KAREN HARRIS
Lonehill
Summary
Experienced, disciplined and hands-on HR strategic leader. My HR exposure has always been at the coal face leading teams towards key objectives. I specialize in the fundamentals of Human Resources ensuring that HR teams provide accurate and updated guidance and experience to Divisional executives to ensure the effectiveness of leadership and HR structures in operational areas.
Accomplished Human Resources Consultant with 20 years of hands-on HR management experience and broad knowledge of HR metrics for benchmarking, measuring, analyzing and articulating value and ROI of HR initiatives, practices and policies. Guides, trains, and supports clients in areas of strategic human capital management, employment law compliance, employee relations, organizational development, workers' compensation administration and overall development of best practices in human resources. Demonstrates strong business acumen and possesses entrepreneurial spirit with genuine desire to proactively and consistently deliver results for clients and internal teams.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Independent Human Resources Consultant
Supply Chain and Financial Services
03.2024 - Current
- Assisted and guided clients on HR procedures and program development by devising performance evaluations, job descriptions and industry-standard salary ranges.
- Built HR consulting capabilities focused on clients undergoing organizational change and development.
- Contributed to business and HR functions by identifying, prioritizing and building organizational capabilities, behaviors, structures and processes.
- Facilitated cultural integration planning and developed strategies to foster employee engagement and commitment.
- Partnered with leaders on HR and business functions using consultative approach to proactively identify and address issues and concerns.
- Evaluated employee onboarding programs and presented strategic improvement recommendations to upper management.
Group Human Resources Manager
C Steinweg Bridge (Pty) Ltd
04.2013 - 02.2024
- Company Overview: C. Steinweg Group provides warehouse storage, handling, clearing, forwarding, chartering and other logistics services throughout Africa and South Africa.
- Provision of HR, Recruitment, Payroll, Employee Benefits, Industrial Relations and Organisational Development (Total Team of 20) with advice, support, and expertise to management teams to develop solutions that meet corporate strategic objectives.
- Maintained payroll and benefits for employees in various locations.
- Drafting and implementation of all Employee related Policy, process and procedure. Included all Employee/Management employment contracting as well as Mutual Termination negotiations..
- Maintained company compliance with statutory laws, in addition to established organizational standards.
- Organized and led staff orientation/onboarding programs and training to promote collaboration.
- Facilitated onboarding sessions and on-the-job training for new hires, bolstering employee job position knowledge and skillset. Introduced psychometric testing for key skill sets and management/leadership teams.
- Learning and Development - Bridge Academy implementation for hard and soft skill online training.
- Sucession planning, diversity and inclusion, Employee Wellness.
- Multi Union interaction, Collective Agreements, wage negotiations.
- Pension Fund and Death Claims Committee Trustee.
Program Manager
Electronic Toll Collection (Pty) Ltd
02.2010 - 04.2013
- Company Overview: ETC is a single purpose vehicle established to operationalize the first phase of the FIDIC governed Gauteng Open Road Tolling contract.
- A deliberate move into this start up turnkey operation for the acquisition of high level operational experience.
- Assumed role of Strategic Operations Manager – National Call Centre/Customer Services as well as Section 1 and Section 2 Operational and System Testing Regime Manager.
- Identify, recruit, develop and coach Core Call Centre Management Team.
- Identification and verification of Primary assumptions forming the baseline of Call-Centre operations.
- Manpower Strategy and Workforce planning.
- In conjunction with Kapsch Austria, design and develop Call Centre infrastructure – CRM, IVR, E-Mail Management Tool, Quality Management Tool, Workforce Management tool.
- Develop Operations Manual, all Call Centre Processes, risk and compliance matrix.
- Call Centre Policy and Process Design.
- Call Centre Mission, Vision, Values Design.
- HR Policy and Disciplinary Code design.
- Ensure Customer Services alignment and integration – call centre and service outlets.
- Formulate and implement Manpower Strategy, Divisional Training Strategy.
- Design and Implement Training material.
- Ensure Contractual alignment between System Design and Build deliverables and Operational deliverables by managing Group wide Testing Regimes and Test Teams.
- ETC is a single purpose vehicle established to operationalize the first phase of the FIDIC governed Gauteng Open Road Tolling contract.
- Met with project stakeholders on regular basis to assess progress and make adjustments.
Group Human Capital Executive
MBD Credit Solutions (Pty) Ltd
02.2006 - 01.2010
- Company Overview: Debt Recovery
- Design, implementation, and management of Human Capital Strategy within the MBD group.
- Workforce Planning – recruitment process; qualitative and quantitative workforce requirements.
- Training and Development – identification of training needs, design and deliver (MBD Debt Recovery Certificate course, Management Development Programs). Established off-site Training College.
- Employee relations – manage labour relations framework and dispute resolution.
