Head of People

Dis-Chem Pharmacies' in Midrand has an opportunity available for a Head of People & Culture (Enabling Functions) to join the Head Office team. The purpose of the role is to lead the design, integration, and execution of People & Culture priorities across Dis-Chem's Enabling Functions, including Finance, Marketing, IT, P&C, and other central business support areas. This role provides strategic partnership to the C-suite, executives, and functional leaders to ensure the alignment of people strategies with enterprise goals, operational performance, and culture evolution. It is a key driver in embedding leadership excellence, talent readiness, and organisational agility that underpins the broader business strategy.

Minimum Requirements…

Essential:

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or Industrial/Organisational Psychology
• Minimum 8+ years in Human Resources, with at least 5 years in a senior HR leadership or HRBP role supporting corporate or enabling functions
• Demonstrated experience partnering with C-suite and senior executives within complex, multi-functional organisations
• Proven track record in workforce planning, organisational design, talent management, and leadership development
• Deep understanding of South African labour law, governance, and transformation frameworks (BCEA, LRA, POPIA, EE, BBBEE, SD)
• Exposure to technology, finance, or corporate environments advantageous

Key Responsibilities...

1. P&C Service Delivery & Functional Partnering:

2. Lead and manage the delivery of People & Culture solutions across Head Office and Enabling Services, ensuring business alignment, operational consistency, and people impact.

3. Partner closely with Executives and Functional Heads to translate business strategy into actionable people plans that enhance performance, accountability, and engagement.

4. Drive a seamless employee experience through effective people operations, governance, and service excellence across all enabling functions.

5. Strategic Workforce Planning & Talent Enablement:

6. Design and maintain a comprehensive workforce plan that anticipates skills, structure, and succession needs across Enabling Services.

7. Collaborate with Talent Acquisition and Leadership Development teams to secure and grow top talent within functional areas.

8. Lead workforce analytics to support data-driven decision-making, forecasting, and organisational design optimisation.

9. Employee Relations, Governance & Compliance:

10. Ensure consistent application of people policies, processes, and labour legislation (BCEA, LRA, POPIA) across all enabling functions.

11. Promote a culture of accountability, fairness, and mutual respect through proactive employee relations and leadership coaching.

12. Partner with the ER team to mitigate potential risk exposures and promote a stable, high-trust working environment across Head Office teams.

13. Performance Management & Capability Building:

14. Embed a performance-driven culture across Head Office, enabling leaders to drive executional excellence and measurable results.

15. Strengthen leadership capability to manage performance, align goals, and develop their teams effectively.

16. Collaborate with Learning & Development to build bespoke leadership and specialist development programs for high-impact roles.

17. Learning, Growth & Leadership Development:

18. Partner with Learning & Development to identify and close critical capability gaps across enabling functions.

19. Champion professional development initiatives for all enabling teams and professionals..

20. Culture, Engagement & Transformation:

21. Champion the delivery of Dis-Chem's cultural blueprint, promoting shared values, inclusion, and leadership accountability.

22. Lead culture, engagement, and transformation initiatives that strengthen belonging, equity, and

23. Strategic Partnership & Business Enablement:

24. Serve as a trusted advisor to Exco team, providing strategic counsel on people strategy, organisational effectiveness, and workforce trends.

25. Influence strategic decision-making through robust people analytics, insights, and business intelligence.

26. Collaborate with Finance and other enabling teams to align headcount, productivity, and organisational structure with financial performance goals.

27. P&C Operational Excellence:

28. Ensure the efficient execution of all P&C administration, payroll, and benefits processes for Head Office employees.

29. Champion HRIS and people data integrity, ensuring accessibility, accuracy, and compliance.

30. Ensure consistent employee lifecycle management, from onboarding to exit. aligned to Dis-Chem's standards of excellence.

31. People Leadership:

32. Establish a high-performing, collaborative, and accountable culture within the P&C retail team that reflects the organisation's values and drives business impact.

33. Provide clear leadership and direction to the P&C team in delivering people priorities that enable retail operations and business performance.

Competencies...

Essential:

• Strategic Acumen
• Execution Orientation
• Operational Excellence
• Analytical Insight
• Cultural Stewardship
• Strategic Influence
• P&C Technical Mastery
• Resilience & Agility
• People Leadership

Special Conditions of Employment...

• South African citizen
• MIE, clear criminal and credit
• Driver's license and/or own reliable transport

Remuneration and Benefits...

• Marketed related salary
• Medical aid
• Provident fund
• Staff account

ONLY SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS WILL BE CONTACTED. IF YOU HAVEN`T BEEN CONTACTED WITHIN TWO WEEKS AFTER THE CLOSING DATE CONSIDER YOUR APPLICATION AS UNSUCCESSFUL.

Dis-Chem Pharmacies is an equal opportunity employer. Dis-Chem's approved Employment Equity Plan and targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process aligned to Dis-Chem's Employment Equity & Transformation Strategy. Dis-Chem actively supports the recruitment of People with Disabilities.