People Officer

The People Officer provides direct support to employees and managers, ensuring the smooth delivery of People Operations processes and initiatives across the company. The role focuses on people support, compliance and reporting, payroll review, engagement, wellness, and culture initiatives. Acting as a trusted partner, the People Officer ensures People practices are consistent, compliant, and aligned with our culture and values.

Position of the job in the Company:

The People Officer will report directly to the People Manager.

Principal responsibilities:

1. Manager & Employee Support

• Provide first-line People Operations guidance to employees and managers, ensuring queries are resolved quickly and effectively.
• Advise managers and employees on policies, leave, performance, and People Operations processes.
• Help resolve workplace queries and escalate complex matters when required.
• Conduct quarterly 1:1 alignment meetings with managers to provide guidance, surface people-related issues early, and support their leadership effectiveness.
• Foster a positive employee experience through consistent, reliable support.

2. Employee Relations & People Practices

• Provide administrative and procedural support for disciplinary, grievance, and performance processes.
• Draft and manage related documentation.
• Guide managers on conduct and performance procedures to ensure alignment with company policies and South African labour legislation.
• Support the preparation of documentation and information for employee relations and compliance processes when required.

3. Compliance, Reporting & Payroll Support

• Administer Workplace Skills Plan (WSP) and Annual Training Report (ATR) submissions in partnership with the People Operations team.
• Maintain Employment Equity (EE) records and support EE reporting and submissions.
• Review monthly payroll data to ensure accuracy, conduct variance checks, and flag discrepancies for correction.
• Ensure HR data accuracy across payroll, compliance, and HRIS systems.
• Support internal and external audits and compliance reviews.
• Ensure all statutory submissions and payroll review reports are completed accurately and on time.

4. Engagement, Wellness & Talent Support

• Coordinate wellness initiatives, surveys, and engagement campaigns.
• Coordinate and implement wellness-related programmes in line with the company's wellness strategy and quarterly themes, collaborating with relevant internal stakeholders where needed.
• Contribute to employee engagement and culture-building activities.
• Deliver wellness and engagement initiatives in line with the quarterly wellness themes, ensuring strong communication and participation across the business.
• Support onboarding activities to strengthen culture and employee experience.
• Support the Talent Acquisition team when needed to ensure a smooth and collaborative process.

5. People Ops Projects & Process Improvement

• Contribute to People Ops projects and process optimisation initiatives.
• Standardise People Ops processes and assist with policy updates.
• Provide reporting insights to inform People practices and decision-making.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and the employee experience.
• Explore opportunities to leverage automation and AI tools where relevant.

6. Any other job duties associated with this role.

Experience & Skills

• 3+ years in a People Operations or HR Generalist role with broad HR exposure.
• Experience providing first-line HR support, guiding managers on policies, leave, and performance processes.
• Exposure to compliance reporting (EE, WSP/ATR, payroll reviews, HR audits).
• Experience supporting wellness and engagement initiatives.
• Headhunting or recruitment experience is advantageous.

Attributes

• Approachable and employee-focused.
• Confident communicator with the ability to advise managers on people matters.
• Well-organised and adaptable.
• Discreet and professional with sensitive information.
• Proactive, with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Familiarity with HRIS systems and LMS platforms.

Desirable

• Experience in renewable energy, infrastructure or technical industries.

What Does Success Look Like?

By Month 3:

• Fully onboarded, with a strong understanding of company policies, processes, and culture, and particularly the PO departments.
• Recognised as a responsive and approachable People Ops contact.
• Supporting compliance reporting and payroll reviews accurately.
• Coordinating at least one wellness or engagement initiative.
• Settled into the team and demonstrated they are a team player.

By Month 6:

• Independently conducting quarterly 1:1s with Managers, surfacing trends and supporting manager capability.
• Submitting payroll variance reviews and compliance reports accurately and on time.
• Playing an active role in wellness initiatives and engagement improvements.
• Recognised as a trusted advisor to managers on day-to-day people queries.

By Month 12:

• Consistently delivering 1:1s, wellness initiatives, and compliance submissions in line with KPIs.
• Driving improvements in People Ops processes, accuracy, and engagement delivery.
• Demonstrating impact through improved operational efficiency and employee engagement.
• Value add to managers in terms of support and guidance, assisting us in our A Player methodology and results.

Core Values:

We hire, reward, and recognise our team against these values. It is imperative that you believe in these values and demonstrate them consistently.

• We are passionate and proud of what we do.
• We communicate candidly, especially when it is difficult.
• We take the initiative, share our mistakes, and grow together.
• We are dependable and take accountability.
• No one person is bigger than the solution - no egos.