About the Role

We are seeking a seasoned HR professional to lead our Human Resources function in Cape Town City Centre. As Head of Human Resources, you will be responsible for driving the HR strategy and operating model, while ensuring full adherence to SA employment law and managing complex employee relations.

Key Responsibilities

• Legislative Compliance: Ensure full adherence to SA employment law, maintain up-to-date policies, oversee statutory reporting, and advise on labour relations risk.
• Compensation, Benefits & Reward: Design and govern a competitive total reward framework, oversee executive incentives and RemCo partnerships, and manage annual salary and bonus processes.
• Strategic HR Leadership: Drive the HR strategy and operating model, build people analytics capability, and serve as a trusted strategic partner to ExCo and senior leadership.
• Organisational Development & Culture: Lead org design, embed company values and culture, run engagement diagnostics, and manage change programmes across the business.
• Talent, Learning & Leadership Development: Oversee end-to-end talent management, succession planning, leadership pipeline development, and performance enablement.
• Team Leadership & HR Operations: Lead and develop the HR team, ensure efficient service delivery through strong systems and processes, and act as a credible change agent across the organisation.

Requirements

• Experience: 10+ years progressive HR experience, including 5 years in a senior leadership role
• Proven track record leading HR strategy, organisational development, and transformation in a multi-entity and/or financial services environment
• Experience partnering with Exco level leadership to support business strategy, people initiatives, and organisational outcomes
• Strong expertise in South African labour legislation, governance, and complex employee relations
• Demonstrated experience in reward strategy, performance enablement, and culture transformation
• Experience implementing or optimising HR systems, analytics, and operating models

Qualifications

• Formal education/certifications not specified

About the Role

The Trade Ocean Group, a multi-national customs clearing, freight forwarding and ships agency company with branches in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Gqeberha, and Walvis Bay in Namibia, is seeking an experienced Head of Human Resources to join its Shared Services Department. As a strategic partner to the executive team, the successful candidate will play a critical role in balancing compliance and effective people practices across South Africa and Namibia.

Key Responsibilities

• HR Strategy: lead the design, implementation and continuous refinement of HR strategies aligned with the Trade Ocean Group’s business objectives across South Africa and Namibia
• Workforce Planning: forecast workforce needs, conduct talent gap analyses and implement recruitment and retention strategies to ensure organisational resilience
• Succession Planning: develop succession pipelines for critical roles, ensuring leadership continuity and long-term organisational sustainability
• Leadership of the HR Department: manage and mentor the HR & Admin Officer, providing guidance, coaching and performance oversight to build departmental capability
• Payroll and Benefits Oversight: ensure accurate payroll administration and benefits management, maintaining compliance and employee satisfaction
• Learning and Development: drive organisational learning initiatives, oversee training plans, and promote continuous professional development
• Coaching and Mentoring: Provide executive coaching and mentoring to managers and employees, fostering leadership growth and career development
• Employee Relations and Compliance: oversee compliance with labour legislation (BBBEE, BCEA, LRA, SDL, EEA, OHSA, Codes of Good Practice and International Standards) and manage employee relations to promote fairness and organisational integrity
• Performance Management: establish performance frameworks, oversee appraisal processes, and ensure alignment with organisational goals
• Staff Engagement and Wellness: champion employee engagement initiatives, wellness programmes and the EVP to strengthen organisational culture

Requirements

• Postgraduate Degree in Human Resource Management, Industrial Psychology or similar (e.g. Honour’s degree / Master’s degree / Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic HR)
• Sound knowledge of Labour Relations
• 5-10 years of operational experience in a Human Resources role
• Experience in Human Resource Information Systems
• Computer literate (MS Office, intermediate to advanced Excel skills)
• Experience in leading organisational change initiatives, culture transformation and workforce adaptability
• High Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and resilience with the ability to inspire and lead under pressure (experience in managing people)
• Excellent organising, planning and time management skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills

Qualifications

None mentioned.

Salary & Benefits

Market-related remuneration and pension benefits, based on the successful applicant’s experience and qualifications.