Employee Relations Specialist Jobs in Durban

A permanent opportunity has opened in Durban for an experienced employee relations specialist to support Transnet Pipelines. The role sits in the People Management department in Durban Central and reports to the Senior Specialist: Employee Relations. It is a senior, hands-on position for someone who is comfortable working with managers, employees, unions and formal dispute processes, and who can keep complex cases moving in an orderly, fair and well-documented way.

About the company and the work

Transnet Pipelines is the operating division behind this vacancy. The successful candidate will work within a large, structured organisation where people management, safety, compliance and reliable operations all matter. Employee relations work here is not a back-office add-on. It shapes how workplace issues are understood, how agreements are applied, and how managers and employees work through difficult situations without losing trust in the process.

The post is graded F, with reference req6113, and the source listing states a closing date of 06/11/2026. Applicants are asked to make sure their application reaches HR before that closing date.

Role details / duties

The specialist will render an employee relations function for Transnet Pipelines and provide advice and support to management, employees and the wider business. The aim is a harmonious working environment, supported by clear processes and consistent application of policy and legislation.

Day-to-day responsibilities described in the source listing include:

• Implementing, communicating and ensuring compliance with collective agreements concluded between Transnet and recognised unions, including managing internal and external stakeholders.
• Providing policy interpretation, reviews and advice, and helping to capacitate line managers and employees on People Management policies, including assisting with policy formulation.
• Coordinating employee relations internal controls, such as monthly updates to the employee relations system, and compiling People Management, industrial action, PFMA and employee relations weekly and monthly reports.
• Attending employee relations forums on behalf of Transnet Pipelines, including Business Continuity Management meetings, the Employment Equity Forum, the Skills Development Committee and industrial action meetings.
• Arranging and assisting with minutes and recordings for National and Local Business Committee, Employment Equity and Skills Development meetings.
• Representing Transnet Pipelines at the Transnet Bargaining Council and at CCMA mediation and arbitration processes, including disciplinary and grievance meetings and other forums determined by the Senior Specialist and the Head of People Management.
• Coordinating and facilitating suspensions, disciplinary processes, grievances and other dispute resolution processes, including assisting with minutes and recordings.
• Investigating employee relations and tip-off cases and submitting recommendations to management.
• Supporting managers, the People Management community and employees on employee relations matters.

Requirements

Only the requirements stated in the source listing are summarised here:

• A 3-year degree or National Higher Diploma in HR, or an equivalent Labour Relations qualification. A postgraduate qualification will be an advantage.
• A minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in Labour Relations.
• Trust and honesty in handling employee relations matters.
• Experience in major transformation and change management initiatives.
• Practical experience of the procedures and functioning of the Bargaining Council and the CCMA.
• Management and leadership skills.
• A driver’s licence code 08.
• Willingness to travel to regions across the country as and when required.
• Extensive knowledge of employee relations, policies and their implementation, relevant agreements, labour legislation including the LRA, BCEA and EEA, dispute resolution, discipline and grievance processes, personnel administration, HCM SAP, accurate reporting, project management, HR policies and procedures, report writing and computer literacy.
• Leadership, relationship building, analytical ability, legal writing and drafting, clear verbal and written communication, facilitation at management level, confidence to challenge existing bases, full computer literacy, and investigative skills with a keen eye for detail.

Where to find / apply safely

Use the Apply button on this page, which links to the original Indeed listing for this vacancy. Apply only through that original listing or the employer’s own application route linked from it. Do not pay anyone for an application, and do not share banking details, passwords or one-time codes with anyone claiming to arrange this job.

Practical tips

Before you apply, check your CV against the 8-year labour relations requirement and the degree or diploma requirement, and be ready to describe Bargaining Council and CCMA work in concrete terms. Gather examples of collective agreement work, grievance and disciplinary processes you have handled, and reports you have compiled. If you hold a postgraduate qualification, include it clearly. Make sure your application is complete well before the closing date stated in the source listing.

How the process works

Applications are made through the original listing linked from the Apply button. The employer will then handle shortlisting and any further steps under its own process. Keep a copy of what you submit, note the reference req6113, and watch for communication from the employer itself rather than from intermediaries.

Important information

This page is informational only. It summarises a vacancy found on Indeed and links to the original listing. It is not the employer, and it does not guarantee an interview, an offer or employment. Salary information was not provided in the source listing. The source listing also states that preference will be given to Persons with Disability, and that preference will be given to suitably qualified applicants who are members of designated groups in line with the Employment Equity Plan and Targets of the organisation and operating division. Always confirm the closing date, requirements and application route on the original listing before applying.

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