Michelle Du Plessis
Total Reward Specialist
Johannesburg
Summary
Strategic and analytical HR professional with a strong foundation in digital people solutions. I have a genuine interest in storytelling with data and workforce equity. I have experience in using tools like Power BI, SQL, and Snowflake to build trusted insights that support compensation decisions and total rewards strategies. I strive to use data to challenge assumptions and influence outcomes. Recognized for delivering high-impact work—such as a global Equal Pay dashboard. My current focus is to build technical depth in Total Rewards, reward analytics, and global compensation practices through hands-on exposure and formal learning.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
2
2
Languages
Work History
Total Rewards Specialist
SKF
Remote, based in Johannesburg
10.2025 - Current
- Supporting the Annual Salary Review cycle across multiple markets, including data preparation, validation and review support under the Total Reward lead.
- Stakeholder collaboration with Local Total Reward experts, to ensure Reward Governance and Pay equity considerations.
- Supporting the Annual Performance Management cycle.
- Project Team member supporting organizational readiness for EU equal-pay regulations.
- Built and enhanced the Equal Pay Dashboard to include insites related to promotions withing the company, to support transparency, interpretation, and stakeholder understanding.
- Performed analytical modelling to assess cost implications of proposed changes to pay range width
Global Superuser
SKF
11.2021 - 09.2025
- Develop & implement solutions through Sprints in SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central.
- Provide global support to PX professionals regarding Master Data in the system.
- Querying data using SQL in Snowflake for anaylis.
- Developing automations with Power Automate.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Passionate about learning and committed to continual improvement.
HR Business Partner
SKF South Africa (Pty) Ltd
10.2015 - 10.2021
- Part of the People Service Global Admin Support Team, assigned responsibility to support with Contracts & Letters and Processes & Requests configuration within PeopleDoc for Success Factors. I support with the configuration and unit testing in of these areas.
- Supported the People Core project team with employee data for the implementation of People Core (Success Factors) in South Africa.
- People Core - Maintenance of master data in the system. Currently investigating ways to integrate into payroll system to ensure the integrity of data and reduce duplication of work - ongoing project.
- Contributed in the Process Design Phase of People Processes as the ARIS Mapping Expert.
- Based at Lincoln Lubrication SA to assist with the integration and alignment of the company into SKF South Africa from October 2015 until we Co-located in March 2020 (275 employees prior to restructure).
- Support managers with HR related matter - recruitment, discipline, staff development, conflict resolution, compensation and benefits.
- Ensure the implementation, correct administration and maintenance of HR policies and procedures.
- Contact: Corle Grobler - Head of HR & BBBEE
- Corle.grobler@skf.com
- Maintained confidential nature of employee and company proprietary and privileged information used or observed in course of performing job duties.
- Worked with managers to achieve compliance with organizational policies, providing clarifying information and recommending necessary changes.
Payroll & HR Officer
SKF South Africa (Pty) Ltd
05.2011 - 10.2015
- Successfully implemented a new payroll system - VIP Payroll.
- Full Administration & Management of Sage VIP System (Super user) comprising of 140 employees.
- Full responsibility of the entire payroll function from processing to reporting.
- Created custom reports from payroll system with ODBC to MS Excel.
- Improved efficiencies within the department -by creating Macros in MS Excel which resulted in significant time saving with month end reporting.
- Paying third parties electronically instead of using outdated cheques.
Personal Assistant (MD & HR)
SKF South Africa (Pty) Ltd
04.2009 - 04.2011
Education
Post-Graduate Diploma - Labour Relations
University of South Africa
Pretoria 04.2001 -
Bachelor of Commerce - Human Resources Management
University of South Africa
Pretoria 04.2001 -
Skills
SAP SuccessFactors (Employee Central)
SQL
MS Office 365
PeopleDoc
ARIS Mapping Expert
Sage VIP
ODBC
People Processes
Analytical thinker
The Mercer International Position Evaluation (IPE) System** Not an expert, but I have some understanding of the methedology
Teamwork and collaboration
Accomplishments
Collaborated with Total Reward team to develop the Equal Pay Dashboard, used to illustrate the current Gender Wage Gap within the countries.
Interests
- Running (Completed my first Marathon and two Ultra Marathons in 2025)
- Psychology/Neurology/NLP
- Economics
- Visualization of data
Timeline
Total Rewards Specialist
SKF
10.2025 - Current
Global Superuser
SKF
11.2021 - 09.2025
HR Business Partner
SKF South Africa (Pty) Ltd
10.2015 - 10.2021
Payroll & HR Officer
SKF South Africa (Pty) Ltd
05.2011 - 10.2015
Personal Assistant (MD & HR)
SKF South Africa (Pty) Ltd
04.2009 - 04.2011
Post-Graduate Diploma - Labour Relations
University of South Africa
04.2001 -
Bachelor of Commerce - Human Resources Management
University of South Africa
04.2001 -