Work-Force
Bring your skills as a Industrial Relations Officer to Harrismith and join a team that moves fast. This Free State role is one to watch.
What This Role Involves
The Industrial Relations Officer vacancy forms part of how the Harrismith branch keeps performing. It pairs day-to-day delivery with longer-running priorities that keep the hr jobs side of the business moving forward.
Importantly, the successful applicant is given the room to plan, deliver and review their work without unnecessary noise. The organisation has built its Harrismith team on trust, and the Industrial Relations Officer role will feel that from week one.
Quality is everyone’s job. Whether the Industrial Relations Officer is processing a transaction, supporting a colleague or handling a customer query, the standard expected in Free State is consistently high and consistently fair.
Tools, systems and information are there to support the role rather than slow it down. The company continues to invest in the technology that backs its Harrismith teams, and the new Industrial Relations Officer will feel that from the first week.
The Environment
On top of that, the environment blends desk-based administrative work with frequent interactions across the business. Confidentiality, fairness and compliance underpin the work.
Health, safety and well-being are taken seriously. Current policies and procedures are maintained, and the Harrismith site adheres to the standards expected of a responsible South African employer.
Practically speaking, the working environment is set up to give the team the focus needed for deeper work, while keeping collaboration and quick problem-solving close at hand.
A respectful, professional environment is the standard in Free State. Bullying, harassment and unfair conduct have no place here, and managers are trained to act decisively when concerns are raised.
About the Team
You will join a tight-knit, collaborative team that knows the hr jobs side of the business inside out. The Harrismith group is a healthy mix of experienced operators and newer joiners, all of whom share a strong commitment to delivery and to one another.
Crucially, the team mix in Harrismith reflects a balance of experienced operators and emerging talent, with deliberate space for diverse voices and backgrounds.
Collaboration is the default working mode. Whether picking up a quick query or working through a complex project, you will find colleagues willing to lean in and help.
Line management is hands-on without being heavy. Expect regular one-to-ones, honest feedback and the support needed to do good work consistently.
Your Future Here
This role can grow with you. Strong performers in the hr jobs team in Harrismith have moved into senior, supervisory and specialist positions, and that journey is supported through coaching, training and exposure to bigger projects.
Internal mobility is encouraged. People who start in Harrismith have moved into roles in other branches, specialist functions and project teams across Free State.
Growth conversations happen at a regular cadence — not just at year-end — so the path forward stays current and realistic for every Harrismith team member.
Training is a mix of formal courses, structured on-the-job learning and exposure to broader projects, all geared at building practical skills.
Day in the Life
Your day is people-shaped from the moment you log in. You move between recruitment screens, manager calls, payroll queries and the occasional sensitive conversation that needs your full attention. Mid-morning you might be running an onboarding session for new starters, and by the afternoon you’re back at your desk preparing EE or B-BBEE reports. Through it all, you balance compliance with care, making sure that policies are followed and people are heard.
Equally, the rhythm rewards people who plan ahead but also pivot quickly when Free State operations throw up the unexpected.
Practically speaking, the Harrismith office buzzes through peak hours and settles into focused, productive lulls in between, giving you time to plan and reset before the next stretch of work.
No two days look exactly the same — and that variety is part of what keeps the role engaging for the right candidate in Harrismith.
Your Role
- Process monthly payroll inputs and resolve employee queries
- Run exit interviews and feed insights into retention strategies
- Maintain accurate employee records on the HRIS
- Support managers with disciplinary, grievance and incapacity processes
- Coordinate performance management cycles and calibration sessions
- Manage relationships with unions and prepare for wage negotiations
- Compile workforce reports for EE, B-BBEE and skills development submissions
Who We’re Looking For
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret HR metrics
- Commitment to fairness, transformation and ethical conduct
- Ability to handle sensitive employee information with discretion
- Coaching mindset with the ability to support line managers
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills
- Sound knowledge of the LRA, BCEA, EEA and Skills Development Act
- Bachelor’s degree or diploma in Human Resources or Industrial Psychology
Potential is considered alongside experience, so candidates who tick most of these boxes should still be considered.