Sasol Learnership Programme 2025 for unemployed youth

Sasol’s Graduate Trainee II in Learning Assurance and Vendor Management

Sandton, South Africa – For ambitious graduates seeking a robust entry point into a global energy and chemicals powerhouse, Sasol’s Learnership Programme offers an exceptional pathway. Among its sought-after roles, the Graduate Trainee II: Learning Assurance and Vendor Management stands out as a unique blend of strategic oversight, operational excellence, and human capital development. This position, based in Sandton, South Africa, represents more than just a job; it’s an immersive experience designed to cultivate future leaders within a company celebrating 70 years of innovation and impact.

Sasol: A Legacy of Innovation and People-Centric Growth

Before delving into the specifics of the role, it’s crucial to understand the foundation upon which it’s built: Sasol itself. With a rich 70-year heritage, Sasol has evolved into a global integrated chemicals and energy company. Their success is intrinsically linked to their talented people, whose expertise and selected technologies drive the safe and sustainable sourcing, manufacturing, and marketing of diverse chemical and energy products worldwide. This commitment to its workforce is evident in Sasol’s stated purpose: “Innovating for a better world,” and their dedication to investing in employees at every career stage. Joining Team Sasol means stepping into an environment that truly puts people at the center of everything they do, fostering a culture that embraces diversity and inclusion.

The Mandate of Learning Assurance and Vendor Management

The Graduate Trainee II role sits within the HCA: Group Rewards & Human Capital Solutions OME, indicating its critical function in supporting Sasol’s human capital strategy. The position is a Fixed Term Contract, signifying a structured development journey. Its core objective is multi-faceted, revolving around the efficient and compliant execution of Sasol’s learning and development initiatives, particularly those related to Skills Development under the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) framework.

B-BBEE: Driving Inclusivity Through Skills Development

A significant pillar of this role is its contribution to Sasol’s B-BBEE monitoring, specifically in the area of Skills Development. In the South African context, B-BBEE is a governmental policy designed to advance economic transformation and enhance the economic participation of black people in the South African economy. Skills Development is a crucial element of this framework, requiring companies to invest in the training and upskilling of historically disadvantaged individuals.

The Graduate Trainee II will be instrumental in:

B-BBEE quarterly audits: This involves meticulous preparation and submission of documentation to demonstrate Sasol’s compliance with B-BBEE codes, ensuring that all skills development initiatives are correctly recorded and validated.
Skills Development spend audits: Beyond just reporting, the role demands a keen eye for detail in auditing the financial expenditure related to skills development. This ensures that investments are made effectively and meet the criteria for B-BBEE recognition, ultimately contributing to Sasol’s overall B-BBEE score and its commitment to national transformation.

The Art of Contract and Vendor Management

Beyond compliance, the role dives deep into the operational intricacies of Contract Management and Vendor Management. Sasol, like any large enterprise, relies on a vast network of external service providers for its learning and development programs, particularly for non-technical learnerships. This is where the Graduate Trainee’s organizational prowess comes to the fore.

Key responsibilities in this domain include:

Contract Management: Ensuring that all agreements with learning service providers are meticulously managed, from drafting and negotiation to renewal and termination. This requires a strong understanding of contractual terms, service level agreements (SLAs), and legal compliance.
Vendor Management: This is a continuous process of nurturing relationships with external partners. The trainee will be tasked with monitoring service provider performance, ensuring that they deliver on their commitments, meet quality standards, and align with Sasol’s strategic objectives. This isn’t just about oversight; it’s about fostering collaborative relationships that yield optimal results.
Monthly engagements with internal stakeholders: Effective vendor management isn’t isolated. The Graduate Trainee will act as a crucial link between external providers and internal departments, gathering feedback, addressing concerns, and ensuring that the services provided meet the evolving needs of Sasol’s employees.
Monthly meetings with learnership service providers: These regular interactions are vital for performance monitoring, addressing challenges proactively, and identifying opportunities for improvement. The ability to provide a clear performance report per service provider will be a key output.
Assisting in managing the programmes: This implies active participation in the lifecycle of various learnership initiatives, from initial planning to execution and evaluation.

Driving Learnership Excellence: Strategy and Operations

The role also carries significant responsibility for the non-technical learnerships themselves, which are crucial for developing a diverse and skilled workforce across various functions. This involves a blend of strategic thinking and hands-on administration:

Develop strategic plans: Contributing to the overarching strategy for learnership programs, aligning them with Sasol’s business objectives and human capital needs.
Develop and implement goals and objectives for the team/department: Translating strategic plans into actionable goals and ensuring their effective execution.
Ensuring learner registration and compliance with different SETAs: This is a highly administrative yet critical function. Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) are pivotal in regulating learnerships in South Africa. The trainee will ensure that all learners are correctly registered, their programs comply with SETA requirements, and grants are secured where applicable.
Monitoring employee performance and providing feedback: While not directly managing learners, the role involves monitoring their progress within the learnership framework and facilitating feedback loops to ensure their successful completion and development.
Ensures that employees meet their goals and maintain a healthy work culture: This speaks to the broader impact of the learnership programs on employee development and engagement, contributing to a positive and productive work environment.

