HR Business Partner

SUMMARY:
A collection of upmarket hotels is looking for an HR BUSINESS PARTNER who leads with care and delivers with confidence. Supporting a team that values warmth, consistency, and professionalism, the HR Business Partner will play a critical role in shaping culture, supporting leaders, and ensuring compliance and structure are never at odds with humanity. Based on-site at selected properties within this distinctive collection of luxury hotels and lodges, situated in Cape Town, this role offers the opportunity to make a tangible impact in a fast-paced, people-first hospitality environment.

POSITION INFO:

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• Act as the primary HR contact for all day-to-day queries and people matters.
• Partner with the General Manager and HODs to reinforce a high-performance, inclusive team culture.
• Support the delivery of consistent, human-centered employee experience across departments.

• Manage the end-to-end recruitment process, ensuring efficiency and legal compliance.
• Lead warm, structured onboarding processes aligned to brand and operational needs.

• Support performance reviews, KPIs, probation feedback, and appraisals.
• Manage employee relations, including disciplinary and grievance processes.
• Engage directly with shop stewards and trade unions, maintaining open, constructive dialogue and supporting wage negotiations and procedural fairness.
• Coach managers in handling IR matters with legal and emotional intelligence.

• Identify training gaps and coordinate relevant internal and external learning interventions.
• Track compliance with skills development and employment equity obligations.
• Support succession planning and the development of internal talent pipelines.

• Maintain all HR records, including contracts, performance documentation, and leave registers.
• Prepare monthly payroll input and liaise with central payroll for accurate processing.
• Ensure full compliance with BCEA, LRA, EE Act, and company policies.
• Standardize and maintain current documentation, job descriptions, and SOPs.

Required Skills & Experience

• Diploma or Degree in HR Management / Industrial Psychology (NQF 6–7).
• 5+ years’ HR Generalist experience, preferably in hospitality or luxury retail/service environments.
• Strong working knowledge of South African labour legislation, including unionized environments.
• Experience with Sage, ESS or other HRIS platforms.
• Mature, emotionally intelligent, and able to manage sensitive people issues with discretion and professionalism.
• Comfortable working flexibly, including weekends or evenings when operations require it.
• Confident communicator with the credibility to coach managers and support change.
• Organized, detail-oriented, and passionate about creating meaningful work experiences.

Maximizing Impact as a Member of a Distinctive Collection of Luxury Hotels and Lodges

• Excellent attention to detail.
• Guest focus philosophy, living the brand and driving the experience.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal), practicing honest communication.
• Team player with positive attitude, enthusiasm, and emotional control.
• Excellent time management and self-discipline, interpersonal & solution seeking skills.
• Proactive, use initiative and creative flair when required.
• Committed and loyal, adaptable, and flexible.
• Must work accurately under pressure.
• People skills – tolerance, patience, and care, ability to receive constructive feedback openly.