Ir & Community Liaison Specialist (Lng-richards Bay)

Durban
Human Resources
40 hours

**Description of**
**this vacancy**:
Start your career as an IR & Community Liaison Specialist at Vopak and contribute to social themes such as energy security and energy transition. We offer you a working environment that is safe and pleasant and where equality, diversity and satisfaction are of paramount importance.

As an IR & Community Liaison Specialist you will build together with all your colleagues in South Africa on our ambition to be the best in Port at leading locations. Vopak South Africa is a Business Unit of Royal Vopak and aims to build and operate leading independent storage, distribution and throughput terminals in Southern Africa. To achieve this, it needs to execute projects and maintain assets and technology that delivers an attractive value proposition for shareholders and maintains a distinctive competitive advantage.

Ready to develop yourself and make a positive impact? Improve the world and start as an IR & Community Liaison Specialist at Vopak.

**What will you do as an IR & Community Liaison Specialist?**

As an IR & Community Liaison Specialist (LNG - Richards Bay) you will be responsible for fostering positive stakeholder relations and ensuring a healthy business environment both within the organization and in the wider community through building strong partnerships, promoting the organization's vision, facilitating effective communication, and engaging with external stakeholders.

**What do we offer you?**
- A project - market, competitive salary that is commensurate to your experience & knowledge, coupled with attractive bonuses
- Various growth & developmental opportunities
- Relevant and competitively placed allowances
- Disability & Risk Insurance that is fully subsidized by the company
- Group Medical Aid where Vopak pays 50% of the nominal costs
- Excellent Retirement Scheme funding through our Group scheme retirement fund

**What do we expect from you as an IR & Community Liaison Specialist?**
- A Degree in a relevant field such as community development studies, industrial relations, public relations, or related discipline.
- 5+ years IR & involvement in community development experience, preferably in the development, design, construction, and commissioning of a terminal, refinery or petrochemical plant
- Strong knowledge of employment laws and practices
- Experience in leading organizational community projects
- Available to work flexible hours (nights and weekends) occasionally
- Local Knowledge, familiarity with the local community, its demographics, and the social and economic challenges it faces

**What does your day look like?**

Some of the operational elements of the IR & Community Liaison Specialist include:
**Industrial Relations**
- Develop approach for managing complex, ambiguous, and/or escalated ER issues
- Interacts frequently with Senior Management and must exercise extreme discretion and strong independent judgement in investigating and evaluating complex employee issues, which, if handled inappropriately, could expose the company to significant financial and reputation risk
- Partner with the Law Department, Labor Relations, and other corporate HR departments as necessary to ensure effective case management and resolution

**Community Liaison**
- Contribute towards the development of community strategy for Community Relations and coordinate the development of employment framework to ensure employment to local communities
- Act as a bridge between the organization and the local community, fostering positive relationships and maintaining a strong presence within the community.
- Collaborate with local community organizations, government agencies, and stakeholders to identify opportunities for partnership and collaboration on community initiatives.

**Your core responsibilities **include (but not limited to) the following**:
**Industrial Relations**:

- Partner with internal legal counsel to ensure workplace is free of harassment, discrimination and retaliation
- Manage day to day organized labour activities
- Manage contractors HR/IR and legal compliance on site
- Engage with appropriate internal HR consultants and advisors to gain specific legal or best practice advice on specific cases, policy revisions, cross market issues, etc. to ensure best advice is provided
- Responsible for conflict management, conduct fact-finding investigation activities related to internal and external inquiries, complaints, and concerns, and prescribe appropriate remedies to resolve complaints or concerns.
- Ensure compliance with HR policies and procedures and local, state, and Municipal requirements
- Handle disciplinary hearings, strikes, lockouts, and community protests.
- Educate managers and employees on HR policies, plans, programs, practices, processes, and tools
- Identify ER trends in specific regional geography and communicate concerns to supervisor
- Develop and maintain reporting processes to assure HR/IR business partner functi