Agriculture Assistant Director: Employee Relations Vacancy 2026 at National Department of Agriculture

Opportunity Overview

The Department of Agriculture is seeking a dedicated and experienced individual for an Assistant Director position in Employee Relations. This is a crucial role on a 12-month fixed-term contract, based in Pretoria, Gauteng. The successful candidate will play a vital part in managing and resolving employee relations matters across the department.

This opportunity is ideal for a professional with a strong background in labour law and human resources, looking to contribute to a stable and compliant working environment within a government department. It involves ensuring fair processes, adherence to legislation, and effective resolution of workplace issues.

Minimum Requirements

To be considered for this position, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• A Grade 12 Certificate.
• A National Diploma or Degree (NQF 6) in Labour Relations, Labour Law, Human Resources Management, or Public Administration.
• A minimum of three (3) years of supervisory experience in Labour Law or Labour Relations.
• Job-related knowledge:
• Experience and knowledge of Labour and Employment Legislation.
• Understanding of Public Service Regulations.
• Job-related skills:
• Investigation skills
• Report writing skills
• Computer Literacy
• Communication skills (written and verbal)
• Negotiation skills
• Conflict resolution skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Presentation and facilitation skills
• Analytical skills
• A valid driver's license.
• Willingness to work irregular hours and travel as required.

Key Responsibilities

The Assistant Director: Employee Relations will be responsible for a range of critical duties, including:

• Facilitating the prompt finalisation of grievance cases and ensuring adherence to prescripts.
• Providing effective advice for the resolution of grievances and their referral to higher authorities when necessary.
• Ensuring the effective application of labour relations policies, procedures, regulations, and legislation.
• Facilitating the finalisation of disputes, including identifying cases for legal services and representing the Department at conciliation and arbitration.
• Managing an effective labour relations reporting system, including submitting statistics and compiling various reports.
• Facilitating capacity building programs and providing training to business units.
• Assisting in the implementation of misconduct guidelines and processes, managing misconduct files, and facilitating the finalisation of disciplinary cases.
• Supervising, monitoring, and ensuring the implementation of outcomes from formal and informal disciplinary processes.
• Providing efficient and effective advice on disciplinary matters.
• Drafting, initiating, and finalising formal disciplinary processes.

What the Work Involves

As an Assistant Director in Employee Relations, you will be at the heart of maintaining fair and compliant workplace practices within the Department of Agriculture. Your days will involve actively managing grievance cases from inception to resolution, ensuring they are addressed within stipulated timeframes and in line with relevant prescripts. You will serve as a key advisor, offering expert guidance on labour relations policies, procedures, and legislation to various stakeholders within the department.

A significant part of your role will involve dispute resolution, which includes preparing and presenting cases for conciliation and arbitration, and negotiating settlement agreements where applicable. You will also be responsible for maintaining robust reporting systems, capturing all grievance and disciplinary cases, and compiling detailed reports for management. Furthermore, you will contribute to building internal capacity by facilitating training programmes on labour relations for business units. This role is based in Pretoria and requires a professional who can work diligently, often handling multiple complex cases, and who is prepared for occasional travel and irregular working hours.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please submit your application via email.

• Email Address: ASDERrecruit84@nda.gov.za
• Subject Line: Your email subject line MUST include the reference number: REF NO: 3/3/1/84/2026