Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Websites
Certification
Current Role Description
Accomplishments
Disability Status
Personal Information
Software
Timeline
Generic
Confidence Buyisiwe Kunene

Confidence Buyisiwe Kunene

Senior Human Resources Manager
Hillcrest

Summary

With over 20 years’ experience in executing and leading Human Resource processes and best practice, Confidence Buyisiwe Kunene is a seasoned professional renowned for her leadership skills, passion for people development and unapologetic demand for superior performance. Her professional journey started in quality assurance, and it reshaped into the HR field through various roles in learning and development and later growing into a well-rounded human resource practitioner. Her industry experience spreads across FMCG, Sugar Manufacturing, Food and Beverages, Confectionery, Packaging, Logistics and Automotive industries. While occupying different HR roles, she was able to sharpen her skills in managing and leading teams, coaching, and mentoring, business partnering and project management and change management. She is committed to designing operating models, implementing sound policies and processes and attaining HR standards that contribute to the achievement of business results while fostering growth of her own team members. She believes in driving an HR agenda that aligns with business strategy and paying attention to legal compliance and future proofing the HR division through technology and systems.

Versatile Senior Manager specializing in Talent Management and skilled at planning, implementing and overseeing key improvements to drive business growth and efficiency. History of cultivating an open culture with free exchange of information. Pursuing new professional challenges with a growth-oriented company. Versatile Senior Manager specializing in Talent Management and skilled at planning, implementing and overseeing key improvements to drive business growth and efficiency. History of cultivating an open culture with free exchange of information. Pursuing new professional challenges with a growth-oriented company.

Overview

27
27
years of professional experience
14
14
years of post-secondary education
11
11
Certifications
3
3
Languages

Work History

Senior Manager - Human Resources

Smiths Manufacturing
Durban
04.2023 - Current
  • Developing and communicating the talent management framework.
  • Preparing management reports for various business meetings e.g. Board meetings, OPCO, Remco and Exco.
  • Formulating talent and development policies e.g., recruitment policy, learning and development policy, bursary policy, apprenticeship policy, etc.
  • Implementing talent pipeline programs such as Engineers-in Training, Graduate Development Programs, Apprenticeships, and In-service Training.
  • Facilitating the implementation of the Company’s succession planning process to identify and build cover for critical roles.
  • Conducting talent analytics from retention interviews, stay interviews and exit interviews to identify and implement talent retention strategies.
  • Overseeing a team of Recruitment Specialists to achieve standardization of talent acquisition processes.
  • Designing leadership assessments, 360 feedback processes and team interventions to improve leadership capability at various levels across the business.
  • Facilitating quarterly frontline leadership forums to improve capability of section leaders and team leaders.
  • Oversee the implementation of psychometric assessments and feedback to support recruitment and/or staff development.
  • Ensuring the integrity of the recruitment process by designing relevant policies and procedures, reporting mechanisms, audits, and routine meetings to track compliance.
  • Overseeing the onboarding process for effectiveness and efficiency.
  • Implemented and developed operational standards, policies and procedures.
  • Improved team performance by providing comprehensive training and fostering a collaborative work environment.
  • Reduced costs, optimized resource allocation, and improved efficiency in managing projects.

