SENIOR HR PRACTITIONER

This Senior HR Practitioner position sits within the Corporate Management Services component at the Head Office in Johannesburg, and is centred on the coordination and control of human resources records and related administrative processes. The role operates in a government environment where compliance with public service legislation, treasury regulations and archival standards is essential. The successful candidate will take responsibility for the full lifecycle of HR documentation, from the registration and dispatch of incoming and outgoing correspondence to the safe storage and retrieval of live and archived personnel files, all in accordance with the National Archives Act and the Minimum Information Security Standard. Beyond purely clerical duties, the role involves monitoring records management systems, identifying policy gaps, benchmarking trends and preparing strategic reports for the unit.

To be considered, applicants need a Grade 12 certificate together with a bachelor’s degree in public administration or an equivalent NQF level 6 qualification, as well as between three and five years of experience in records management. Candidates must also hold valid A and EC driving licences and must have no criminal record or pending cases. The position demands a broad knowledge base, including understanding of Treasury regulations, project management principles, relevant legislation, public service regulations, Departmental related projects, service level agreements, management information, labour relations concepts, business performance management and stakeholder relationship management. Strong policy analysis, negotiation and customer-focused skills are also required.

The duties are varied and include developing a control register for all correspondence, preparing daily documentation for filing, storing files according to departmental archiving guidelines, and ensuring confidentiality of all live and archived information. The practitioner will also implement HR filing systems, collect and distribute payslips for normal and supplementary payroll runs, coordinate payroll certificates for signing, and manage the annual collection and distribution of IRP5 documents. In addition, the role requires building and maintaining a database for HR queries, registering and allocating enquiries according to complexity, facilitating timely responses, and escalating complex matters for urgent intervention. The post also carries supervisory and developmental responsibilities, including coaching and mentoring staff, coordinating operational plans and performance contracts, monitoring and evaluating work, contributing to budget inputs, and supervising staff matters such as leave and conflict resolution.

This position is subject to government recruitment conditions. Shortlisted candidates will undergo pre-entry assessments, including a practical exercise and an integrity test, and will be required to pass personnel suitability checks such as vetting, criminal record, citizenship, credit record, qualification and employment verification. The department encourages applications from youth, people with disabilities, and candidates from designated groups, with a confirmation of disability required from a registered medical practitioner where applicable. The Department of Community Safety reserves the right not to make an appointment, and only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.