People Manager (HR Manager)

We're seeking an experienced People Manager to join our South Africa leadership team and serve as our local employment law expert. This critical role will be the face of NMI's People function in South Africa, shaping workplace culture, supporting leadership and ensuring compliance with all South African employment legislation.

Operating during later hours to align with our global operations, you'll be an integral part of our onsite leadership team while partnering closely with our global People function.

This role requires a strategic thinker with hands-on experience in engagement and culture initiatives, benefits administration and employee relations. 

Key Responsibilities & Duties

Strategic HR Leadership

• Act as a key member of the South Africa onsite leadership team
• Shape and nurture local workplace culture aligned with NMI's global values
• Develop and implement South Africa-specific HR policies and procedures
• Provide strategic counsel to local and global leadership on people matters
• Drive employee engagement and retention initiatives

Employee Relations & Compliance

• Facilitate onboarding and offboarding processes
• Work with leaders to proactively identify and mitigate employment relations risks
• Work with the global People Team to conduct workplace investigations and implement fair disciplinary processes
• Manage complex employee relations cases
• Ensure full compliance with South African labour legislation including the Labour Relations Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act, and Employment Equity Act
• Serve as NMI's primary representative at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA)

Benefits & Total Rewards

• Manage local benefits programs 
• Oversee leave management and statutory reporting
• Support market benchmarking for South African roles
• Manage relationships with external service providers (payroll, benefits brokers etc)

Training & Development

• Design and deliver training programs for global managers on South African employment law and cultural considerations
• Coach managers on performance management, difficult conversations and employee relations best practices

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Labour Law, or related field
• Minimum 5-7 years of progressive HR experience
• Proven track record of representing employers at CCMA with successful outcomes
• Deep working knowledge of South African employment legislation and case law
• Experience supporting managers in a global or multinational organization (specific US experience is required)
• HR certification (e.g., SABPP, CPHR SA) preferred

Essential Skills & Competencies

• Legal Expertise: Comprehensive understanding of South African labour law and ability to apply it practically in complex situations
• Conflict Resolution: Strong mediation and negotiation skills with the ability to find pragmatic solutions
• Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to influence stakeholders at all levels
• Cultural Intelligence: Experience managing in diverse, multicultural environments
• Business Acumen: Strategic thinking with the ability to balance employee advocacy and business needs
• Training & Facilitation: Confident presenter and skilled at developing others
• Adaptability: Comfortable working non-traditional hours in a fast-paced, evolving environment
• Systems Proficiency: Experience with HRIS platforms and strong MS Office skills

What Makes You Great For This Role

• You've successfully navigated complex CCMA cases and understand the nuances of South African employment law
• You're energized by being part of a leadership team and influencing organizational culture
• You thrive in global environments and enjoy coaching managers across different time zones
• You're a problem-solver who can balance compliance requirements with practical business solutions
• You're comfortable with later working hours and understand the benefits of global collaboration

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Opportunity to shape the people function in a growing South African operation
• Leadership visibility and influence as part of the onsite leadership team
• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package
• Professional development and growth opportunities within a global organization
• Collaborative, inclusive work environment
• Health Insurance - Discovery Medical Aid and Stratum Gap Cover
• TELUS Health - Employee Assistance Program
• Bonusly colleague reward scheme
• Family friendly policies

Working Arrangements

This is an in-office position based in Cape Town. The working hours are 12 PM - 9 PM SAST to facilitate collaboration with our US-based teams and support our global operations. 

We’re looking for creative and passionate people who share our vision of making payments easy. If that sounds like you and you meet the requirements above, then please click on 'Apply for this job'!

What we do!

NMI enables our partners with choice and challenges the one-size-fits-all approach to payments. You've probably used NMI in the last 24 hours without even realizing it. We’re the platform that powers success for innovative tech created by SMBs, entrepreneurs, and fintech start-ups. We’re creative problem solvers who help visionaries smash through boundaries and think beyond what’s possible so they can think about what’s next. But we’re not just built for the tech-savvy. We democratize the latest payment technology so that everyone can realize the benefits of easy payments across the full spectrum of commerce. We’re all about enabling more payments in more ways and more places.

Equal Opportunity

We are an Equal Opportunities employer and will provide reasonable support throughout the recruitment process to applicants who have a disability. Please let us know in advance so that any support, aids or adaptations can be put in place to assist you.

Please be aware that all offers of employment are made subject to receipt of satisfactory background and financial checks.

Attention job applicants: Please note that in compliance with the data protection regulations within your jurisdiction, any personal information submitted with your job application may be collected and used by NMI for the purpose of recruitment and employment-related activities. By submitting your application, you acknowledge and provide explicit consent to the processing of your personal information as described in our privacy policy found on our website. For more information on how we process your information, please read our privacy policy here: https://www.nmi.com/legal/privacy-policy/