Human Resource Business Partner TBWA SA

Job description

Position overview


Role title: Human Resources Business Partner

Reports to: Senior human resources manager

Location: 3 Sandown Valley Crescent)

Scope: Typically, 1 partner per 150-250 employees (agency dependent)

Context and strategic importance:

This role is the primary HR connection for the Johannesburg based agencies within the
Omnicom Advertising S.A. collective, responsible for translating Collective HR strategy into
local execution while understanding and respecting agency distinctiveness.

Balancing strategic HR partnership with tactical HR operations, this role shapes day-to-day
employee experience, supports managers in people management, and ensures agency
leaders have the talent and culture insights they need to drive business performance.

Primary accountabilities

Strategic HR partnering:

• Build trusted partnership with agency management team; understand business strategy, challenges, and talent implications.
• Provide talent and culture insights informing business decisions (e.g. expansion plans, restructure, performance challenges, retention risk).
• Translate collective HR strategy and policies into agency context; advocate for consistency while enabling local adaptation.
• Partner with agency leaders on talent planning, succession planning, and capability development aligned to business priorities.
• Advocate for adoption of people management fundamentals and best practices.

Day-to-day HR operations and employee relations:

• Be the first point of contact for employees on HR matters: questions, concerns, career development, benefits, policies.
• Administer People processes: onboarding, offboarding, leave management, benefits administration, contract management.
• Support people managers on employee relations matters: performance management, conduct discussions, disciplinary procedures, difficult conversations.
• Handle and escalate employee relations issues; maintain fairness, consistency, and legal compliance.
• Ensure adherence to HR policies and procedures, flag policy gaps or inconsistencies to Senior Manager.

Talent management and development:

• Partner with agency leaders on talent identification and high-potential development.
• Coordinate onboarding, ensure new hires integrate quickly and productively.
• Support succession planning for agency middle management roles.
• Promote learning and development opportunities to agency employees; coordinate programme enrollment with the talent and learning team.
• Facilitate engagement surveys and action planning, translate survey insights into local improvements.

People and culture operations:

• Maintain accurate HRIS data (employee records, leave, benefits, training history, performance).
• Administer compensation and benefits, respond to employee questions, ensure timely processing.
• Coordinate payroll, benefits administration, statutory requirements (POPIA, UIF, tax, BEE reporting).
• Generate local people metrics and dashboards; provide data to senior manager for collective-wide analysis.
• Manage recruitment coordination with talent acquisition partners; ensure positive candidate experience.

Experience and qualification

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or related field (minimum).
• HR professional certification preferred (CIPD, SABPP, or similar).

Professional experience:

• Minimum 3-5 years' HR experience, preferably in HR operations, employee relations, or HR business partnership roles.
• Experience administering HR processes (HRIS, payroll, benefits, leave).
• Experience supporting people managers and coaching on HR practices.
• Exposure to multi-location or matrix environments helpful.
• Experience in professional services, advertising, media, or creative industries preferred but not essential.

Desirable experience:

• Experience in HR business partnership or strategic HR roles.
• Exposure to employee relations and labour law.
• Experience with employee engagement and culture initiatives.
• Background in benefits administration.
• Experience with multiple HRIS platforms.

Critical success factors and risks

Critical success factors:

• Strong relationship-building and trust with agency leadership and all employees.
• Operational excellence: accurate, timely HR administration and processes.
• Ability to balance strategic HR partnership with tactical operations, shift mindset from "HR function" to "business partner".
• Credibility and credibility with managers and leaders, ability to coach and influence people management.
• Understanding of advertising/creative industry culture and business dynamics.
• Cultural fit with TBWA values and Collective alignment while respecting agency distinctiveness.

Posted on 09 Mar 08:48, Closing date 4 Apr