HR & Payroll Generalist

SUMMARY:
A purpose-driven organization focused on environmental sustainability and resource management solutions in Durban is seeking an HR & Payroll Generalist to join their team.

POSITION INFO:

This role is central to ensuring the smooth delivery of efficient, compliant, and employee-focused HR and payroll operations across the full employee lifecycle.

The successful candidate will act as a trusted HR operational partner, supporting both managers and employees while ensuring strong governance, accurate payroll execution, and compliance with South African labor and statutory requirements.

Key Purpose of the Role

The HR & Payroll Generalist is responsible for end-to-end HR administration, payroll processing and oversight, employee relations support, statutory compliance, training coordination, and maintaining accurate people data. The role also contributes to continuous improvement initiatives and supports a collaborative, service-driven HR function aligned with business objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage full HR lifecycle processes including onboarding, employee changes, ER support, and offboarding
• Prepare and maintain employment contracts, HR documentation, and system records
• Execute and oversee payroll processing, reconciliations, validations, and statutory compliance
• Coordinate training, inductions, and skills development reporting
• Support statutory reporting including BBBEE, COIDA, EMP501, EE, WSP/ATR submissions
• Provide guidance on employee relations matters in line with labour legislation and company policies
• Support HR policy implementation and communication
• Provide operational guidance to junior HR/payroll team members
• Compile HR and payroll reports and support audit/compliance requirements
• Identify and drive process improvement initiatives within HR and payroll functions

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or diploma in HR, Industrial Psychology, Business Administration, or related field
• 4–5 years’ experience in an HR Generalist/HR Operations role
• Strong hands-on payroll processing and oversight experience
• Experience with payroll reconciliation and statutory compliance (UIF, SDL, PAYE, COIDA/WCA)
• Solid knowledge of South African labour legislation (BCEA, LRA, EE, B-BBEE)
• Experience across recruitment, ER, payroll, benefits, performance, and L&D
• Proficiency in MS Office and HRIS/payroll systems
• Exposure to payroll migration projects (advantageous)

Key Attributes

• High attention to detail with strong accuracy and compliance focus
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational and multitasking ability
• Sound problem-solving and decision-making capability
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion
• Collaborative team player with a proactive mindset