Job Description

Join Harambee as an

Employee Engagement Specialist!

Are you passionate about making a real impact in South Africa's youth employment landscape? Do you thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where innovation and purpose drive everything you do? If so, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator wants you on our team!

About The Role

As an Employee Engagement Specialist at Harambee, you will play a pivotal role in shaping a positive, inclusive, and high-performing culture. Working closely with the Learning and Development Manager, you'll develop and execute strategies that foster engagement, drive continuous improvement, and align with Harambee's values and strategic objectives. You'll lead the design, delivery, and evaluation of engagement initiatives, partnering with leaders, change champions, and cross-functional teams to enhance the employee experience and organizational effectiveness.



This is a hands-on, high-impact role where you'll champion our values, facilitate collaboration, and help create an environment where every employee feels valued and empowered to contribute to our mission.

The Role: Employee Engagement Specialist

Strategic Leadership & Culture Enablement

Develop and implement the employee engagement strategy, aligned with Harambee's vision, values, and goals. Act as a culture ambassador, championing Harambee values, inclusion, and diversity. Lead high-impact engagement initiatives and change management interventions to support wellness, transformation, and continuous improvement. Monitor Harambee sentiment and recommend actions to enhance engagement and culture. Guide and manage the network of Change Champions within the organization to deliver on the engagement strategy.

Programme Design & Delivery

Oversee and implement the design and facilitation of workshops, interventions, and campaigns that promote the Harambee way of working. Ensure the effective delivery of engagement programmes, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders. Guide and enable effective group processes, encouraging collaboration and active participation across teams. Plan, manage and implement Hive Connect days and weeks . Collaborate with all relevant partners in advance and organize logistics before and on the Connect days. Support, manage and guide the Radio Harambee Committee

Data-Driven Insights & Action Planning

Lead the administration and analysis of employee engagement surveys. Facilitate the review of survey results and drive the creation and implementation of action plans. Use data and feedback to evaluate the effectiveness of engagement initiatives and inform continuous improvement. Manage, maintain and report on pulse surveys using Harambee Connect

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

Partner with the strategic communications team to develop and deliver impactful employee communications and engagement campaigns. Build and maintain strong relationships with business partners, change champions, and other key stakeholders. Serve as a liaison for internal clients, providing expert advice and support on engagement matters. Create and Run engagement campaigns.

Resource & Systems Management

Oversee the management of engagement resources, including training materials, manuals, and multimedia aids. Ensure the effective use of HRIS/Learning Management Systems for engagement initiatives, including content management, reporting, and troubleshooting.

Team Leadership & Development

Lead, coach, and develop current trainers/facilitators. Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and high performance within the team.

Facilitation

Design and facilitate high-impact engagement sessions that promote Harambee's values, inclusive culture, and way of working. Lead workshops, group discussions, and organizational interventions to support change management, wellness, and systems transformation. Apply expert facilitation skills to guide effective group processes, encourage active participation, and foster collaboration across diverse teams. Ensure all sessions are engaging, outcomes-driven, and aligned with Harambee's strategic objectives. Gather and analyze feedback from participants to continuously improve the quality and impact of facilitation efforts.

General

Ensure compliance with employment laws and Harambee policies. Perform other duties as required to deliver results and support Harambee priorities.

What We're Looking For

Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, or a related field. At least 5 years' HR experience, with 3+ years focused on employee engagement and facilitation. Proven track record in leading engagement initiatives and managing teams. Strong knowledge of HRIS or employee engagement platforms. Exceptional communication, leadership, and partnership-building skills. A passion for positive change, innovation, and youth empowerment.

People with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Why Join Us?

At Harambee, you'll be part of a purpose-driven team dedicated to solving youth unemployment through powerful partnerships. We're not your typical organization--we're driven by integrity, results, and a passion for making a real difference in South Africa's future.

Impactful Work:

Every day, your efforts will contribute to meaningful change, helping us tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our generation.

High Engagement:

We believe in the power of people. Our culture is built on trust, open communication, and a shared commitment to continuous improvement.

Collaborative Environment:

You'll work alongside fantastic colleagues and partners--including The Presidency of South Africa, Business Unity South Africa, and Youth Employment Service (YES)--who share your passion for impact and innovation.

Amazing Culture:

At Harambee, we celebrate diversity, champion inclusion, and foster a flexible, supportive environment where everyone can thrive.

Fantastic People & Partners:

Join a team of dedicated professionals and visionary partners who are as committed to your growth as they are to our mission.

If you thrive in a fast-paced, change-ready environment and want to be part of a team that's changing the world, we invite you to join us and make a real impact together.