Senior HR Business Partner (HRBP)

Go2Africa is a leading Africa-based tour operator, trusted by travellers for over 25 years to design journeys that are seamless, personal, and deeply connected to the African continent.

Every journey is crafted by a dedicated Africa Safari Expert who knows the landscape, has walked the trails, stayed in the camps, and built long-standing relationships with the people who bring each experience to life. From first enquiry to returning home, Go2Africa is known for its care, attention to detail, and ability to create safari adventures that stir the soul. This commitment to quality has earned us thousands of five-star reviews and recognition from industry leaders such as Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, and the World Travel Awards.

At the heart of it all is our purpose to use travel as a force for good. As part of Nawiri Group, every journey with Go2Africa helps support the vast wilderness ecosystems our guests travel to, and communities who call them home.

The Role

The Senior HR Business Partner (HRBP) will act as a trusted advisor to management and executives within Go2Africa, leading the HR function within the brand with full autonomy and accountability. As the most senior HR leader within Go2Africa, the HRBP will play a pivotal role in shaping the brand’s people strategy, driving engagement, and building leadership capability across the business.

This role requires strategic maturity and strong emotional intelligence to effectively partner with the executive team and senior leaders across the Group. The Senior HRBP will serve as a critical bridge between brand-level realities and the Group’s HR strategy, ensuring that initiatives are both locally relevant and strategically aligned.

The HRBP will own the execution of the full employee lifecycle; attraction, recruitment, onboarding, development, retention, and exit/separation, ensuring a consistently excellent employee experience in a fast-paced, rapidly changing environment.

The Senior HRBP will also collaborate closely with HRBPs from other entities to share best practices, ensure alignment across the Group, and support cross-entity initiatives. This role reports functionally to the Group Head of HR, ensuring both brand responsiveness and group alignment.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

Business Partnering & Advisory

• Act as a trusted advisor to executives and managers, delivering practical HR solutions that address business and people challenges.

• Provide guidance on complex employee relations matters, including but not limited to conflict resolution, performance management, incapacity, disciplinary procedures and grievance handling.

• Guide managers to strengthen engagement, team performance, and effective employee relations.

• Anticipate business needs and proactively implement HR initiatives that support organisational and Group goals.

• Foster an open, supportive, and trusted HR presence that encourages communication, collaboration, and employee engagement.

• Act as a change partner during organisational or process transitions.

Collaboration & Group Alignment

• Liaise with HRBPs in other entities to share best practices and align processes across the Group.

• Contribute to Group-wide HR initiatives and lead or support projects as required.

• Support knowledge sharing and benchmarking across entities to enhance HR effectiveness.

HR Strategy & Process Improvement

• Audit, evaluate, and enhance HR policies, procedures, and systems for efficiency and alignment with business goals.

• Lead the development and implementation of HR best practices within the entity.

• Contribute to Group-level strategic HR initiatives, including performance management, Employer-of-Choice strategies, and cross-entity policy alignment.

• Support implementation of HR technology and tools to improve process efficiency.

Employee Lifecycle Ownership:

• Attraction & Recruitment: Own the end-to-end recruitment process for the entity, ensuring timely and high-quality hires.

• Onboarding: Lead the onboarding process to ensure new hires integrate successfully into the business and culture.

• Development: Partner (where appropriate) with the Training and Development team, to design and implement learning, performance management, and career growth programs that build skills, support progression, and enhance employee capability.

• Retention: Identify and execute strategies to retain top talent, including engagement initiatives and proactive interventions.

• Exit/Separation: Manage all exit processes professionally and compliantly, ensuring constructive offboarding experiences.

• Ensure all HR processes are executed consistently, effectively, and in alignment with both Company, Group policies and local legislation.

Employee Engagement & Culture

• Lead initiatives to build a positive, inclusive, and high-performing workplace.

• Drive programs supporting engagement, wellbeing, development, recognition, and mentoring.

• Coach managers to foster an engaged, accountable, and collaborative workforce.

• Analyse employee feedback and implement insights to continuously improve the employee experience.

Legislative Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure all HR practices comply with South African labour laws and regulations.