- Design and manage corporate compensation, benefit and reward structures.
- Management Development – staff retention, succession planning, talent management, performance management and the MBD Debt Recovery Management Development Program.
- Organizational Development – communications, staff retention; implementation of performance driven culture.
- Analyse operations to evaluate overall performance of staff (balanced scorecard management system with respect to call centre staff) and to determine areas of operational improvement or policy change.
- Staff welfare programs – on site clinic, (annual VCT (AIDS) testing; TB testing; annual health programs).
- Direct activities of group Recruitment, Training, Learnerships (300 learners per annum through FASSET and R2 million rebate achievement per annum).
- Legal and Statutory Compliance. Ensure Empowerdex rating maintained and improved and start-up of Disabled Call Centre.
- Maximise returns with regard to SETA and DOL rebate structures. DTI rebates ensured for start-up operations in designated areas.
- Control of HR management and administrative systems – recruitment database; talent management database, VIP payroll management, ESS leave system, AWOL and absenteeism interface system. Ensure compliant employment contracting – Learnership Agreements, Training Agreements, Casual and Reserve Team Agreements, Call Centre and Support Contracts, Executive (restraint based) Contracts.
- Debt Recovery
Group Human Resources Manager
Brait South Africa Ltd
02.2000 - 01.2006
- Company Overview: Private Equity/Financial Services
- Establishment and leadership of a Group Human Resources division.
- Development of one group H.R. policy with consistent terms and conditions of employment.
- Production of HR Policy Manual and Employee Benefits Handbook. This was actioned taking into account the 1998 merger that bought together diverse operating units into one organization.
- Design, implementation and administration of group employee benefit structures and policies.
- Principle Officer / Chairman of Brait Provident Fund.
- Design and implement full H.R. administrative system and all legal human resources documentation.
- Establish and maintain group Training and Development strategy.
- Chairman of Brait Training Committee and Brait Employment Equity Committee.
- Establish and maintain Group Industrial Relations policy.
- Responsible for all professional and executive terminations; dispute resolution; dispute mediation and industrial relations.
- Full accountability for the closure of Brait Merchant Bank and the retrenchment of 135 staff.
- Ensure legal compliance and implementation of Employment Equity Act and Skills Development Bill.
- Registered SDF for the Brait Group.
- Business Unit Equity strategy and establishment of targets.
- Design and implement relevant fast tracking programs, including corporate mentorship programs.
- Establish effective centralized payroll and administration system.
- Introduction and implementation of VIP Payroll system.
- Package structuring.
- Provide outsource payroll function to 3 Brait joint venture operations.
- Design and implement Change Management programs aimed at eliminating cultural diversity brought about by the merger of the banking and financial services units.
- Manpower planning including accountability for all recruitment and recruitment standards within the Group.
- Interface and manage Preferred Supplier base of outsourced recruitment specialists.
- Operational closure of Banking Division.
- Private Equity/Financial Services
Education
Matric -
Sandown High
Sandton, JohannesburgBachelor of Arts - Industrial Psychology
University of Witwatersrand
Johannesburg02.1983
Higher Diploma - Labour Law
Graduate Institute of Management
Skills
- Graduate programs management
- Learnership and YES program management
- Onboarding programs
- Mentoring programs
- Benefits administration
- Employee relations
- Retention strategies
- Leadership coaching (Certified Life Coach)
- Diversity and inclusion
- Talent acquisition
- Employment law compliance
- Payroll management
- Succession planning
- Compensation analysis
- Organizational development
- Workforce planning
Accomplishments
R4 million annual saving on annual leave provisioning through leave control and management.
R12 million saving on Workmens Compensation.
Primary Language
English
Drivers License
Code B, own vehicle
Personal Information
Nationality: South African
Education
Sandown High, Matric, University of Witwatersrand, Bachelor of Arts (Industrial Psychology), UCT Graduate School of Business – Executive Program, Graduate Institute of Management – Higher Diploma in Labour Law, Van Zyl Rudd – Competence in applying CCMA Rules, Global Business Solutions – New CCMA Rules, Global Business Solutions – Polygraph Compliance, Labour Guide – Mastering Human Lie Detection, Certified Life Coach.
Timeline
Independent Human Resources Consultant
Supply Chain and Financial Services
03.2024 - Current
Group Human Resources Manager
C Steinweg Bridge (Pty) Ltd
04.2013 - 02.2024
Program Manager
Electronic Toll Collection (Pty) Ltd
02.2010 - 04.2013
Group Human Capital Executive
MBD Credit Solutions (Pty) Ltd
02.2006 - 01.2010
Group Human Resources Manager
Brait South Africa Ltd
02.2000 - 01.2006
Matric -
Sandown High
Bachelor of Arts - Industrial Psychology
University of Witwatersrand
Higher Diploma - Labour Law
Graduate Institute of Management
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