Maria Mberi
Johannesburg,Gauteng
Summary
Certified Global Remuneration Practitioner (GRP) with 14+ years’ experience in designing and managing competitive remuneration/compensation, programs across several African countries for a leading multinational mining company. Proven ability to develop salary structures and pay scales, conduct job grading, manage salary benchmarking, manage annual salary increase budgeting, salary increase processes and implement global reward frameworks including short- and long-term incentives. Skilled in Workday HCM configuration, defining compensation eligibility rules across multiple countries, data analysis, and compliance with complex local regulations. Recognized for building stakeholder relationships, ensuring internal equity, and driving strategic compensation decisions to attract, retain, and motivate top talent. South African Permanent Resident with work rights.
Overview
35
35
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Adviser – Workday Regional Deployment
Rio Tinto Management Services
08.2023 - 09.2025
- Defined eligibility rules of all compensation elements for configuration in Workday HCM and validating HR modules for 6 countries where Rio Tinto currently operates (i.e. South Africa, Mozambique, Guinea Conakry, Madagascar, Angola and Zambia) to ensure compliance with legal and organizational standards
- Analyzed, documented and escalated local legislative requirements, partnering with global teams to integrate regulatory, tax, and compliance updates into system design
- Acted as single point of contact for change management and localization, coordinating translations, resource allocation, and deployment timelines to meet go-live targets
- Key role player in the end-to-end testing, data validation, and user acceptance testing, to ensure accuracy in system functionality and reporting requirements
- Led the Africa hub during the deployment phase of Workday
- Facilitated Workday training for HR teams and leaders, improving adoption rates and reducing support tickets by 35%.
Senior Adviser – Remuneration
Rio Tinto Management Services
05.2009 - 07.2023
- Managed regional remuneration strategies for 9 African countries, including South Africa, Madagascar, Mozambique, Angola, Zambia, Guinea Conakry, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe aligning programs with Rio Tinto’s global remuneration strategy, guidelines and local legislation
- Managed the annual salary review process, including merit and performance adjustments
- Designed and maintained global salary structures across all the countries cited above, ensuring timely execution of pay adjustments
- Led the roll-out of incentive programs in Africa, including Short-Term Incentives (STI), Long-Term Incentives (LTI), and special award programs, ensuring consistency and fairness across the region.
- Conducted job grading using WTW and Paterson systems
- Administered the Global Grading Framework to ensure consistent job grading and equitable role alignment across regions to support the organizational structure and talent strategy
- Conducted market benchmarking of salaries and salary structures to ensure competitiveness of remuneration packages across diverse markets
- Prepared and submitted employee data to salary surveys (Remchannel, WTW, Mercer and HayGroup) and using results for internal benchmarking
- Conducted pay equity analysis and recommended adjustments
- Prepared salary offers for new hires and promotions
- Developed Excel templates for salary modeling, pay equity analysis, and market analysis, improving process efficiency by 60%
- Reviewed and updated remuneration policies
- Prepared reports
Human Resources Generalist
Rio Tinto Murowa Diamonds
07.2004 - 04.2009
- Developed and implemented HR policies and procedures to ensure compliance with organizational standards and labor legislation, improving governance and operational efficiency.
- Managed full recruitment lifecycle including job design, candidate sourcing, interviews, onboarding, and induction for multiple roles, reducing time-to-fill positions by 20%.
- Oversaw probation and performance review processes, ensuring timely confirmations, performance improvement plans, and documentation for all employees.
- Administered payroll operations using Symplexity ERP integrated with AXAPTA, achieving 100% accuracy and timely salary disbursements for a diverse workforce.
- Prepared and monitored annual salary budgets, conducted salary and benefits benchmarking surveys, and provided market-aligned compensation recommendations to senior leadership.
Human Resources Officer
Save the Children UK
01.2003 - 01.2004
- Managed end-to-end recruitment and onboarding processes, including job postings, candidate screening, interviews, offer letters, and induction programs, ensuring compliance with organizational and donor requirements.
- Developed and maintained accurate personnel records and HR databases to support workforce reporting and audit readiness.
- Prepared and submitted HR reports and workforce metrics to senior management, supporting decision-making and compliance with reporting standards.
- Supported employee relations by resolving grievances and facilitating communication, contributing to a positive and compliant work environment.
- Administered leave management systems, ensuring accurate tracking and adherence to organizational leave policies.
Senior Administrative Officer
Public Service Commission, PSC
01.1991 - 12.2002
- Reviewed staffing levels in various government departments & recommend the hiring or freezing of roles in support of government cost-cutting measures
- Monitor the implementation of administrative policies to enhance organizational effectiveness
- Reviewed operational processes & procedures to improve service delivery
- Analyzed operational procedures, recommending improvements to optimize resource utilization.
Education
Master of Science - Public Administration
University of Zimbabwe
Harare, Zimbabwe12-1999
Bachelor of Science (Honors) - Politics and Administration
University of Zimbabwe
Harare, Zimbabwe12-1990
Skills
- Effective cross-cultural communication
- Detail-oriented accuracy
- Effective time management
- Analytical problem-solving and negotiation
- Internal Pay Equity Analysis
- Salary Budgeting & Forecasting
- Adaptability in Diverse & Complex Environments
- Team collaboration
- Global Remuneration Strategy
Certification
Global Remuneration Practitioner (GRP) – WorldatWork Society of Certified Professionals 09/2013
References
References available upon request.
TRAINING & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Advanced MS Excel for Remuneration Practitioners – Remchannel South Africa 09/2017
- Reward Management & Compensation Strategy – Organizational Excellence 02/2013
- Effective HR Consulting Skills – Rio Tinto 05/2011
- Frontline Leadership Development Program – Goldfields Leadership Academy 04/2008
Personal Information
Residence Permit: South African Permanent Resident
Languages
English
Bilingual or Proficient (C2)
Timeline
Senior Adviser – Workday Regional Deployment
Rio Tinto Management Services
08.2023 - 09.2025
Senior Adviser – Remuneration
Rio Tinto Management Services
05.2009 - 07.2023
Human Resources Generalist
Rio Tinto Murowa Diamonds
07.2004 - 04.2009
Human Resources Officer
Save the Children UK
01.2003 - 01.2004
Senior Administrative Officer
Public Service Commission, PSC
01.1991 - 12.2002
Master of Science - Public Administration
University of Zimbabwe
Bachelor of Science (Honors) - Politics and Administration
University of Zimbabwe