The Focus Group Sandton, South Africa 24 April 2026 Mid / Senior 5000 - 6000 Contract Cost to Company 3 years - 6 years Skills Change Management Employee Relations Labour Relations Talent Management Industries Banking Financial Services Job Description
Our client is seeking an experienced HR Business Partner to partner with business leaders in delivering end-to-end human resources support that drives business performance, talent optimisation, and a positive employee experience.
The HR Business Partner will act as a trusted advisor to leadership, delivering practical, commercially sound HR solutions across the full HR value chain. This role has a strong focus on talent management, performance management, employee relations, and organisational effectiveness , operating with a high level of independence and accountability.
Key Responsibilities Business & Strategic Partnership
Partner with line management to understand business strategy and translate it into effective people plans, initiatives, and interventions.
Proactively anticipate people-related risks and opportunities, addressing issues before they escalate.
Build strong, credible relationships with stakeholders at all levels through proactive engagement and consistent follow-through.
End-to-End HR Generalist Support
Deliver full-spectrum HR support across the employee lifecycle, ensuring alignment with company policies, procedures, and South African labour legislation.
Ensure accurate and timely execution of daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly HR activities.
Collaborate closely with HR specialist teams (Remuneration, Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, HR Operations) to deliver integrated HR solutions.
Talent & Performance Management
Act as a trusted advisor to leaders on talent management, succession planning, performance management, and employee engagement.
Facilitate performance management processes including goal setting, mid-year and year-end reviews, calibration sessions, and performance-related discussions.
Lead or support talent reviews, succession planning discussions, and development planning sessions.
Promote learning agility and continuous capability building through targeted development initiatives.
Employee Relations & Labour Compliance
Independently manage employee relations matters including misconduct, poor performance, grievances, incapacity, and workplace conflict.
Provide sound advice on South African labour legislation and internal HR policies.
Ensure fair, consistent, and legally compliant outcomes across all employee relations cases.
Organisational Effectiveness & Change
Support organisational change initiatives such as restructuring, role changes, onboarding, and integration.
Contribute to a positive, high-performance culture by reinforcing organisational values, accountability, and constructive leadership behaviours.
Monitor people and culture risks, including Employment Equity and compliance considerations.
People Data & Insights
Use people data and trends (e.g., headcount, turnover, performance outcomes, EE data) to inform decision-making and highlight risks and opportunities.
Provide insights to leadership that enable better workforce and talent decisions.
Qualifications & Experience Essential
Bachelor’s Degree (NQF Level 7) in Human Resources, Industrial Psychology, Labour Relations, or a related field
3–5 years’ experience in an HR Generalist or HR Business Partner role
Proven experience independently managing employee relations cases
Exposure to performance management and talent management processes
Preferred
Honours Degree in Human Resources, Industrial Psychology, or related discipline
SABPP registration
Change Management certification
Coaching certification
Enneagram or Insights accreditation
Experience within financial services and/or asset management environments
Technical & Professional Knowledge
South African labour legislation and employment relations practices
Talent management and succession planning methodologies
Performance management frameworks and calibration processes
Employee engagement and culture interventions
HR systems and reporting (e.g. SuccessFactors)
Employment Equity legislation and people-risk management
Business and financial acumen in a regulated environment
Strong written communication and facilitation skills
Behavioural Competencies
Building Partnerships
Earning Trust
Independent Thinking and Accountability
Learning Agility
Forward Thinking and Problem Solving
Resilience and Strong Work Ethic
Facilitating Change
Conflict Resolution
Business Acumen
Professional and Technical Excellence
