Purpose:

We are looking for an HR professional who leads with care and delivers with confidence. Supporting a team that values warmth, consistency, and professionalism, the HR Business Partner will play a critical role in shaping culture, supporting leaders, and ensuring compliance and structure are never at odds with humanity. Based on-site at Lion Sands, Sabi Sand, this role offers the opportunity to make a tangible impact in a fast-paced, people-first hospitality environment.

This is a hands-on role requiring equal parts emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, and administrative precision. You will partner closely with the General Manager and department heads to ensure operational excellence and a values-driven employee experience.

Key Responsibilities:

People Operations & Support

• Act as the primary HR contact for all day-to-day queries and people matters.
• Partner with the General Manager and HODs to reinforce a high-performance, inclusive team culture.
• Support the delivery of consistent, human-centred employee experience across departments.

Recruitment & Onboarding

• Manage the end-to-end recruitment process, ensuring efficiency and legal compliance.
• Lead warm, structured onboarding processes aligned to brand and operational needs.

Performance & Employee Relations

• Support performance reviews, KPIs, probation feedback, and appraisals.
• Manage employee relations, including disciplinary and grievance processes.
• Engage directly with shop stewards and trade unions, maintaining open, constructive dialogue and supporting wage negotiations and procedural fairness.
• Coach managers in handling IR matters with legal and emotional intelligence.

Training & Development

• Identify training gaps and coordinate relevant internal and external learning interventions.
• Track compliance with skills development and employment equity obligations.
• Support succession planning and the development of internal talent pipelines.

Compliance, Administration & Transactional Delivery

• Maintain all HR records, including contracts, performance documentation, and leave registers.
• Prepare monthly payroll input and liaise with central payroll for accurate processing.
• Ensure full compliance with BCEA, LRA, EE Act, and company policies.
• Standardise and maintain current documentation, job descriptions, and SOPs.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Diploma or Degree in HR Management / Industrial Psychology (NQF 6–7).
• 5+ years’ HR Generalist experience, preferably in hospitality or luxury retail/service environments.
• Strong working knowledge of South African labour legislation, including unionised environments.
• Experience with Sage, ESS or other HRIS platforms.
• Mature, emotionally intelligent, and able to manage sensitive people issues with discretion and professionalism.
• Comfortable working flexibly, including weekends or evenings when operations require it.
• Confident communicator with the credibility to coach managers and support change.
• Organised, detail-oriented, and passionate about creating meaningful work experiences.