The Ideal Candidate: Skills and Experience

Sasol seeks a candidate who brings a unique blend of foundational knowledge and crucial behavioral competencies.

Minimum Experience and Education

The role requires 2-3 years of experience in areas directly relevant to its core functions:

B-BBEE Skills Management: Demonstrating practical experience in navigating and implementing B-BBEE skills development requirements.
Vendor Management: Proven ability to manage relationships with external suppliers, monitor performance, and ensure service delivery.
Contract Management: Experience in handling contracts, understanding legal implications, and ensuring compliance.
Supply Chain Management: While not exclusively a supply chain role, experience in this domain provides a valuable understanding of procurement processes, vendor relationships, and operational efficiency, which are highly transferable skills.

In terms of Formal Education, a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, HR, or a relevant field is a prerequisite. An Honours degree will be an advantage, signifying a deeper academic foundation and potentially a higher level of analytical and research capabilities. This combination of academic rigor and practical experience is key to success in this multifaceted role.

Behavioural and Technical Competencies: The Sasol Standard

Sasol places significant emphasis on behavioural competencies (BC) alongside technical competencies (TC), recognizing that a well-rounded individual is essential for driving success. The ideal candidate for this Graduate Trainee position will demonstrate:

Skills-building: A proactive approach to personal and professional development, continually seeking to acquire new knowledge and refine existing abilities.
Problem-solving and Conflict resolution: The capacity to identify issues, analyze root causes, and implement effective solutions, as well as navigate disagreements constructively.
Team Leadership and Team building: While a trainee role, demonstrating the potential for leadership and the ability to foster collaborative environments.
Communication and Empathy: Clear, concise, and persuasive communication skills, coupled with the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, crucial for stakeholder engagement.
Presentation Delivery: The ability to articulate complex information effectively to various audiences, from internal teams to external service providers.
Planning and Creativity: Meticulous planning capabilities combined with innovative thinking to develop effective strategies and solutions.
Active Listening Skill: The capacity to fully concentrate on what others are saying, understand their message, comprehend the information, and respond thoughtfully.
Goal Setting Techniques: Proficiency in setting realistic, measurable, and achievable goals, both for themselves and for programs they manage.
Flexibility and Adaptability: The ability to thrive in a dynamic environment, adjusting to changing priorities and embracing new challenges.
Emotional Intelligence: Self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills – critical for effective collaboration and leadership.
Accountability and Motivation: Taking ownership of responsibilities and demonstrating a strong drive to achieve objectives and contribute positively.

These competencies are not just buzzwords; they are the bedrock upon which Sasol builds its high-performance teams and ensures sustainable growth.

Sasol’s Commitment to Employment Equity

Sasol’s commitment to equal opportunity and affirmative action is explicitly stated and deeply integrated into its hiring philosophy. Inspired by their purpose of “Innovating for a better world,” Sasol acknowledges that diversity is intrinsic to the fabric of their organization and is the key to their growth and success. This isn’t merely a compliance statement; it’s a strategic imperative.

The company is committed to the full inclusion of all suitably qualified individuals. Furthermore, preference will be given to applicants from designated groups and people with disabilities according to Sasol’s Employment Equity Plan. This includes providing reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. This demonstrates a genuine dedication to creating an inclusive workforce that reflects the rich diversity of South Africa.

Application Process and Future Aspirations

The application process at Sasol is designed for efficiency, leveraging an automated process to efficiently assess a large volume of applications. While this streamlines the initial screening, it also means candidates should ensure their applications are meticulously prepared and accurately reflect their qualifications and experience. Sasol advises applicants to consider their application unsuccessful if they do not hear back within 60 days of the advert closing date (June 3, 2025).

However, a lack of immediate feedback should not deter aspiring professionals. Sasol encourages continued interest in their career opportunities, recognizing that the right fit may present itself in future roles. Their concluding message, “Thank you once-more for your interest in Sasol as your employer of choice, and we wish you all the best with your career aspirations and future applications with us,” underscores their enduring commitment to talent acquisition and development.

A Gateway to a Rewarding Career

The Sasol Learnership Programme Graduate Trainee II: Learning Assurance and Vendor Management role is far more than an administrative position. It is a strategic entry point into a global enterprise, offering exposure to critical business functions, human capital development, and the intricate world of B-BBEE compliance. For a young professional with 2-3 years of experience in the relevant fields and a strong academic foundation, coupled with a well-developed set of behavioral competencies, this role presents an unparalleled opportunity to contribute meaningfully to Sasol’s success while simultaneously cultivating a dynamic and rewarding career path. It’s a chance to be part of a company that not only innovates for a better world but also invests in its people to make that world a reality.

I hope this extensive article provides a thorough and engaging overview of the Sasol Learnership Programme Graduate Trainee II role. Would you like to explore any specific aspect of this role or Sasol in more detail?