industry sector (non negotiable)
• Experience in a unionised environment with a track record of constructive union engagement
• In-depth knowledge of South African labour legislation: LRA, BCEA, EEA, SDA, OHSA, and the Mine Health and Safety Act
• Strong understanding of Collective Bargaining Processes and Agreements
• Strong understanding of Collective Bargaining Processes and Agreements
• Solid understanding of Employment Equity requirements and reporting obligations

Educational Qualifications 

• Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Industrial/Organisational Psychology, Labour Law, or a related field
• Postgraduate qualification in Labour Law or HR Management
• CCMA accreditation or relevant mediation certification (advantageous)
• Registration with a relevant human resources management professional body

Skills and Attributes

• Conflict Resolution
• Emotional Intelligence
• Assertiveness
• Impartiality
• Analytical Thinking
• Resilience
• Discretion