Talent Manager

Smiths Manufacturing
01.2023 - 01.2025

Talent and Development Manager

Illovo Sugar South Africa
01.2018 - 01.2023

Talent Development Manager

South African Petroleum Refineries (SAPREF)
01.2012 - 01.2018

Learning & Development Specialist

Amalgamated Beverage Industries (ABI)
01.2010 - 01.2012

Training & Development Manager

Assmang Manganese Cato Ridge Works
01.2009 - 01.2010

Divisional Training & Development Manager

Nampak Flexible Division
01.2006 - 01.2009

Learning & Development Specialist

New Age Beverages
01.2005 - 01.2006

Training Specialist

Nestle South Africa (Pty) Ltd
01.2003 - 01.2005

Technical Trainer

Unifoods (Pty) Ltd
01.2000 - 01.2003

Laboratory Technician

South African Breweries
01.1998 - 01.1999

Education

Master in Business Leadership - Leadership

University of South Africa (UNISA)
Pretoria, South Africa
02.2016 - 01.2018

ABP – BTech Management - Managaement

Durban University of Technology (DUT)
Durban, South Africa
06.2008 - 06.2009

Education, Training & Development (ETDP) Diploma -

Durban University of Technology (DUT)
Durban, South Africa
02.2004 - 01.2006

Bachelor of Science (BSC) - Science

University of Natal
Durban
02.1993 - 01.1997

Matric Senior Certificate - High School Education

Montebello Girls High School
Wartburg, South Africa
01.1988 - 12.1992

Skills

  • Interpersonal

  • Collaboration abilities

  • Conflict resolution strategies

  • Resolution skills

  • Effective communication

  • Oral communication

  • Written communication

  • Strong public speaking abilities

  • Report writing

  • Media communication exposure

  • Teamwork

  • Cross-functional project teams

  • Human resources processes

  • Functional excellence

  • Leadership

  • Leadership team engagement

  • Effective board presentations

  • Talent and Development

  • Partnering with senior managers

  • Project management

  • Scoping

  • Planning

  • Tracking projects

  • Problem solving

  • Data analysis

  • Dashboards

  • Reports

  • IT/Computer Literacy

  • Microsoft Office

  • SAP

  • ERP systems

Goal-oriented planning

Talent development

Operations management

Resource allocation

Cross-functional collaboration

Data analytics

Certification

Competency Based Interviewing

Current Role Description

Smiths Manufacturing (Pty) Ltd, 04/01/23 - current, Senior Manager – HR, HR Director, Developing and communicating the talent management framework., Preparing management reports for various business meetings e.g. Board meetings, OPCO, Remco and Exco., Formulating talent and development policies e.g., recruitment policy, learning and development policy, bursary policy, apprenticeship policy, etc., Implementing talent pipeline programs such as Engineers-in Training, Graduate Development Programs, Apprenticeships, and In-service Training., Facilitating the implementation of the Company’s succession planning process to identify and build cover for critical roles., Conducting talent analytics from retention interviews, stay interviews and exit interviews to identify and implement talent retention strategies., Overseeing a team of Recruitment Specialists to achieve standardization of talent acquisition processes., Designing leadership assessments, 360 feedback processes and team interventions to improve leadership capability at various levels across the business., Facilitating quarterly frontline leadership forums to improve capability of section leaders and team leaders., Oversee the implementation of psychometric assessments and feedback to support recruitment and/or staff development., Ensuring the integrity of the recruitment process by designing relevant policies and procedures, reporting mechanisms, audits, and routine meetings to track compliance., Overseeing the onboarding process for effectiveness and efficiency., Designing and implementing career paths learning frameworks, curriculums, and programs for critical talent., Managing the Company’s Bursary Scheme and positioning Smiths Manufacturing as an employer brand to attract tertiary students into the Company’s talent pipeline programs., Implementation of annual learning needs analysis and determining annual learning and development priorities., Setting annual learning and development budgets and conducting monthly cost reviews to monitor expenditure against set budgets., Managing an end-to-end learning and development function including program design, delivery learning, evaluation and measurement, reporting., Actively enabling a learning culture, through utilization of appropriate learning approaches and methodologies (70/20/10)., Designing and implementing leadership development programs for the various leadership segments including 360 assessments of the management team, EQ assessment and team effectiveness interventions., Designing and implementing frontline leadership development programs to improve the competence of team leaders and section leaders., Facilitating internal learning interventions and conducting competency assessments., Overseeing implementation of SETA-related processes e.g., WSP and ATR reporting, management of discretionary grant funding and other legal processes., Setting the 5-year EE plan in line with the company’s strategic objectives and EAP targets., Oversee accurate reporting monthly of EE and BBBEE and monitoring progress against annual targets., Lead implementation of annual BBB-EE verification process within the HR function by ensuring accurate reporting and compiling of evidence., Compile the annual EEA2 and EEA4 reports and submit them to the Department of Employment and Labour., Chairing various business meetings that focus on transformation as EE Committee, Skills Development Committee, and CSI comprising of management union representatives and various service providers., Ensure continuous training of local Employment Equity and Skills Development Committees and oversee the effectiveness of the Central EE & SD committee., Establishing the annual performance management cycle and ensure that all managers and subordinates execute all required activities such as performance contracting and performance reviews timeously., Partnering with an external service provider to enhance the digital system used to implement performance management., Generating monthly and quarterly reports and dashboards to demonstrate achievement of key performance management milestones., Facilitating performance management training and supporting line managers to implement the performance management system., Coaching new line managers and employees on the use of the performance management tools during onboarding., Collating data and conducting analytics on final performance reviews, leading calibration sessions and providing final performance ratings that link with annual performance-related salary increases., Formulating and reviewing HR policies and standard operating procedures., Setting annual ESG (Ethics, Social and Governance) targets related to HR and monitor monthly progress against those and ensure accurate reporting to Group office., Auditing HR Operations Teams to ensure adherence to HR standards., Evaluating the effectiveness of the HR systems and ways of working to drive changes to meet business needs and/or legislative requirements., Conducting the 2-year-old culture and ethics surveys., Communicating and interpreting engagement survey results and facilitating focused groups and actions plans., Conducting focus groups sessions across various levels of management to gather insights related to required actions to improve engagement and corporate culture., Tracking quarterly progress and reporting to the Executive Team and Site Leadership Teams., Oversee internal communication through guiding the Communication Specialist and monitoring effectiveness of internal communication platforms., Prioritizing matters that require dipstick surveys and ensure that dipstick surveys are conducted, results are interpreted and communicated across the business., Design and oversee execution of employee engagement events such as long service awards, wellness day and women’s day., Setting annual key performance areas and performance objectives for the HR Team (direct reports)., Monitoring team performance through dashboards, monthly one-on-one meetings, and team meetings., Facilitating agile meetings to drive key change initiatives within the Talent and Development and HR Operations., Coaching team members for performance improvement., Executing formal discipline in line with the Company’s disciplinary code., Conducting formal mid-year and annual performance appraisals of direct reports., Positioning the strategic role of Talent and Development within the organization to establish buy-in and functional collaboration., Partnering with line managers across different levels to drive learning, development, recruitment, performance management succession planning for their business units., Partnering with line managers to diagnose performance gaps and to identify appropriate learning solutions to improve performance., Partnering with external training providers to implement customized learning solutions to suit internal business needs., Partnering with external recruitment agencies and executive search service providers to recruit for leadership and critical roles., Compiling an annual HR budget., Conducting monthly cost reviews to monitor expenditure against set budget., Compiling and presenting management reports at various business meetings e.g., Board meetings, OPCO, and Exco., Preparing project scopes, screening, and selection of service providers during tender meetings., Championing the procurement process to source and contract clinic and canteen services., Monitoring quality and service delivery of wellness service providers including the Employee Wellness Program (EWP)., Driving wellness campaigns to align with data analytics and prevalent matters., 01/01/12 - 12/31/17, Trustee in the board of trustees at Durban Trust Training Centre, Drove the skills development initiative to uplift the skills of unemployed youth in the Durban South Basin, 01/01/16 - 12/31/16, Member of the KZN Human Resource Development Council, Led by the Premier of KZN, True, Member of the Safety, Health and Environmental executive committee, True, Chairperson of the Employment Equity and Skills Development committee, True, Manager of a team of 4 HR professionals, Collaboration abilities, Conflict management and resolution skills, Oral and written communication in IsiZulu and English, Presentation skills, Report writing, Media communication exposure, Working in cross-functional project teams, Interfacing within HR to execute HR processes and functional excellence, Participating in Exco teams and conducting board presentations, Leading a functional Talent and Development team, Partnering with senior managers from different business units or operating entities, Scoping, planning, and tracking projects, Solving complex problems using formal and informal methods, Using data analytics such as dashboards and reports to analyze and interpret data, Proficient in Microsoft Office, SAP and other ERP systems, Celeste Mdletshe, Human Resources Director – Illovo Sugar South Africa, Previous direct manager, 082 921 7705, Futhi Buthelezi, Human Resources Director – Smiths Manufacturing, Current direct manager, 082 941 8513, Sphindile Memela, Learning and Development Specialist, Subordinate, 078 761 2428

