Human Resources Specialist – South Africa

Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

About the Role

At KONE, we believe that our people are at the heart of our success. We are looking for a Human Resources Specialist to join our People & Communications (P&C) team in South Africa.

In this role, you will provide professional and trusted HR support to employees, managers and business leaders across the employee lifecycle. You will help ensure that our people processes are delivered effectively, consistently and in line with KONE’s global standards and South African employment legislation.

This is a hands-on role that combines HR operations, employee support, HR systems, compliance, employee engagement and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Employee Lifecycle & HR Operations
• Manage key employee lifecycle processes including onboarding, employee changes, internal mobility, promotions, transfers and offboarding.
• Ensure a consistent and positive employee experience throughout the employee journey.
• Act as a trusted point of contact for employees and managers on HR policies, processes and procedures.
• Provide day-to-day HR operational support in partnership with HR Business Partners and other stakeholders.
• Support employment contracts, employee status changes, payroll inputs and other HR administration.

People & Employee Experience

• Support the delivery of key P&C processes including performance management, goal setting, employee engagement and KONE Pulse surveys.
• Support employee relations activities and provide appropriate operational guidance.
• Contribute to employee communication and engagement initiatives.
• Support the implementation of global and regional P&C initiatives within South Africa.
• Promote a positive, inclusive and engaging employee experience.

HR Systems, Data & Reporting

• Maintain accurate and confidential employee information across HR systems, including Workday, BBBEE and Employment Equity systems.
• Ensure strong HR data governance and data accuracy.
• Prepare HR reports and workforce insights to support people and business decisions.
• Support HR system improvements, digitalisation and automation initiatives.
• Maintain employee information across relevant internal communication platforms.

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure HR processes comply with KONE policies, global standards and applicable South African employment legislation.
• Support Employment Equity, BBBEE and other HR compliance requirements.
• Assist with HR audits and governance activities.
• Handle sensitive and confidential employee information with professionalism and integrity.

Process Improvement

• Manage day-to-day P&C processes with a focus on accuracy, efficiency and service quality.
• Develop and maintain HR process documentation, guidelines and standard operating procedures.
• Identify opportunities to simplify, standardise and improve HR processes.
• Participate in HR projects, transformation initiatives and change management activities.

Talent & People Development

• Support recruitment, onboarding, career development, internal mobility and succession planning activities.
• Support talent reviews, leadership development and employee development initiatives.
• Provide support across performance management, reward and recognition, employee wellbeing and organisational development processes.
• Work closely with Talent Acquisition and other P&C colleagues to support KONE’s talent strategy.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Build strong working relationships with employees, managers and business leaders.
• Collaborate with People & Communications, Talent Acquisition, Payroll, Finance, Legal and regional and global P&C teams.
• Provide professional HR support and guidance across the organisation.
• Work effectively across different functions, teams and cultures.
• Share best practices and contribute to the continuous development of KONE’s people processes.

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or a related field.
• 8+ years of relevant experience in HR, People Operations, HR Shared Services or a similar HR role.
• Experience working in a multinational or international organisation.
• Strong understanding of employee lifecycle processes and HR operations.
• Experience working with HRIS systems and HR reporting tools; Workday experience would be advantageous.
• Good knowledge of South African employment legislation, HR compliance and employment practices.
• Sound knowledge of BBBEE requirements and practices.
• Good understanding of Employment Equity legislation and processes.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience in working in a Matrix organization will be advantageous.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities, with a proactive and solution-oriented approach.
• High level of confidentiality, professionalism and integrity when dealing with sensitive employee information.

Why Join KONE?

At KONE, you will be part of a global organisation committed to improving the flow of urban life. You will work with talented people across different functions and cultures and have the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to our people and business.

We offer an environment where collaboration, learning, innovation and continuous improvement are encouraged, and where you can develop your career while helping us create an exceptional employee experience.

If you are passionate about people, enjoy making HR processes better and want to be part of a global organisation, we would love to hear from you.

At KONE, we are focused on creating an innovative and collaborative working culture where we value the contribution of each individual. Employee engagement is a key focus area for us and we encourage participation and the sharing of information and ideas. Sustainability is an integral part of our culture and the daily practice. We follow ethical business practices and we seek to develop a culture of working together where co-workers trust and respect each other and good performance is recognized. In being a great place to work, we are proud to offer a range of experiences and opportunities that will help you to achieve your career and personal goals and enable you to live a healthy and balanced life.

Read more on https://kone.com/global/en/careers.html