Head of HR

SUMMARY:
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POSITION INFO:
Join a prestigious hotel in the tranquil surroundings of Newlands, Western Cape, where a rich heritage meets contemporary luxury rooted in sustainability and authentic hospitality. We are seeking a strategic and inspiring Head of HR to lead our people initiatives, foster a high-performance culture, and ensure operational excellence in a unique environment that values nature, community, and personal growth. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of our client’s people practices within a culturally rich and environmentally conscious hotel. If you are a motivated HR leader ready to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to apply today and lead the way in redefining hospitality excellence. Please kindly forward your CV to or apply here directly. Duties: Shape and Deliver the People Strategy Develop, implement and continuously review the Hotel's people strategy to support business objectives and long-term organisational goals. Partner with the Executive Team to ensure people initiatives align with the Hotel's strategic direction and values. Drive initiatives that enhance organisational effectiveness, employee experience and business performance. Lead strategic workforce planning initiatives to ensure the Hotel attracts, develops and retains top talent. Contribute to business planning processes by providing strategic HR insights and recommendations. 2. Build Organisational Capability and Leadership Effectiveness Design and implement talent management and succession planning strategies to ensure leadership continuity and organisational sustainability. Identify organisational capability gaps and implement development interventions to address current and future business needs. Develop and facilitate leadership development, coaching and mentoring initiatives across all levels of the business. Drive organisational development initiatives aimed at improving team effectiveness, collaboration and performance. Foster a culture of continuous learning and professional growth throughout the organisation. 3. Drive Service Culture, Employee Engagement and Wellbeing Champion a positive, inclusive and service-driven culture aligned to the Hotel's values and guest experience philosophy. Develop and implement employee engagement initiatives aimed at improving employee satisfaction, retention and organisational commitment. Lead employee wellbeing, recognition and reward programmes that support employee morale and performance. Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, diversity and inclusion. Ensure effective communication practices that strengthen employee engagement and organisational alignment. 4. Optimise Workforce Planning and Labour Productivity Lead workforce planning processes to ensure the Hotel is appropriately resourced to meet operational and strategic requirements. Partner with departmental leaders to optimise staffing structures, labour utilisation and productivity levels. Monitor labour costs and workforce metrics to ensure cost-effective people management practices. Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency while maintaining exceptional service standards. Support business leaders in forecasting staffing requirements and managing workforce risks. 5. Lead Employment Equity, Employee Relations, Governance and Compliance Drive the Hotel's Employment Equity and transformation strategy in accordance with legislative requirements and business objectives. Ensure full compliance with all applicable labour legislation, employment standards and internal policies. Provide strategic guidance and support on employee relations matters, including disciplinary processes, grievances, conflict resolution and dispute management. Lead engagements with employee representatives, external bodies and regulatory authorities where required. Identify and mitigate people-related risks through sound governance and compliance practices. 6. Deliver Effective HR Operations and Continuous Improvement Oversee the effective delivery of all HR operational functions, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, remuneration and benefits, learning and development, and HR administration. Ensure HR policies, systems and processes are efficient, compliant and aligned to business requirements. Utilise HR analytics and people data to support evidence-based decision-making and measure organisational performance. Develop and monitor HR metrics, dashboards and reporting to identify trends and improvement opportunities. Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance HR service delivery, operational effectiveness and the overall employee experience. Requirements: Minimum of 5 years' experience in senior HR roles within the hospitality industry Proven expertise in organisational design, performance management, and skills development Strong knowledge of employment equity management and labour legislation Excellent leadership, communication, and strategic thinking skills Nice to Have: Experience with HRIS systems and data analytics Demonstrated success in driving cultural change and employee engagement initiatives