Lead People Partner

Durban, South AfricaFull-timeSeniorOn-sitePosted 21 Oct 2026

Job Overview

Huntswood is recruiting a Lead People Partner in Durban (Careers24 reference 208293; permanent; apply before 3 November 2026). The Lead People Partner acts as the strategic liaison between the People Team and the broader business, ensuring people initiatives align with organisational goals, providing expert guidance on people matters, contributing to business planning and leading people strategies that enhance organisational performance, employee experience and business outcomes.

The role leads employee relations, including chairing disciplinary, incapacity, operational-requirements and grievance matters and representing the business at the CCMA; partners senior leaders on organisational design, workforce planning, talent and succession; drives performance management, talent reviews and calibration; analyses absence and attrition trends; presents Monthly Business Reviews and people analytics to senior leadership; leads engagement and wellbeing initiatives; and manages members of the People Team, reporting to the Head of People Operations and Chief People Officer.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice on misconduct, incapacity, operational requirements, grievances and dispute resolution

• Facilitate and chair disciplinary and grievance processes; represent the business at the CCMA where required

• Drive Employment Equity initiatives and legislative and policy compliance

• Partner senior leaders on organisational design, workforce planning, talent management and succession planning

• Drive a high-performance culture; facilitate talent reviews and calibration sessions

• Analyse absence and attrition trends; oversee stay and exit interview programmes

• Produce data-driven people reports and present Monthly Business Reviews to senior leadership

• Lead strategic people projects and organisational change initiatives from planning to evaluation

• Lead, coach and develop members of the People Team

• Lead employee engagement, wellbeing and EVP initiatives

Required Qualifications

• Grade 12 and a tertiary qualification in Human Resources or related field

• Minimum 5 years in People Partnering, HR Business Partner or broader HR leadership

• Experience managing HR teams and supporting 1,000+ employees

• IR proficiency rated 3 or 4; sound understanding of CCMA processes and SA labour legislation

• Experience in Employment Equity, succession planning and HR/change management projects

• Contact centre or BPO experience advantageous

• Advanced Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint

Skills & Requirements

HR Business PartneringEmployee RelationsCCMA RepresentationEmployment EquityTalent ManagementSuccession PlanningWorkforce PlanningOrganisational DevelopmentPeople AnalyticsChange ManagementSA Labour LawTeam Leadership