HR Operations & Payroll Manager

Role Overview

A growing South African non-profit focused on creating better education and employment opportunities for young people is looking for an HR Operations & Payroll Manager. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact within a purpose-driven organisation that is expanding its reach across the country.

Reporting directly to the Chief of Staff, you will oversee HR operations, payroll, compliance and industrial relations across a large, geographically distributed workforce. Beyond managing day-to-day operations, you'll play a key role in improving processes, implementing systems and leveraging technology to help the organisation scale efficiently.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and optimise HR operations, including employee contracting, onboarding, offboarding and records management across a large workforce.

• Oversee monthly payroll reviews, reconciliations, statutory submissions and compliance across multiple employee categories.

• Manage and develop the HR and payroll team, ensuring accountability, operational efficiency and effective industrial relations processes.

• Design and implement scalable HR workflows, systems and automation to improve efficiency and reduce manual administration.

• Build and maintain HR dashboards and reporting across headcount, payroll, employee records, leave, compliance and operational performance.

• Oversee compliance with South African labour legislation, employment equity requirements, disciplinary procedures and workplace health and safety standards.

• Partner with senior leadership to monitor workforce costs, identify operational risks and support future organisational growth.

Qualifications & Experience

• A relevant degree in HR, Business, Law, Engineering or a related analytical field, with at least 5 years' experience in HR, payroll or operational management. Equivalent practical management experience will also be considered.

• Experience overseeing HR, payroll or people-intensive operations for a workforce of at least 300 employees, ideally within a larger or multi-site organisation.

• Advanced Excel skills, including formulas, pivot tables, reconciliations, data analysis and reporting.

• Proven experience designing, implementing or improving operational processes, workflows and systems.

• Demonstrated experience managing and developing a team within a high-volume operational environment.

• Working knowledge of South African labour legislation, industrial relations, disciplinary processes and payroll compliance.

• Exposure to HR systems implementations, Power BI, automation or AI-supported reporting would be advantageous.

Salary & Benefits

• R750,000 – R800,000 per year.

• 23 days' annual leave.

• Employer pension contribution

• Employer-funded death cover.

• Work equipment and a data SIM.