Totalstay is a Cape Town-based hospitality and short-term rental management company operating 700+ keys across multiple properties. The People Operations function supports 300+ employees across permanent and fixed-term operational staff and permanent head office staff. Key Responsibilities People Operations Leadership Own the full People Operations function across all Totalstay properties and head office. Provide strategic and operational HR direction aligned to business growth and legislative requirements. Lead, develop, and performance - manage three direct reports: Workforce Operations Manager, HR Administrator, and Training Administrator. Maintain and govern the People Operations Google Drive as the working environment, with Roubler as the system of record. Compliance & Statutory Obligations Own the annual HR compliance calendar and ensure all statutory deadlines are met - EEA, Skills Development Act, BCEA, POPIA. Manage Employment Equity obligations as a designated employer: plan, consult, and report. Lead CATHSSETA engagement including WSP/ATR submission, cost pre‑authorisation, and SDF responsibilities. Ensure POPIA compliance across all HR data handling, including the data processing agreement with the outsourced payroll and HR/IR provider. Maintain audit‑ready documentation across the full employee lifecycle. Outsourced Provider Management Manage the day‑to‑day and strategic relationship with the outsourced payroll and HR/IR provider. Hold the provider accountable to agreed scope using the original quotation as the operative reference document. Monitor billing accuracy, flag scope creep, and elevate cost risks - particularly around uncapped services such as WSP/ATR compilation and casual billing. Ensure IR process integrity: disciplinary hearings, grievances, and CCMA matters are handled procedurally and within agreed scope. Drive the outstanding POPIA data processing agreement to completion. Employee Relations & IR Oversee all disciplinary and grievance matters, ensuring procedural fairness in line with the LRA and company policy. Act as the primary point of escalation for complex or sensitive ER matters before external referral. Maintain the disciplinary tracking log and identify trends for senior leadership reporting. HR Administration & Employee Lifecycle Oversee end‑to‑end employee lifecycle: recruitment, onboarding, contracts, probation, performance, and exits. Ensure all employment contracts are legally compliant, up to date, and signed across all staff categories. Maintain and update the HR SOP library and company policy document on a defined review cycle. Payroll Oversight Oversee payroll inputs, accuracy, and exception management in partnership with the outsourced provider and Finance. Manage PaySpace (leave administration) and ensure alignment with Roubler (workforce management and records). Authorise payroll‑related exceptions and flag risks to Finance and senior leadership. Performance Management Establish and implement a functional performance management framework. Evaluate and decide between available options: PaySpace module activation, standalone tooling, or a structured manual framework. Ensure performance cycles are tracked, documented, and linked to development conversations. Training & Development Lead the Training & Development function through the Training Administrator, providing direction, priorities, and accountability. Oversee the annual training calendar – planning, delivery tracking, and post‑training evaluation. Ensure all mandatory training is completed, recorded, and audit‑ready for SETA and DoL purposes. Govern the CATHSSETA WSP/ATR submission process, including scope and cost pre‑authorisation with the outsourced provider. Ensure Google Classroom content is maintained, current, and aligned to operational and compliance requirements. Review training reports and elevate skills gaps or compliance risks to senior leadership. Reporting & People Analytics Produce monthly and quarterly HR reports: headcount, turnover, ER trends, and training compliance. Develop and maintain the Employee Master Tracker and surface people risk proactively to senior leadership. Support BBBEE HR data requirements as needed. Qualifications Diploma or Degree in Human Resources Management or equivalent – required. Skills Development Facilitator (SDF) registration – advantageous. Experience Minimum 5–7 years in an HR generalist or HR management role. Multi‑property or multi‑site operational HR experience – strongly preferred. Experience managing an outsourced HR or payroll provider relationship. CATHSSETA or SETA engagement and WSP/ATR submission experience – advantageous. EE committee management experience – advantageous. Experience in hospitality, property management, or a multi‑site services environment – strongly preferred. Skills & Competencies Strong working knowledge of LRA, BCEA, EEA, Skills Development Act, and POPIA – non‑negotiable. IR competence: ability to oversee and manage disciplinary hearings, grievances, and CCMA matters independently. Vendor management capability: able to hold an outsourced provider accountable, not defer to them. Compliance ownership mindset: proactive, deadline‑driven, and audit‑ready. Systems proficiency: PaySpace, Roubler, or comparable HRIS; Google Workspace. Ability to absorb an established function quickly and take ownership without a long onboarding runway. WHY JOIN US Competitive salary package, based on experience. Friends & Family nightly rates across all Totalstay properties. A dynamic environment where your decisions and standards directly shape guest experience. Career development opportunities as Totalstay continues to grow its property portfolio. An inclusive team culture that values professionalism, accountability, and growth. #J-18808-Ljbffr