INTRODUCTION

DRA Water is looking for suitably qualified candidates to apply for the HR Business Partner position. This position will be based at the Head Office in Woodmead, with regular travel to various sites in Gauteng and Mpumalanga.

PURPOSE
The HR Business Partner (HRBP) role acts as a strategic liaison between Human Resources and business operations, ensuring that HR initiatives support and drive the organization’s objectives. This position plays a pivotal role in leading talent acquisition efforts, promoting employee wellness, and delivering comprehensive HR support across all people functions. The HR BP champions a high-performance culture by fostering employee engagement, enhancing workforce capabilities, and ensuring legal compliance and organizational effectiveness.
The role also supports leaders and employees through proactive recruitment, wellness programs, and people development initiatives that promote a productive, motivated, and resilient workforce.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Human Resources Strategy & Culture

• Drive departmental change initiatives in collaboration with HR Centres of Excellence.
• Support the implementation of Group HR policies and frameworks.
• Champion the DRA Culture Code by embedding values into recruitment, performance, and development.
• Provide data-driven insights to guide people-related decisions.

Performance and Talent Management

• Align departmental and employee objectives with company strategy.
• Coach managers to deliver effective feedback and development discussions.
• Implement succession planning, career frameworks, and talent mobility initiatives.
• Recruit and develop diverse, high-potential talent across the region.

Workforce Planning and Capacity Building

• Lead workforce planning, headcount forecasting, and Employment Equity initiatives.
• Manage department headcount accuracy, approvals, and reporting.
• Drive initiatives in wellness, employee relations, and performance management.

Industrial and Employee Relations

• Ensure fair and consistent application of IR policies and labour legislation.
• Lead union negotiations, manage disputes, and represent the company at CCMA/Labour Court.
• Proactively manage IR risks, grievance cases, and disciplinary processes.

Recruitment and Development

• Oversee end-to-end recruitment aligned with corporate branding and global frameworks.
• Ensure competitive compensation and benefits to attract top talent.
• Drive training, leadership development, and wellness programmes.

HR Analytics / Reporting

• Analyse HR metrics to provide insights on recruitment, training, IR, and employee wellness.
• Track progress of HR initiatives and report to senior leadership.

Personal and Professional Capabilities

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple priorities, and deliver results.
• Professional, adaptable, resilient, and collaborative team player.

Financial and Stakeholder Engagement

• Recommend cost-saving initiatives and control HR departmental budgets.
• Build strong relationships with employees, unions, management, and external partners.

Health, Safety and Legal Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with all legal and statutory regulations.
• Identify risks, implement preventative measures, and maintain safe practices.
• Support environmental management objectives in line with legislation and company standards

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

QUALIFICATIONS

• Matric (Grade 12) or an equivalent qualification registered at NQF Level 4, including relevant NATED
• qualifications such as the N3 Certificate.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Psychology, Industrial Relations, Business Administration or
• a related field.
• Valid driver’s license

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in Human Resources, preferably in a Business Partner or Generalist role.
• Demonstrated experience in the engineering, manufacturing, mining, or construction industry is essential.
• Solid experience functioning within an Industrial Relations (IR) discipline, with a proven ability to manage complex IR matters.
• In-depth knowledge of labour legislation, including the Labour Relations Act (LRA), Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), and relevant main/collective agreements.
• Experience working in multi-union environments, with the ability to foster constructive union relationships.
• Strong understanding of performance management, labour relations, and organisational design.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and conflict resolution skills.
• Proven ability to influence and engage senior stakeholders effectively.
• Proficient in HRIS platforms (e.g. Payspace, SAP, Sage, Workday) and the Microsoft Office suite. Computer Literate in MS Office (Intermediate)