Group Reward & Strategic Workforce Planning Executive

• Responsible for supporting the Strategy Office, Executive Committee, Board, and Remunerations Committees at Group and Subsidiary Level through developing and maintaining the reward philosophy, strategy, and policy direction for Tongaat in support of business strategies and in a manner that enhances the Company’s employment status in the market.

• Responsible for enabling the business to make proactive decisions, mitigate workforce risks, and build a resilient, agile organisation prepared for both current and future challenges.

• Responsible for overseeing the Human Capital Shared Services Centres within the operations.

• Develop functional excellence and compliance in reward, strategic workforce planning, operational service delivery, and manpower cost management.

• Drive continuous improvement across reward, workforce planning, and shared services functions.

• Ensure compliance and risk management in all areas of responsibility

1. Strategic Reward Leadership

• Partner with executives and remuneration committees to develop and translate reward strategy into action.

• Design standardized and cost-efficient pay structures, incentives, and reward frameworks aligned with business goals.

• Govern reward decisions through structured approval processes and ensure fair, competitive, and market-informed practices.

2. Compensation & Benefits Management

• Oversee policies, procedures, and governance related to compensation and benefits.

• Manage pension schemes, propose annual adjustments, and ensure payroll accuracy through Shared Services.

• Collaborate with Group Talent for data-driven reporting and people analytics.

3. Strategic Workforce Planning

• Forecast workforce needs and align structures with strategic, market, and operational priorities.

• Identify capability gaps and support talent strategies such as acquisition, development, and succession.

• Model people costs and embed governance into workforce planning processes.

4. Continuous Improvement & Analytics

• Use AI, machine learning, and dashboards for predictive planning, workforce optimization, and tailored incentives.

• Benchmark practices, conduct audits, and lead compliance activities.

• Build communities of practice and feedback loops to continuously evolve reward programs.

5. Shared Services Optimization

• Ensure operational excellence in HC Shared Services through automation, standardization, and SLA monitoring.

• Drive efficiency and quality across payroll, employee lifecycle processes, and compliance frameworks.

6. AI & Automation Integration

• Identify and implement AI technologies to enhance strategic workforce planning and reward effectiveness.

• Lead collaboration between Human Capital, IT, and data science to deploy intelligent tools for decision-making.

• Honours degree in Mathematics, Business, Finance or Economics.

• Global Remuneration Professional (GRP)

• Chartered Reward Specialist as endorsed by the South African Reward Association

• 10+ years of reward experience, of which at least 5 years should include management experience

• Fluent in the technical terms associated with the field and therefore able to interact effectively with external service providers and other reward specialists

• Strong Excel, numeric, analytical, and problem-solving skills

• Creativity in taking cutting-edge reward and workforce planning practices and adapting them where relevant to the organisation

• Good understanding of how remuneration can be leveraged to deliver sound business results

• Good understanding of how workforce planning can be leveraged to improve the delivery of strategic objectives and productivity

• Capacity to think conceptually, as well as to plan and implement operational requirements meticulously

• Ability to influence and interact confidently at Exco and Remco levels

• Ability to work effectively as a Specialist and as an integral part of the HC Services Management team

• Ensure that personal and professional integrity builds credibility