People Specialist (HR Specialist)

We're seeking an enthusiastic and people-oriented HR generalist, who is an excellent communicator, detail-oriented professional with practical knowledge of local South African employment law and practices. This role will be the face of NMI's People function in South Africa, shaping workplace culture, supporting leadership and ensuring compliance with all South African employment legislation. Operating during later hours to align with our global operations, you'll be an integral part of our onsite leadership team while partnering closely with our global People function. This role requires a collaborative and adaptable, creative thinker, with hands-on experience in engagement and culture initiatives, HR administration and employee relations.

About NMI

NMI, a global leader in payment technologies, allows software and sales professionals to deliver payment innovations to their clients without having to build payment expertise in house. NMI enables our partners with choice, and challenges the one-size-fits-all approach to payments. You've probably used NMI in the last 24 hours without even realizing it. We're the platform that powers success for innovative tech created by SMBs, entrepreneurs and fintech startups. We're creative problem solvers who help visionaries smash through boundaries and think beyond what's possible so they can think about what's next. But we're not just built for the tech savvy. We democratize the latest payments technology so that everyone can realize the benefits of easy payments across the full spectrum of commerce. Our mission is to use our expertise to enable more payments, in more ways and more places. We provide ISOs, Fintech Innovators and Technologists the freedom to focus on what they do best, liberating them from restricted payment solutions and giving them access to the latest payment technology now and in the future.

How We Work - Our Core Values

* Be a Good Person, It's Simple. We treat everyone fairly and with respect. We lead with kindness, humility and integrity. We take the time to understand each other and our customers. And we serve with care, because customers are never a transaction, and always our focus

* Align, Trust & Go. We debate openly, listen carefully and challenge thoughtfully. Once we decide, we move forward together - holding ourselves accountable to our commitments, and focusing on what matters most to our customers. That alignment creates momentum.

* Raise the Bar. Good enough isn't enough. We stay curious, measure everything, stay honest about progress and keep pushing ourselves to think creatively. We drive change, again and again. And leave things better than we found them. When we raise the bar, our customers feel it too.

Key Responsibilities & Duties

Culture & Engagement

• Shape and nurture local workplace culture aligned with NMI's global values
• Drive employee engagement and retention initiatives as agreed with global People team
• Create a welcoming and inviting office environment by organizing meals, events (such as our volunteering events and staff parties), reviewing and improving local initiatives and perks.

Employee Relations

• Work with leaders to proactively identify and mitigate employment relations risks
• Support managers and employees through employee relations matters; including investigations, disciplinary and performance management processes and grievances
• Ensure full compliance with South African labour legislation including the Labour Relations Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act, and Employment Equity Act
• Serve as NMI's primary representative at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA)

HR Administration & Compliance

• Facilitate onboarding and offboarding processes for South African employees
• Manage local benefits programs
• Oversee leave management and statutory reporting
• Develop and implement South Africa-specific HR policies and procedures, ensuring alignment with the global NMI policies
• Create and maintain local SOPs to strengthen processes and support consistency
• Manage relationships with external service providers
• Develop and implement H&S policy

Training & Development

• Design and deliver training programs for global managers on South African employment law and cultural considerations
• Consult global People team on performance management, local disciplinary process and employee relations best practices

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Labour Law, or related field
• Minimum 5-7 years of progressive HR experience
• Proven track record of representing employers at CCMA with successful outcomes
• Practical knowledge of South African employment legislation and case law
• Experience supporting managers in a global or multinational organization (specific US experience is required)
• HR certification (e.g., SABPP, CPHR SA) preferred

Essential Skills & Competencies

• Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; ability to influence stakeholders at all levels
• Legal Expertise: Comprehensive understanding of South African labour law and ability to apply it practically in complex situations
• Conflict Resolution: Strong mediation and negotiation skills with the ability to find pragmatic solutions
• Cultural Intelligence: Experience managing in diverse, multicultural environments
• Business Acumen: Strategic thinking with the ability to balance employee advocacy and business needs
• Training & Facilitation: Confident presenter and skilled at developing others
• Adaptability: Comfortable working non-traditional hours in a fast-paced, evolving environment
• Systems Proficiency: Experience with HRIS platforms and strong MS Office and Google Suite skills

What Makes You Great For This Role

• You're energized by being part of a global HR team and influencing organizational culture locally
• You thrive in global environments and enjoy coaching managers across different time zones
• You're a problem-solver who can balance compliance requirements with practical business solutions
• You're comfortable with later working hours and understand the benefits of global collaboration
• You've successfully navigated complex CCMA cases and understand the nuances of South African employment law

What We Offer

• Competitive salary of between R600,000 – R800,000, depending on experience
• Opportunity to shape the people function in a growing South African operation
• Leadership visibility and influence as part of the onsite leadership team
• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package
• Professional development and growth opportunities within a global organization
• Collaborative, inclusive work environment
• Health Insurance - Discovery Medical Aid and Stratum Gap Cover
• TELUS Health - Employee Assistance Program
• Bonusly colleague reward scheme
• Family friendly policies

We believe that having a diverse group of employees strengthens both our work and our workplace. We’re focused on making NMI more diverse and welcoming with initiatives like having a dedicated Diversity, Equity & Inclusion action group, diversity goals for hiring, anonymized resume screening, affinity groups such as our Women's network and LGBTQ+ Network, open forums for discussions on diversity and social justice, and measuring inclusion and belonging as part of our regular employee engagement surveys.

We are an Equal Opportunities employer and will provide reasonable support throughout the recruitment process to applicants who have a disability. Please let us know in advance so that any support, aids or adaptations can be put in place to assist you.

Please be aware that all offers of employment are made subject to receipt of satisfactory background and financial checks.