Role Purpose
The General Manager: HR – IT, Engineering & Digital will provide strategic and operational HR leadership to technology, engineering, and digital business units. The role is responsible for aligning people strategy with business objectives, enabling digital transformation, and building high-performing, future-fit teams within a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic HR Leadership
Partner with executive and senior technology leadership to shape and execute a people strategy aligned to the digital and technology roadmap.
Provide strategic input on organisational design, workforce planning, and talent capability for IT, engineering, and digital functions.
Lead change management initiatives linked to digital transformation, systems implementation, and new ways of working.
Talent Management & Workforce Planning
Drive end-to-end talent management, including attraction, retention, succession planning, and leadership development for scarce and critical skills.
Oversee recruitment strategies for IT, engineering, and digital roles, ensuring access to top-tier and diverse talent.
Implement robust performance management and career progression frameworks tailored to technical and digital roles.
Employee Relations & Culture
Build a high-performance, inclusive, and values-driven culture within technology and digital teams.
Provide guidance on employee relations, labour legislation, and dispute resolution in line with South African labour law.
Act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on people, culture, and organisational matters.
Learning, Development & Capability Building
Identify current and future skills requirements within IT, engineering, and digital environments.
Partner with Learning & Development to design upskilling, reskilling, and leadership programmes.
Support agile ways of working, innovation, and continuous improvement through targeted capability development.
HR Governance, Risk & Compliance
Ensure HR policies, practices, and processes comply with labour legislation, internal governance, and organisational standards.
Monitor and manage people-related risks within technology and digital environments.
Ensure effective use of HR metrics, analytics, and reporting to inform decision-making.
Transformation & B-BBEE
Support employment equity, transformation, and diversity initiatives within technical and digital teams.
Partner with leadership to ensure alignment with B-BBEE and transformation objectives.
Key Stakeholders
Executive and Senior Management
IT, Engineering, and Digital Leadership Teams
Group HR and Centres of Excellence
External recruitment and talent partners
Minimum Requirements
Qualifications
Bachelors degree in Human Resources, Industrial Psychology, Business Administration, or a related field.
Postgraduate qualification (Honours / Masters / MBA) will be advantageous.
Experience
Minimum 8 years experience in a senior HR leadership role, preferably within IT, engineering, technology, or digital environments.
Proven experience partnering with senior leadership in complex, fast-paced organisations.
Demonstrated experience in organisational design, change management, and talent management within technical or digital teams.
Knowledge & Skills
Strong understanding of HR practices within IT, engineering, and digital ecosystems.
Solid knowledge of South African labour legislation and HR governance.
Experience supporting agile, product, or project-based teams.
Strong strategic thinking, business acumen, and problem-solving skills.
Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and influencing skills.
Data-driven approach with experience using HR metrics and analytics.
Key Competencies
Strategic partnering
Leadership and influence
Change agility
Talent and capability development
Commercial and digital mindset
Integrity and professionalism
Success Measures
Effective alignment of people strategy with digital and technology objectives.
Improved attraction, retention, and development of critical IT and digital talent.
Strong leadership capability and succession pipelines.
Positive employee engagement and culture outcomes within technology and digital teams.
This role is critical in enabling continued innovation and digital growth through strong, strategic people leadership.
Boardroom Appointments is a global specialist in Recruitment, Contract Staffing, Project Staffing, Temporary Employment Solutions, Training, HR Consultancy and Expatriate Mobility that operates extensively in Africa, EMEA, America, and Europe.
We have been industry leaders since 1989. Our dynamic team of recruitment and labour professionals has serviced hundreds of clients and placed thousands of candidates in various industries across the globe. We have gained invaluable insight and experience into global market trends and human resource workings.
We have specialized divisions that enhance our ability to service all clients in the following industries:
- FMGC
- Finance, Banking and Insurance
- Manufacturing and Processing
- Oil and Gas, Mining, Engineering and Construction
- Medical, Pharmaceutical and Health Care
- Logistics and Supply Chain
- Information Technology, Media and Telecommunications
- Waste Management and Sanitation Services
- Renewable and Alternative Energy
- Retail and Commercial Property
- Agriculture and Production
- Government and Public Services
- Call Centre and Customer Support Services
Today, Boardroom Appointments has a global candidate database and network, servicing clients around the world with all their Human Capital needs.
This experience allows clients to rely on us FULLY for all their talent needs, both permanent and temporary, while they focus on their core business.
We custom design solutions to perfectly fit our client's recruitment needs and form long-lasting relationships based on quality service and flawlessly fulfilled deliverables.
Our team is comprised of passionate and driven individuals who strive to maintain the best and most professional service to our clients.
We are focused, passionate, and we love what we do.
