Group HR Executive

Company Description

NAM | Newlyn Asset Management is a bespoke asset management firm serving high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and institutional investors. As part of COMO Family Office, the firm emphasizes trust, transparency, and strategic growth across diverse asset classes, with a long-term vision of reaching $100 billion in assets under management.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Group HR Executive to lead the Human Resources and Payroll function across the Group. The successful candidate will act as a trusted adviser to the Chairman and Group Exco on people strategy, executive remuneration and succession planning. The role will drive Group culture, policy harmonisation and consistent HR standards, while providing executive oversight of workforce planning, recruitment, performance management, industrial relations and site level HR delivery, and supporting employee health, safety and wellness.

The role requires a strong understanding of employee relations, organisational development, talent management, remuneration, performance management, labour legislation, and HR governance, preferably within the mining, processing, engineering, or other operationally intensive environments.

Reporting Structure

• Primary reporting: To the Board of Directors, through the Chairman, and Group Exco for Group strategy, governance and family-office alignment.
• Functional reporting: To the CEO of processing & mining for operational execution, labour relations and site level HR delivery.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in human resources management, Industrial Psychology, Business Management or a related field.
• Postgraduate qualification in HR, Industrial Psychology, Business Management or a related discipline will be advantageous.
• Minimum 10 years’ HR experience, with significant experience at senior management or executive level.
• Proven experience leading HR in a multi-site Group and complex matrix environment, combining executive judgement and discretion with strong operational leadership. Demonstrated ability to balance competing Group and divisional priorities and engage effectively with shareholders, executives, site management and organised labour.
• Strong knowledge of South African labour legislation and employee relations.
• Experience engaging with organised labour and managing complex employee relations matters.
• Experience in organisational restructuring, workforce planning and change management.
• Strong understanding of HR governance, compliance and risk management.
• Experience within the mining, manufacturing, engineering, processing or other operational environments will be advantageous.
• Experience within a diversified, privately owned group or family office environment, with demonstrated ability to balance shareholder priorities, professional governance and operational requirements, will be advantageous.
• Demonstrated experience leading HR and payroll teams, including oversight of multi entity payroll governance, HR systems and workforce cost management

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the Group’s overall Human Resources strategy in alignment with business objectives.
• Act as a trusted adviser to shareholders and executive leadership on people and organisational matters, exercising discretion, confidentiality and independent professional judgement. Support clear decision-making authority, appropriate management of conflicts of interest and objective, merit-based employment and remuneration practices.
• Lead and oversee Group HR operations, establishing consistent HR standards, systems and processes across Group entities, including employment practices, job grading, performance management and reporting, while accommodating justified operational and entity-specific requirements.
• Develop and maintain effective employee and labour relations strategies.
• Manage collective bargaining, union engagement, grievances, disciplinary matters and dispute resolution.
• Ensure compliance with applicable labour legislation, employment equity, skills development and other statutory requirements.
• Lead Group-wide talent acquisition, succession planning, career and leadership development, and retention of critical talent, reducing key person dependency and preserving institutional knowledge to support long-term business continuity.
• Lead organisational development, workforce planning and change management initiatives.
• Oversee performance management and ensure effective implementation of Group performance frameworks.
• Lead the development, review, harmonisation and ongoing updating of Group HR policies, procedures and governance frameworks, ensuring alignment with recognised best practices, applicable legislation and the Group’s strategic objectives.
• Lead the development and governance of Group job grading, remuneration, benefits and reward frameworks, and partner with Finance and Operations on workforce budgets and headcount planning, subject to approved policies and delegated authority.
• Lead HR initiatives relating to organisational restructuring, workforce optimisation and transformation.
• Lead employee engagement and the development and embedding of a cohesive Group culture aligned with the shareholders’ values and long-term vision, strengthening accountability, integrity, collaboration and performance while preserving the Group’s entrepreneurial approach.
• Ensure accurate and meaningful HR reporting and analytics to support executive decision-making. Build the capability of HR teams across the Group and establish a high-performance HR culture.
• Provide executive leadership of the Group Payroll function, ensuring accurate and timely payroll, statutory compliance, effective team and service-provider management, reconciliations and resolution of audit findings.
• Oversee payroll systems, process improvement, employee-data protection and controls, including segregation of duties and authorised payroll changes. Partner with Finance and Operations on workforce-cost reporting and cost management.

Key Competencies

• Strategic leadership
• Executive level communication
• Strong employee and labour relations capability
• Business and commercial acumen
• Change and transformation management
• Negotiation and conflict resolution
• Decision-making and problem-solving
• People development and leadership
• Strong analytical and reporting skills
• High level of integrity and confidentiality
• Ability to operate effectively in a complex and fast paced environment

A. SALARY

A market related total cost to company package, aligned with Newlyn’s approved salary band for the role, will be offered based on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience.

A. APPLICATIONS

Applications may be forwarded to ***email_hidden*** or alternatively use LinkedIn. Applications must include a detailed CV. Identity, and qualification documents will be requested from shortlisted candidates for verification. Applicant’s information will remain classified and confidential.

If you are not contacted within 15 days of the closing date of the Job Posting, please consider your application unsuccessful.