Senior Specialist Employee Relations

The Senior Specialist Employee Relations role forms an integral part of the P&O Management team with the responsibility of ensuring the effectiveness of all employee relations aspects from a corporate office perspective in support of the operations. The role must aim to proactively optimize a broader scope of stakeholder relationships to ensure sound employee relations in all Valterra workplaces. This is achieved through ensuring effective communications strategies and development of engagement frameworks as well as providing the required associated technical support.

Job responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• Provide effective Employee Relations services to all Valterra workplaces in support of the achievement of their respective operational plans.
• Identify ER projects aligned to Operations strategy.
• Develop ER plans to support the operations P&O plan.
• Support the formation of business proposals for ER projects in the operation.
• Analyse Operations ER trends and take appropriate action.
• Liaison with Operations P & O team to solve problems that impact on the ER.
• Co-ordinate required legal and expert advice regarding ER issues for the operation.
• Monitor and advise BU management on IR/ER climate and its implications.
• Advise the Operations Team on the implications of ER legislation and policies for work practices and systems in the operation and advise on appropriate changes.
• Monitoring and advising on Employment Relations practices and procedures in the operation.
• Ensure that training courses satisfy ER needs.
• Conduct Employee relations training and capacity building where required.
• Assisting in developing risk mitigation plans where ER impacts are identified.
• Support the building of employee relations services to improve employees commitment and support to the operation.
• Foster a trusting and mutually respectful relationship with internal and external employee representatives.
• Support the establishment of employee and trade union forums and other essential communication channels.
• Support and participate in the training and development requirements of employees.
• Ensure that employees have clear work relations expectations.
• Advise management on legal position for ER issues.
• Advise Management on the implications of community issues such as health or housing on ER.
• Advice on structuring the operation in terms of ER.
• Identify potential conflict situations and minimise the implications.
• Control discipline and monitor fair decisions regarding Industrial Relations.
• Ensure that all systems and procedures in the function are effective and compliant with legislation.
• Ensure that regular audits are carried out to ensure alignment to policy.
• Develop and maintain a comprehensive ER database for the operation.
• Provide an advisory service for all ER practices and policies.
• Monitor and audit operation practices to ensure compliance with policy guidelines.
• Mentor senior managers in ER practices.

Effective administration of necessary systems

• Compile accurate reports.
• Ensure that the required ER systems and procedures are aligned to the Operations uniqueness.
• Ensure that ER systems conform to Valterra Platinums policies.
• Ensure employee ER related records are accurate.
• Ensure that current Employee Relations (ER) training is conducted.
• Ensure that ER systems are well maintained.
• Monitor and trend ER related statistics and interpret results.
• Manage communications systems.
• Monitor external perceptions of the operation and interpret results.
• Set standards for ER information management of the operation.
• Prepare ad-hoc reports.
• Negotiation of contracts relevant to role.
• Sponsor the implementation of new required ER systems and approaches.
• Ensure that ER systems used and procedures are competitive legal integrated with other Valterra Platinum systems and understood by employees.
• Ensure the preservation of departmental records and statistics.

Qualifications :

• NQF 7 bachelors degree/ Advanced Diploma in HR or Employee Relations
• A qualification in Labour Law (Advantageous)

Experience

• 5 7 years related experience of which 3 years at a middle management level and one year in the mining industry.

Technical knowledge and Skills required for the role:

• Manage the processes involved in supporting formal trade union relationships
• Manage processes that implement bargaining council agreements
• Manage processes to keep employees and managers advised of grievance handling procedures
• Manage disciplinary processes to ensure a speedy resolution
• Manage the dismissals and ULP processes to ensure speedy resolution
• Ensure that agreements around restructuring are correctly recorded and implemented
• Understanding and implementation of a people- driven business strategy and Operational ER Strategy
• The ability to take a proactive approach to P&O Governance risk and compliance: Has detailed knowledge of all labour legislation and related Codes and Agreements relating to own area of responsibility
• The ability to take a systematic and integrated approach to data analytics and measurement: Bases management decisions on all available information understands relative strengths of analytical methods and collects needed data from inside and outside the function and organisation.
• The ability to attain high levels of internal customer satisfaction through the delivery of high-quality ER products and services.

Additional Information :

What We Offer

At Valterra Platinum you will join a team committed to excellence and impact.

We offer:

• Meaningful work in a high-performance values-led environment.
• Market-aligned reward and recognition.
• Opportunities for learning development and progression.
• A culture that respects diversity and encourages innovation.
• A clear commitment to safe Operations.

Inclusion and Diversity

Valterra Platinum is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to promoting an inclusive and diverse workplace where we value and respect every colleague for who they are and provide equality of opportunity so that everyone can fulfill their potential.
Valterra Platinum has a zero tolerance to dignity harms these include all acts of gender based violence bullying harassment and victimisation. Ensuring the safety of our employees extends beyond physical safety and includes the eradication of harmful behaviours from our workplace. This responsibility extends to everyone at Valterra Platinum both during work hours and outside of work. We are unconditional in creating a respectful inclusive and safe working environment to ensure that no colleague will be violated or harassed under our watch.

How to Apply

To apply for this role please complete our online application form via this job advert.

Closing Date:

03 December 2025

Privacy policy - Valterra Platinum

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time