Virtual People Partner Lead at Absa Group Limited (Absa)

Job Summary

Lead and direct the provision of Virtual People Partner (VPP) and ER shared services (ERDA) to people managers and colleagues.

Job Description

Accountability: Provide Strategic Leadership

• Stay abreast of people management practices within Absa and ensure that the VPP/ERDA Unit is well
• positioned to provide effective complex advisory and coaching services to People Managers and colleagues.
• Set and communicate a long-term strategy that clearly articulates strategic targets and metrics to align the delivery of VPP/ERDA against the People Experience objectives and targets and stakeholder expectations.
• Direct the review and design of the business architectures for VPP/ERDA (people, systems, processes) to optimise service delivery.
• Give clear direction to the VPP/ERDA team on the strategic and operational focus areas.
• Drive the development and tracking of tactical plans and scoreboards and take corrective actions where required.
• Drive sustainable cost and processing efficiencies through continuous innovation, industry benchmarking and alignment to best practices.
• Proactively manage changes in the environment and ensure the effective implementation and stabilisation of changes.
• Establish appropriate governance structures to facilitate decision making, strategic risk management and performance tracking.

Accountability: Drive Business Performance

• Position VPP/ERDA as a key service provider to the relevant business units serving as its customer.
• Implement performance controls to proactively measure achievement against strategic targets and address changes or non-performance.
• Provide ongoing advice and direction to the VPP/ERDA team in terms of the areas of focus,

opportunities, key targets and relative policies, legislative and regulatory environments.

• Actively participate in all internal client reviews from a service perspective provided by areas under responsibility through a process of formalised service review.
• Continuously monitor service levels and implement strategic measures to improve customer satisfaction and the overall colleague experience.
• Implement governance structures and stakeholder frameworks to ensure effective customer
• management and engagement.
• Represent VPP/ERDA and participate and contribute to industry and Bank wide forums and governance
• structures as required or directed.

Accountability: Drive the people agenda

• Together with the Head: People Experience, determine the people management strategy for the

VPP/ERDA team aligned to the overall People Experience strategy.

• Take steps to build, develop and lead a cohesive and high performing team within VPP/ERDA.
• Drive the overall people agenda within the VPP/ERDA team to ensure that the human aspects to

performance are considered and embedded.

• Take steps to establish and drive a high-performance culture within the team by for example mentoring
• leaders and using the performance development framework, informal coaching and formal learning as tools.
• Enable and drive the transformation agenda within the VPP/ERDA team by implementing strategies and

addressing barriers.

• Establish and maintain a succession plan for the roles in the area
• Ensure the Unit complies with Group People policies, practices and procedures.

Accountability: Maintain a healthy risk profile within VPP/ERDA

• Identify and take accountability for the assigned principal risks relevant to the area in terms of the Absa
• Operational Risk Management framework and ensure that adequate controls are in place within the

role’s area of responsibility.

• Drive a culture of proactive compliance and risk management within VPP/ERDA team.
• Review the risk management and compliance practices of the VPP/ERDA team and highlight areas that
• require improvement to the team. Ensure that they understand their responsibility for risk ownership.
• On a quarterly basis, evaluate of the status of Operational and Principal Risks within the function and
• complete the required attestations to confirm control status.

Accountability: Manage the financial sustainability and effective use of resources within VPP/ERDA

• Drive the annual planning and review of MTP, STP and Revised Annual Forecast (RAF) budgets for the

VPP/ERDA team including the setting of MTP and STP Financial targets and standards and related

• measures and anticipated financial cost targets.
• Ensure the team has sufficient resources to deliver on operational and customer commitments.
• Monitor annual resource utilisation and implement strategies to improve the efficient allocation and

utilization of resources within VPP/ERDA.

• Ensure accurate and timely financial reporting in terms of the annual calendar.
• Implement effective corrective measures to ensure financial control and address negative budgetaryvariances.
•  Review workforce and recruitment plans for the area and reallocate resources where required
• Perform all other duties as reasonably assigned.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree (NQF 7) or equivalent

Experience

• (5 years relevant experience a minimum requirement).

In addition, the below experience level is essential:

• At least 10 to 15 years HR related experience
• Experience & proven track record in supporting business people strategies
• Specialist ER knowledge (preferred)

Competencies

• Delivering results and meeting customer expectations
• Commercial awareness and business acumen
• Stakeholder management
• Adapting and responding to change
• Consulting and advisory skills
• Planning and organising
• Deciding and initiating action
• Analytical skills
• Influence
• Strategic Thinking
• Relationship Management
• Adaptability
• Collaboration
• Leadership

Education

• Bachelor`s Degrees and Advanced Diplomas: Human and Social Studies (Required)