Associate HR Business Partner

About the role

Abbott's Corporate Functions Division is looking for an experienced Associate HR Business Partner to join its team in South Africa, based at the Woodlands Office Park in Johannesburg. The role provides end-to-end HR partnership and guidance across several business units, so that people strategies align with business objectives and a positive, compliant workplace culture is fostered. It acts as a trusted advisor to leaders and employees on employee relations, performance management, organisational development, compliance and employee engagement.

Key responsibilities

• Partner with managers and employees on HR and employee relations matters
• Investigate disciplinary, grievance, misconduct and harassment cases
• Facilitate disciplinary, incapacity and dispute resolution processes
• Coach leaders on performance management, development planning and talent initiatives
• Support succession planning and organisational development
• Advise on compensation, benefits, remuneration and salary review processes
• Ensure compliance with labour legislation, company policies and HR governance
• Support employment equity, skills development and regulatory reporting
• Drive employee engagement, wellbeing, culture-building and change management
• Maintain accurate employee records and use HR systems such as Workday

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, industrial psychology, business administration, labour relations or a related field
• 5 to 8 years of progressive HR experience
• Strong employee relations and labour law experience
• Experience supporting multiple business units and stakeholders
• Exposure to performance management and organisational development
• Strong understanding of South African labour legislation (Labour Relations Act, BCEA, EEA, Skills Development Act, POPIA)
• Preferred: professional HR certification such as SABPP, IPM, SHRM or CIPD

Required skills

• HRIS platforms such as Workday
• Stakeholder management, influencing and strong communication and coaching
• Employee relations and dispute resolution experience
• Ability to balance operational delivery with strategic HR partnership