HR Corporate Governance Business Partner

We are SGS – the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. We are recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. Our 99,250 employees operate a network of 2,700 offices and laboratories, working together to enable a better, safer and more interconnected world.

The HR Corporate Governance Specialist ensures that all Human Resources policies, processes, and practices comply with internal governance standards, labour legislation, regulatory requirements, and organisational risk frameworks.
This role strengthens ethical conduct, mitigates compliance risk, enhances policy alignment, and promotes sound governance across HR functions.

Governance & Compliance

• Develop, review, and implement HR governance frameworks, policies, and standard operating procedures.
• Ensure organisational compliance with relevant labour laws and statutory requirements (e.g., BCEA, LRA, EEA, POPIA, OHSA, skills development legislation)
• Monitor and report on HR governance risks, breaches, and compliance gaps
• Partner with Legal, Risk, and Internal Audit to ensure HR activities meet corporate governance standards

Policy Management

• Lead the creation, revision, and approval process for HR policies
• Ensure policy alignment with corporate governance, industry best practice, and regulatory updates
• Maintain a central repository for HR governance documents

HR Controls & Audit

• Design and enforce HR internal controls (e.g., recruitment controls, access controls, document retention)
• Prepare HR audit documentation and support internal and external audit processes
• Track remediation actions and ensure timely closure of audit findings

Risk Management

• Identify HR-related risks and develop mitigation strategies
• Perform periodic risk assessments of HR processes
• Maintain the HR risk register and ensure accuracy and reporting

Reporting & Analytics

• Provide monthly and quarterly governance and compliance reports for management
• Analyse trends in HR governance, risks, and compliance breaches to recommend improvements
• Monitor adherence to SLAs, SOPs, and service delivery frameworks

Ethical Culture & Awareness

• Support HR in driving ethical leadership and corporate governance culture
• Develop and deliver governance-related training, workshops, and awareness sessions
• Serve as a subject-matter advisor on HR governance queries

Stakeholder Management

• Collaborate with HRBPs, HR Operations, Talent Acquisition, Remuneration, L&D, and other business units to embed governance standards
• Guide leaders and employees on policy interpretation and compliance expectations

Organizational Design

• Assess existing organizational structures to identify improvement opportunities
• Develop target operating models, org charts and spans‑of‑control analyses
• Update and control organograms for business lines

Job Descriptions

• Develop new job descriptions in collaboration with leaders and HR Business Partners
• Update existing job descriptions to reflect organizational changes, new responsibilities, or role evolution
• Ensure job descriptions follow approved templates, standards, and job architecture frameworks
• Conduct regular audits to ensure all JDs are accurate, current, and aligned to business needs.

Expatriate Management

• Assisting all expats in South Africa as per the Expatriate Policy.
• Manage and deal with different agencies to get necessary visas and extensions
• Manage entire process from application to come to different country, whilst in country as well as when exiting

Audits

• Closing of finding in terms of all audits done in the HR Department
• Deloitte’s Audit
• Geneva Audit (4 yearly)
• Internal Quality Audit
• Internal HR Audits (HR & Payroll Division on systems and personnel files)

Travel

• Coordinate all travel requirements by assisting HR Administrator

Sub-Regional Duties

• To provide the Sub Regional HR Manager with all the necessary HR support in ensuring that Sub Regional HR plans, objectives duties and responsibilities are effectively and efficiently managed and executed, this includes but is not limited to:-
  • General HR Support
  • Coordinating and collation of information for Sub Regional HR Dashboard

General Administrative Support

Education

• Grade 12.
• Human Resources Diploma or Degree and /or proven years of experience in Human Resources administration and support, knowledges of policies and procedures and/or skills and experience sufficient to recognized as qualification through – Recognition of Prior Learning.

Experience

• Minimum 5 years HR experience in a large organization.
• At least 3 years’ experience as a successful HR Business Partner in a corporate support environment.

Skills

Technical Competencies

• Strong understanding of legislation and regulatory requirements
• Knowledge of corporate governance frameworks
• Experience in policy design, compliance monitoring, and audit processes
• Risk management methodology familiarity

Behavioural Competencies

• Exceptional attention to detail, accuracy, and quality of work
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capabilities with sound judgment
• Demonstrates ethical behaviour, professionalism, confidentiality, and integrity in all interactions
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with strong presentation and report‑writing abilities
• Effective stakeholder engagement skills
• Strong planning, organisation, administrative, and project management skills
• High level of emotional intelligence and interpersonal effectiveness
• Able to build trust and maintain confidentiality while fostering respectful relationships
• Proactive, hands‑on, and solutions‑driven approach
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and collaborate effectively within teams
• Resilient and able to work well under pressure while maintaining high standards
• Strong service‑delivery orientation and commitment to operational excellence
• Proficient computer literacy, including MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook