Senior Manager: Employee Relations and Wellness

The following vacancy exists at NSFAS in Cape Town

Vacancy No 27 of 2024/25

POSITION OVERVIEW:
To ensure effective and efficient management of Employee Relations, Employment Equity and
Transformation as well as Employee Wellness in line with NSFAS strategic goals.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Employee Relations Strategy

• Define and implement employee relations strategy, policies and procedures in support of HR and
  NSFAS strategy to promote a positive and inclusive work culture
• Provide subject matter expertise and support to NSFAS change management and policy
  development programs.
• Ensure compliance of the unit with all legislation including LRA, BCEA, Collective Agreements
  etc.
• Oversee employee relations activities, including conflict resolution, disciplinary actions, and
  Job Specification & Recruiting Profile of Vacancy
  grievance procedures

Relationship management

• Engage and represent NSFAS in all negotiations such as wage, conditions of employment,
  CCMA and labour court matters.
• Organize and keep records of labour meetings with management.
• Coordinate and facilitate disciplinary hearings and represent NSFAS in all external proceedings
  accordingly.
• Communicate the contents of all bargaining agreements to management and employees for
  implementation.
• Conduct a compliance audit on the implementation of the collective agreement.
• Ensure bargaining agreement is submitted with plans on how to address the challenges if any.
• Ensure all customer queries are responded to within 3 days. If not finalized a follow up email
  needs to be sent on the progress of the incident

Provide line manager support

• Provide guidance and coaching to HRBP’s, line managers and employees on employee relations
  matters, ensuring fair and consistent application of policies.
• Communicate union requests for meetings to all employees within a reasonable period.
• Advice line managers in the drafting of charge sheets and notices of disciplinary hearings.
• Proactively identify and mitigate against all employees’ relations risks in the organisation.
• CCMA cases are investigated and ensure that the employer is represented at the CCMA.
• Ensure effective maintenance document and record control of all disciplinary actions.

Employee Relations awareness and training

• Influence line managers and employees to increase understanding of employee relations topics.
• Identify Employee relations training needs and develop training plans to meet these needs.
• Develop effective training material according to these identified needs.
• Ensure that training is conducted for all employees regarding labour matter

Employee Wellness

• Develop and implement comprehensive employee wellness programmes that promote physical,
  mental, and emotional well-being.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and deliver wellness initiatives, such as fitness
  programs, stress management workshops, and mental health support services.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of wellness programs through data analysis, employee feedback, and
  participation rates, and make recommendations for improvement.
• Partner with external service providers and benefit providers to negotiate contracts and ensure
  the delivery of high-quality wellness services

Employment Equity

• Assist in ensuring that EE related consultations and implementation initiatives to drive and
  support attainment of EE Strategy and Targets.
• Keep track of engagements in accordance with EEA and EE Strategy.
• Ensure EE Committee meets on a regular basis
• Perform operational duties to fulfil EEA requirements of reporting, analysis, insights, and
  Functional Targets.
• Assist in improving EE processes by undertaking regular reviews and assisting in reviews,
  administrative systems, and procedures.
• Ensure the accuracy of information by regularly conducting checks and sample audits as
  appropriate.
• Tracking employee development for EE purposes and workplace profile statistics.
• Tracking employee movements and workplace profile statistics.
• Ensuring reconciliation of data with various systems for accuracy.
• Assist in ensuring compliance Department of Labour and Employment by Reporting, keeping
  abreast of new developments, advising, and partnering with business and implementing new
  requirements.

Research, Benchmarking & Best Practice

• Keep abreast with applicable legislative changes to inform policy updates and implementations.
• Provide advice to the Line managers on dealing with disciplinary cases.
• Submit proposals to the Human Resource Executive on the changes in the legislation and how
  they affect NSFAS employees.
• Provide a report which identified possible issues that may affect good employee relations and
  provide a proposal on how to address them.
• Conduct ad hoc requests for labour relations request within 72 hours of requests.
• Stay up to date with employment laws and regulations, and ensure compliance in all employee
  relations practices

Governance, Risk and Compliance

• Prepare and present reports for submission to the NSFAS Executives and Governing
  committees and other relevant stakeholders. •
• Facilitate and oversee the development and monitoring of policies, standard operating
  procedures, systems and controls.
• Lead the conceptualising of the unit’s risk register.
• Ensure effective support in the provision of evidence to all internal and external audit
  requirements.
• Ensure the maintenance and enforcement of all Service Level Agreements to minimise Unit’s
  risk and ensure business continuity.
• Ensure adherence in the unit to all relevant laws, policies and Standard Operating Procedures
  throughout the organisation.

Stakeholder Management and relations

• Cultivate strategic partnerships and collaborations with relevant institutions.
• Build and maintain relationships with all NSFAS business units for the purposes of expectations
  management and knowledge sharing.
• Provide advocacy on matters related to Employee Relations and Employee Wellness to
  empower the NSFAS stakeholders to make informed decisions.

People Management

• Build and lead an effective and cohesive team through the effective management of
  departmental resources.
• Lead the implementation of talent acquisition, succession planning, development, and retention
  strategies for the Unit.
• Lead the enhancement of relevant knowledge and skills through continuous coaching, mentoring
  and nurturing of the Unit’s talent.
• Lead and drive a high-performance culture by translating and communicating the annual
  performance goals and measures based on agreed upon objectives.
• Drive a working environment that augments employee engagement, recognition and productivity
• Lead and drive the management of poor performance and disciplinary matters in line with the
  NSFAS’s policies and procedures

DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum requirements:

• NQF Level 8 qualification in Labour Relations/ Human Resources or related field
• At least 8 years’ experience in employee relations with at least 5 years’ experience in a
  managerial role
• Extensive knowledge and experience dealing with dispute resolutions
• Proven experience in developing and implementing health and wellness programs.
• Knowledge of the South African Labour law

Preferred

• NQF Level 9 qualification in Labour Relations/ Human Resources or related field
• 10 years’ experience in dealing with Labour Relations matters

Skill and Competencies:

• Interpersonal skills
• Communication skills
• Listening skills
• Conflict management skills
• Negotiation skills
• Persuasion and influential skills
• Teamwork
• Attention to detail
• Time management
• Working under pressure
• Decision making and problem-solving skills
• Collaboration
• Diversity management

REMUNERATION & BENEFITS

Remuneration Package: R1 291 102 – R1,482,941

Total Cost to Company per annum inclusive of all benefits and company contributions.

PLEASE NOTE
Closing date: 01 October 2024

Interested applicants must apply via this link: Senior Manager Employee relations and Wellness

All the best with your applications.