People Consultant: Talent Operations
Smollan
2026/11/05   JHB CBD


Job Ref #: SM-8053
Industry: Human Resources
Job Type: Permanent
Positions Available: 1
At Smollan, we’re on an evolutionary journey where we’re shifting our story. We’re looking for truly unique people who believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive environment. Where our people are cared for, happy and inspired in building an extraordinary place to work.
Job Description

Job Summary:

Enable the agile, data-driven execution and governance of the SA Operations Talent Management agenda, serving as a future-fit specialist connector between business priorities and regional talent
solutions. Translate strategic talent priorities into integrated actions, predictive workforce insights, and high-impact talent outcomes. Partner dynamically with People leads, CoEs, and operational
stakeholders across talent identification, succession strategy, critical role bench strength, mobility, and performance enablement.

 

Key Responsibilities and Deliverables:

End-to-End Talent Strategy & Governance
• Operationalise enterprise Talent Management frameworks, standards, and digital tools across SA Operations in close collaboration with People Leads and CoEs.
• Coordinate robust talent identification, review, and calibration sessions to establish validated views of top talent, succession pipelines, and transformational bench strength.
• Drive systematic follow-through on agreed regional talent commitments, governance actions, and policy integration.

 

Succession, Critical Roles & Future Capability

  • Evaluate succession coverage, emergency cover, pipeline depth, and readiness for critical operational roles to mitigate business continuity risks.
  • Monitor targeted Future Development Plans (FDPs), mentoring initiatives, and accelerate pathways for high-potential populations (Top 1% and Top 10%).
  • Facilitate cross-functional talent mobility, stretch projects, secondments, and talent swaps to build agile, future-fit leadership capability.

Talent Analytics & Decision Intelligence

  • Consolidate, cleanse, and analyse regional workforce and talent data, converting metrics on movement, retention, and succession into executive decision intelligence.
  • Maintain live dashboards and deliver strategic monthly, quarterly, and ad-hoc Talent Management reports for Opsco and regional governance forums. 
  • Leverage digital HR platforms and automation tools to transition talent reporting from transactional tracking to predictive risk modelling.

Performance & Integrated Retention

  • Facilitate objective performance moderation and calibration processes, aligning performance distribution with talent identification and reward strategies.
  • Implement risk-mapping frameworks to proactively identify flight risks among critical talent and co-create targeted retention interventions.
  • Track retention trends, exit survey insights, and developmental interventions to continuously enhance employee experience and bench stability.

Strategic Projects & Stakeholder Enablement

  • Manage high-impact talent projects and future-fit operating model initiatives from design through deployment and adoption.
  • Partner with People Partners, Talent Acquisition, People Development, and operational leaders to align localized execution with broader strategic priorities.
  • Drive continuous capability building across People teams and line leaders, providing specialist advisory on contemporary talent practices, tools, and digital solutions.

Key Competencies

  • Critical Thinking
  • Curiosity
  • AI and Data Fluency
  • Communication
  • Relationship Building
  • Emotional Maturity
  • Delivering
  • Goal Focus
  • Resilience

 

 

Job Requirements
  • Relevant degree in Human Resources, Industrial Psychology Organisational Development, Business Management or a related field. Postgraduate qualification or relevant professional certifications advantageous.
  • 3-5 years relevant experience across Talent Management, Organisational Capability, HR Operations, or a related People function.
  • Demonstrated experience in succession planning, performance calibration, digital HR platforms, talent analytics, and cross-functional project execution in a complex, matrix organisation.