People Business Partner

People are at the heart of our success, and this role plays a key part in shaping the employee experience across the OK Franchise business. As a trusted advisor to leaders, the People Business Partner drives the OK Franchise People agenda by delivering people solutions that enable business performance, growth, and high-performing teams.

Working across the OK Franchise Home Office, Divisions, Franchisees, and Corporate Stores in South Africa, Namibia, and Eswatini, the role provides both strategic and operational HR support across the employee lifecycle. From attracting and developing talent to managing employee relations, succession planning, and workforce insights, the People Business Partner helps create an engaging, compliant, and people-centric workplace.

The role also serves as a vital link between Group People and the broader OK Franchise business, ensuring the consistent delivery of people practices that support sustainable growth and business success.

About the role

People are at the heart of our success, and this role plays a key part in shaping the employee experience across the OK Franchise business. As a trusted advisor to leaders, the People Business Partner drives the OK Franchise People agenda by delivering people solutions that enable business performance, growth, and high-performing teams.

Working across the OK Franchise Home Office, Divisions, Franchisees, and Corporate Stores in South Africa, Namibia, and Eswatini, the role provides both strategic and operational HR support across the employee lifecycle. From attracting and developing talent to managing employee relations, succession planning, and workforce insights, the People Business Partner helps create an engaging, compliant, and people-centric workplace.

The role also serves as a vital link between Group People and the broader OK Franchise business, ensuring the consistent delivery of people practices that support sustainable growth and business success.

What you'll do

• Provide strategic and operational support to the OK Franchise People agenda and ensure workforce plans aligned to business objectives. 

• Partner with senior Management at both Home office and OK Franchise Divisional teams to drive the People agenda. 

• Execute the People agenda and ensure effective implementation of People initiatives and projects. 

• Drive implementation of organisational design, restructuring, internal mobility, promotion, and change management initiatives. 

• Deliver end-to-end People services and solutions across the employee lifecycle. 

• Oversee the recruitment and selection processes for all positions, including operational, specialist, and management positions. 

• Drive succession planning alongside OK Franchise People Partner. 

• Facilitate Individual Development Plan (IDP) discussions and support career development initiatives across business functions. 

• Partner with Learning and Development to drive succession readiness. 

• Guide and coach managers on People policies, procedures and best practices 

• Act as the trusted People advisor for workforce planning, organisational effectiveness, talent management, and employee experience. 
  
  

  People Partnering ? 

   

  • Facilitate employee engagement, organisational culture, and employee wellness initiatives. 
  • Drive initiatives that support diversity, equity and inclusion. 
  • Support performance management processes including performance reviews and development planning. 
  • Draft and communicate People-related policies, procedures, organisational announcements, and employee communications. 
  • Build strong and productive relationships with management teams and key internal / external stakeholders to support business effectiveness.? 
  • Provide expert guidance on disciplinary processes, grievances, incapacity management, poor performance, investigations, and workplace conflict. 
  • Advise management on labour legislation and employee relations best practice. 
  • Prepare managers for formal hearings and assist with documentation, investigations, and employee relations risk mitigation. 
  • Build proactive employee relations practices that foster a positive and productive workplace climate. 
  • Develop and maintain recruitment dashboards, talent analytics, succession planning reports, and workforce planning metrics. 
  • Prepare monthly, quarterly, and ad hoc reporting relating to the HR value proposition.  
  • Monitor and report on employment equity representation and workforce transformation objectives. 
  • Drive data-led decision-making through meaningful People insights and reporting. 
  • Maintain audit readiness and support internal and external audit requirements relating to People governance. 
  • Identify, assess, and mitigate People-related risks within commercial and divisional areas. 
  • Ensure compliance with the Labour Relations Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Employment Equity Act, Skills Development Act, and relevant People governance standards. 

   

  Future-Fit??? 

   

  • Support organisational change initiatives across commercial and operations. 
  • Use AI to accelerate the OK Franchise People agenda. 
  • Identify continuous improvement opportunities within the OK Franchise People Team. 
  • Manage and deliver key quarterly and annual projects. 

What you bring

• Degree in Human Resources or equivalent 

• +6 years in retail operations, HR Business Partnering role

• Experience within the retail sector or similar 

• Exposure to statutory requirements, applying and monitoring relevant laws, regulations, and best practices as they relate to HR in the specific business area context. Knowledge of HR policies, procedures, legislation, and regulations 

• A sound understanding of diversity and inclusion concepts and processes and the link between employment equity and good HR practices.? 

• A success track record as an HR Business Partner.