Head: Industrial and Employee Relations

Purpose of the Job
The successful incumbent will be responsible for drafting, socialising and implementing the overall Employee Relations Strategy, implementation and adherence to BMW Group South Africa company policies and procedures, NBF agreement, and legal compliance regarding Labour Relations Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act and Employment Equity Act. In addition, they will be responsible for labour and employee relations stability through effective labour strategies and risk management, whilst ensuring BMW is represented on all matters relating to internal union negotiations, Industry collective bargaining and agreements. The incumbent will also be responsible for all employee relations interaction structures within the company, conclusion of agreements between management and labour, ensuring that such agreements are within the scope of relevant collective agreements and Labour legislation. They are responsible for managing all disputes timely and proactively engaging with labour partners to minimise and prevent unnecessary disputes. Effectively manage all CCMA/Labour court referrals in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Key Accountabilities

• Cultivate and maintain healthy employee relations between all stakeholders.
• Proactively engage with the union to build effective working relations and enable the effective management of challenges.
• Initiate solutions to complex employee relations issues at organizational level within the scope of applicable regulations and collective agreements.
• Analyse information and data necessary to define and discern cost and policy implications of negotiations and disputes. This may include management and union proposals, pay scales and wages, benefits, working conditions, and other mitigating circumstances.
• Monitor and ensure regular interactions, in approved structures, between Management and Labour.
• Advise and assist, in an unbiased manner, with dispute resolution, applying proven conflict and dispute resolution mechanisms.
• Promote the application of ethical behaviour / principles within the organization.
• Ensure employee relations implementation strategies to support the achievement of the organizations strategic objectives.
• Scan internal and external environment to assess developments, opportunities, and risks to the organization. Advise and train managers and supervisors in best employee relations practices and strategies for managing supervisor challenges and employee grievances. Develop further training as needed.
• Active participation in bargaining forums and AMEO meetings on behalf of BMW Group.
• Proven ability to work to tight deadlines with accuracy and confidence.
• Lead, develop and manage a team in line with company policies, procedures and code of conduct.
• Research, interpret and advise on compliance requirements, in relation to employee relations, included in statutory legislation and national policy framework as well as company policies prepared within the company.
• You will perform testing and assess functioning/design of internal controls in area of responsibility (ICS compliance).

Stakeholder Management

• Cultivate and maintain relationships and ensure conflict free interaction between Company and Shop stewards council.
• Culture of practice and precedence from Union irrespective of the nature of consequence. Establish something new and the impact of restrictive/prescriptive legislation.

Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree in Human Resources/Industrial Relations.

Work and leadership experience

• 10 + Years experience in Employee Relations experience at a Senior Managerial Level in Manufacturing environment.
• Additional 5+years experience in Employee relations prior to Senior Management experience.

Additional Skills

• Solid and proven experience in managing and working effectively with strong and well-established unions.
• In-depth understanding of employee or industrial related laws such as LRA, BCEA, EE act, etc.
• A strong bias towards delivering results and executing in a timely fashion.
• Ability to design local rules and regulations regarding labour and employee relations.
• Proven ability to represent BMW in internal union negotiations, industry collective bargaining and agreements.
• Ability to draft agreements between management and labour, within the scope of relevant collective agreements and labour legislation.
• Competency to represent BMW at CCMA and any external tribunals.
• Ability to handle complex situations and engaging all relevant stakeholders.
• Excellent computer skills (MS Suite, SAP, database management).
• Advanced planning and organizational skills, time management and collaborative leadership.
• Strong interpersonal, problem-solving, negotiation, and networking skills, ability to work with and influence individuals at all levels of the organization.