• Advise leadership on employee relations matters, legal risks and appropriate courses of action to mitigate issues.

• Manage incapacity and dispute resolution processes effectively.

• Stay updated on employment law changes and ensure HR policies and practices are reviewed and updated accordingly.

Operational & Administrative HR Effectiveness

• Oversee day-to-day HR operations and administrative processes, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and service excellence.

• Maintain governance standards and timely HR reporting to support business continuity and full employee lifecycle management.

• Support audits and internal controls to maintain compliance and operational efficiency.

Data & Insights

• Use HR metrics and analytics to measure the effectiveness of employee lifecycle initiatives.

• Provide data-driven insights and practical recommendations to management for continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Organisational Psychology or Human Resource Management Degree.

Experience & knowledge

• 7–10 years’ experience in HR, with significant experience as an HR Business Partner or HR generalist.

• Proven ability to execute the entire employee lifecycle in a complex organization.

• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with experience advising executives and senior leaders.

• Deep understanding of employment legislation in South Africa.

• Analytical mindset with the ability to translate HR data into actionable recommendations.

• Experience in fast-paced, dynamic, and rapidly changing environments.

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic and operational thinker

• Excellent communicator

• Persuading and influencing

• Resilient, adaptable,

• Strong organisational skills,

• Collaborative

• Pragmatic

• Deciding and initiating action

• Planning and organising

• Working with people

• Good listening skills

• Learning and researching

• Delivering results and meeting customer expectations

• Adapting and responding to change

Attributes & Behaviours

• Demonstrates professional maturity and sound judgment, thinking both strategically and operationally with a strong focus on delivering results.

• Communicates with clarity, confidence, and maturity, effectively influencing and building trust across all levels.

• Demonstrates high emotional intelligence and interpersonal maturity, shows empathy, provides clear guidance and manages conflict constructively.

• Balances empathy with accountability, holding space for others while ensuring high performance and clarity

• Remains resilient, composed and adaptable in fast-paced, dynamic environments.

• Organises work efficiently, managing multiple priorities with focus and discipline.

• Collaborates effectively, sharing knowledge and supporting cross-entity initiatives.

• Approaches challenges with mature, pragmatic, and solution-focused thinking, balancing strategic insight with operational delivery.

Go2Africa Core Values:

We Care

We care deeply about our travellers, our partners, and each other. We value relationships and show it through clear communication, respectful feedback, accountability, and thoughtful collaboration. Our care drives us to deliver the best experience. One our clients will forever hold in their memories, leaving an indelible mark for life. We take pride in our work, bring empathy and energy to our teams, and create space for fun, connection, and support. 

We Trust and are Trusted

Our travellers are at the heart of everything we do. Every detail, even the smallest, matters because we’re driven to create experiences they will remember for life. To deliver this, we build trust through honest, inclusive communication and strong partnerships. We respect each other’s time and communicate openly and responsibly. We act with humility and integrity, handling sensitive information with care and fostering a culture of inclusion and respect. By taking accountability and following through on our commitments, we create a foundation of trust that supports our travellers, our partners, and our Go2Africans alike.

We Go Above and Beyond

We go above and beyond by taking ownership of our actions, showing pride in everything we do, and lifting each other to achieve more. Our travellers deserve nothing less than our very best, and our people thrive when we bring that same excellence to each other.

We are Resilient

We weather the storm with strength and steady focus. We stay composed under pressure, adapt quickly to change, and grow through every challenge. We respond to challenges with curiosity and a positive mindset, staying engaged and learning as we go. We ask for help, supporting each other as we move forward together.

We Collaborate

We pride ourselves on strong partnerships  with our travellers, our partners, and each other. We share information clearly and respectfully, prepare well, and value each other’s time. We support our colleagues, follow through, and keep communication open, through deliberate, timely communication. Our approach is personal and professional, focused on building trust, finding solutions, and achieving shared success.

We Conserve

We care deeply about Africa. It’s our home, and we’re committed to protecting it. Through informed choices, responsible partnerships, and everyday actions, we reduce our impact and support a more sustainable future. Whether it’s what we sell or how we work, we lead with care and pride in protecting what matters