Senior HR Generalist

Position Title: Senior HR Generalist
Department: Human Resources
Reports To: HR Manager
Location: Pepperclub Hotel, Cape Town
Employment Type: Full-Time, On-site

Purpose of the Role

The Senior HR Generalist is responsible for leading day-to-day HR operations and providing expert support across all core functions, including payroll, employee relations, compliance, onboarding, training coordination, and policy implementation. This role acts as the operational lead within the HR department, ensuring consistent, accurate, and legally compliant delivery of HR services to staff and managers.

Key Responsibilities

• Payroll Management: Administer in-house payroll on Sage VIP, ensuring timely and accurate processing of salaries, deductions, terminations, and new joiners. Reconcile leave and benefits monthly.
• Onboarding & Compliance: Oversee new hire onboarding, contracts, file creation, and compliance with regulatory requirements. Conduct policy briefings and ensure full documentation is signed and stored.
• Employee Relations Support: Draft and issue disciplinary notices, prepare hearing bundles, minute hearings, and ensure fair, consistent case handling. Support HODs in informal and formal IR matters.
• Training & Development Coordination: Track training needs, compile monthly calendars, communicate sessions to departments, manage attendance, and assist with compliance and SETA reporting.
• HR Systems, Records & Audits: Maintain accurate employee records, HR trackers, audit-ready documents, and statutory registers (EE, leave, absenteeism, IR). Prepare monthly HR reports.
• Performance Administration: Monitor probation and performance review timelines, follow up with managers, and document outcomes accurately.
• Benefits & Administration: Liaise with medical aid and provident fund providers. Handle changes, queries, and monthly submissions.
• HR Calendar & Events: Coordinate internal HR events (Wellness Days, birthdays, long service), manage reminders, and issue supporting documentation.

Key Deliverables

1. End-to-end management of payroll, onboarding, employee lifecycle administration, and record-keeping in full compliance with company standards and labour law.
2. Seamless coordination and documentation of all disciplinary and grievance procedures across all departments, ensuring consistent application and fair practice.
3. Design and execution of a structured and trackable onboarding and performance review framework, including probation reviews, performance conversations, and growth tracking.
4. Development and execution of a compliant and impactful training and development programme, including compliance training, leadership development, and SETA reporting.
5. Maintenance of a fully auditable HR information system, including all personnel files, digital trackers, statutory registers, reports, and internal HR calendars.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

1. Payroll Accuracy Rate: 100% error-free payroll submission by the 25th of each month.
2. Onboarding Compliance: 100% of new hires onboarded with complete and signed documentation within 48 hours.
3. Disciplinary Timeliness: 100% of disciplinary actions processed within 5 working days of incident reporting.
4. Training Attendance: Minimum 85% staff attendance rate for mandatory training sessions per department.
5. HR Record Accuracy: Maintain 98% accuracy across HR trackers, files, and staff data logs.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Minimum 5 years HR generalist experience in hospitality or service-driven industries
• Proven experience in Sage VIP payroll administration
• Sound understanding of South African labour law and HR best practices
• Strong attention to detail, time management, and document control
• Ability to work independently and maintain confidentiality

Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Strong organisational and coordination abilities
• Problem-solving and decision-making under pressure
• Conflict resolution and fair IR practices
• Intermediate Excel and data reporting

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