Main purpose of the position:
The Group HR Director is a pivotal executive leadership role responsible for shaping and executing a Group-wide human capital strategy across a multinational construction group. The incumbent will provide strategic HR leadership, governance, and oversight of all HR disciplines, while acting as a trusted advisor to Exco and Shareholders. This role requires a visionary leader who can balance short-term operational excellence with long-term global growth, transformation, and sustainability. The successful candidate will champion culture, diversity, and high performance while ensuring compliance with all legal and governance requirements.
Key Performance Areas:
Strategic Leadership & Vision
- Lead the development and execution of the Group HR strategy aligned with business objectives and shareholder directives.
- Anticipate and respond to political, economic, social, technological, and environmental factors influencing workforce strategy.
- Provide thought leadership on global business knowledge, systemic thinking, and analytical decision-making.
Organizational Leadership
- Serve as a trusted advisor to Exco, Board, and subsidiary leaders.
- Build, mentor, and inspire a high-performing HR leadership team.
- Design and implement succession planning for executive and senior leadership roles.
HR Governance & Compliance
- Lead policy development, statutory compliance, and governance frameworks across multiple jurisdictions.
- Ensure compliance with all South African statutory requirements including EE, WSP/ATR, and BBBEE submissions.
- Champion integrity, ethical practices, and accountability in all HR functions.
People & Culture Management
- Oversee global payroll processing, onboarding, performance management, compensation, and benefits.
- Champion transformation, diversity, equity, and inclusion across the organization.
- Lead recognition, engagement, and wellness programs to drive a high-performance culture.
Talent & Capability Development
- Oversee recruitment of executives and critical talent pipelines.
- Implement enterprise-wide training and development initiatives to build future-ready capabilities.
- Drive organizational change to enhance agility and competitiveness.
Business Strategy Integration
- Partner with Exco in shaping and executing business strategy.
- Manage HR budgets, workforce planning, and organizational design.
- Deliver sustainable quarter-by-quarter results aligned to long-term strategy.
Behavioural Competencies:
- Visionary, long-term thinking with a global mindset
- Strong governance and compliance orientation
- Executive communication and influence
- Cross-cultural agility and adaptability
- Strategic HR leadership and business acumen
- Expertise in change management, transformation, and organizational design
- Integrity, resilience, and executive presence
Leadership Profile
- Makes 3–4 high-impact decisions annually that define organizational success.
- Balances quarter-to-quarter results with long-term strategic objectives.
- Proactively engages external stakeholders including unions, regulators, and industry bodies.
- Demonstrates resilience through complex business challenges and diverse global experiences.
- Inspires large and diverse employee populations through cultural stewardship and communication.
Technical Requirements
- MS Office Suite (Advanced)
- HRIS / Payroll systems (BuildSmart / CCS advantageous)
Legal Requirements:
- No criminal record
- Valid Driver’s licence