HR & Workplace Specialist

Role Overview

We are seeking an HR Specialist to join our Cape Town office. This role will own day-to-day HR operations and serve as our internal expert on South African employment compliance. You will ensure our workplace policies, contracts, onboarding, and employee relations adhere strictly to local statutory requirements while maintaining a positive workplace culture.

Key Responsibilities

Employment Law & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure full compliance across all core SA labor legislation, including the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA), Labor Relations Act (LRA), and Employment Equity Act (EEA).
• Draft, review, and maintain local employment contracts, employee handbooks, and workplace policies compliant with SA standards.
• Oversee statutory filings and compliance obligations (such as UIF, COIDA, Skills Development Levies, and EE reporting where applicable).

Employee Relations & Disciplinary Governance

• Guide managers on procedurally and substantively fair performance management, warnings, and grievance handling.
• Facilitate formal disciplinary processes and workplace investigations in line with the LRA Code of Good Practice.
• Represent or prepare the company for dispute resolution processes at the CCMA or bargaining councils if necessary.

General Office Administration & Facilities

• Act as the primary administrator for local workspace management (managing access cards, flexible office platforms such as WeWork, desk allocations, and meeting bookings).
• Lead on-the-ground efforts as we scale, including local office space research, site visits, lease options, and setup logistics.
• Serve as the main point of contact for local IT logistics (laptop procurement, asset tracking, and courier arrangements).
• Organize local team events, meetups, and culture initiatives to keep the Cape Town team connected.

HR Operations & Lifecycle Management

• Manage end-to-end employee onboarding, offboarding, and leave tracking under local statutory minimums.
• Collaborate with finance/payroll to ensure tax (PAYE), UIF deductions, and benefit contributions are accurate.
• Maintain accurate local employee records and handle sensitive workplace data in accordance with POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act).

Requirements

Candidate Qualifications

• Experience: 4–6+ years of hands-on HR experience in South Africa.
• Education: Degree or Diploma in Human Resource Management, Industrial Psychology, or Labor Law.
• Legal Knowledge: Proven practical understanding of LRA, BCEA, EEA, COIDA, and POPIA.
• Disciplinary & CCMA: Direct experience chairing or advising on internal disciplinary hearings and navigating CCMA processes.
• Location: Based in or able to commute to Cape Town.