Accomplishments

  • Led business communication and planning for a 7-week union strike and participated in negotiating a successful settlement, 01/01/23
  • Achieved AB Sugar accreditation as a master facilitator for Career Conversations Training program, 01/01/17
  • Directed annual leadership conferences for Illovo Sugar SA (Pty) Ltd, 01/01/19 & 01/01/21
  • Designed and successfully implemented a job family and competency model at SAPREF Refinery, 01/01/16
  • Designed and implemented an executive coaching program at SAPREF Refinery and at Illovo Sugar SA, 01/01/15 & 01/01/19
  • Introduced learnerships (employed and unemployed) at Illovo Sugar SA to achieve full points on BBB-EE audit, 01/01/18 - 12/31/22
  • Contributed to a design of a new operating model at Illovo Sugar SA to achieve organizational transformation, 01/01/20
  • Participated in the management of a 7-week strike at Smiths Manufacturing and achieving a positive resolution, 01/01/23

Disability Status

None

Personal Information

  • Available: One calendar month
  • ID Number: 7604210292084
  • Ethnicity: African
  • Gender: Female
  • Nationality: South African
  • Driving License: Code B

Software

SAP

Payspace

Timeline

Senior Manager - Human Resources

Smiths Manufacturing
04.2023 - Current

Talent Manager

Smiths Manufacturing
01.2023 - 01.2025

Talent and Development Manager

Illovo Sugar South Africa
01.2018 - 01.2023

Master in Business Leadership - Leadership

University of South Africa (UNISA)
02.2016 - 01.2018

Talent Development Manager

South African Petroleum Refineries (SAPREF)
01.2012 - 01.2018

Learning & Development Specialist

Amalgamated Beverage Industries (ABI)
01.2010 - 01.2012

Training & Development Manager

Assmang Manganese Cato Ridge Works
01.2009 - 01.2010

ABP – BTech Management - Managaement

Durban University of Technology (DUT)
06.2008 - 06.2009

Divisional Training & Development Manager

Nampak Flexible Division
01.2006 - 01.2009

Learning & Development Specialist

New Age Beverages
01.2005 - 01.2006

Education, Training & Development (ETDP) Diploma -

Durban University of Technology (DUT)
02.2004 - 01.2006

Training Specialist

Nestle South Africa (Pty) Ltd
01.2003 - 01.2005

Technical Trainer

Unifoods (Pty) Ltd
01.2000 - 01.2003

Laboratory Technician

South African Breweries
01.1998 - 01.1999

Bachelor of Science (BSC) - Science

University of Natal
02.1993 - 01.1997

Matric Senior Certificate - High School Education

Montebello Girls High School
01.1988 - 12.1992

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Confidence Buyisiwe KuneneSenior Human Resources Manager