Chief People Officer

Publicis Groupe Africa is a part of the world’s largest global communications organization. In South Africa we are committed to fostering a dynamic and inclusive work environment where top talent can thrive and contribute to our success.

We are seeking an experienced and visionary Chief People Officer (CPO) to join our leadership team. The CPO will play a critical role in shaping and executing our people strategy, ensuring that we attract, retain, and develop top talent across the African market. This role requires a strategic thinker with a strong background in human resources, talent management, and organizational development.

1. HR Strategy & Leadership

1. Develop and implement HR strategies that align with the organization’s vision, mission, and business goals within the South African legal and economic framework.
2. Act as a key advisor to the CEO and executive leadership team on all people-related matters, with a strong understanding of South African labour trends and best practices.
3. Lead organizational change management efforts to support business growth and transformation, considering local market dynamics.
4. Provide guidance to the localization of the Global HR objectives.

2. HR Team Management & Leadership

1. Management, guidance, and coaching of the HR Team to support the business.
2. Ensure the HR Team is equipped with the necessary skills and resources to effectively execute HR functions.
3. Foster a high-performance HR team culture that aligns with business objectives.

3. Talent Acquisition & Onboarding

1. Oversee talent acquisition strategies to ensure the company attracts and hires top talent aligned with business goals.
2. Implement recruitment best practices to improve hiring efficiency, reduce time-to-fill, and enhance candidate experience.
3. Ensure all recruitment processes align with employment equity, BBBEE (Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment) requirements, and South African labor laws.
4. Develop employer branding strategies to position the company as an employer of choice.
5. Collaborate with hiring managers to define job requirements and ensure a smooth recruitment process.
6. Design and implement an effective onboarding program to ensure new hires integrate seamlessly into the company culture and achieve productivity quickly.
7. Provide onboarding training, resources, and support to facilitate a smooth transition for new employees.

4. Talent Management & Workforce Planning

1. Oversee workforce planning and succession planning to ensure long-term business continuity and talent pipeline development.
2. Foster a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) by implementing initiatives that promote a positive and inclusive workplace, in line with South African employment equity legislation.
3. Lead and enhance employee engagement initiatives to improve workplace satisfaction and productivity, considering local work culture and economic conditions.

5. Performance Management, Employee Development & Coaching

1. Implement and oversee performance management processes to ensure continuous employee growth and development within a compliant and structured framework.
2. Drive learning and development (L&D) strategies to upskill employees, ensuring alignment with company goals and South African skills development legislation.
3. Develop and oversee training programs, leadership development, and mentorship initiatives to cultivate a high-performance workforce.
4. Partner with department heads and managers to drive leadership development and training programs that align with local skills development initiatives.
5. Collaborate with external training providers, government initiatives, and internal stakeholders to maximize learning opportunities and leverage skills development funding.
6. Provide coaching and mentoring to leaders and employees to enhance performance, leadership capabilities, and career growth.
7. Foster a coaching culture within the organization to support continuous learning and professional development.

6. Compensation & Benefits

1. Develop competitive compensation, benefits, and rewards programs that comply with South African labor laws and market standards to attract and retain top talent.

7. Compliance & Policy Management

1. Ensure compliance with the South African Labour Relations Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act, and other relevant employment laws and industry regulations.
2. Facilitate company compliance through the progressive improvement of internal and external audit processes.
3. Maintenance of the company policy standards.

8. BBBEE & Transformation Initiatives

1. Participation and collaboration in the execution of BBBEE strategies to ensure compliance and alignment with government transformation policies, including skills development.

9. HR Systems Management

1. Oversee the implementation and optimization of HR systems, ensuring efficiency in HR operations as per the Groupe Requirements.
2. Ensure HR technology solutions align with business needs and compliance requirements.
3. Direct the management of HR data integrity, reporting, and analytics to support strategic decision-making.
4. Drive automation and process improvements within HR functions through the use of technology as identified by Groupe.

1. Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field.
2. Proven experience as a Chief People Officer or in a similar senior HR role.
3. HR certifications such as SABPP (South African Board for People Practices) accreditation, SHRM-SCP, or equivalent.
4. Strong understanding of HR best practices, South African labor laws, and industry regulations.
5. Proven track record of driving employee engagement and culture transformation within a South African business context.
6. Experience leading DEI initiatives and implementing Employment Equity compliance strategies.
7. Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
8. Conflict Management Capabilities.
9. Strategic thinker with strong problem-solving abilities.
10. Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
11. Proficiency in HR technology and data-driven decision-making.