HR Manager

Our client, a market leader in the online iGaming and Sports Betting sector, is building a high-performance operation in Johannesburg and requires a commercially astute HR Manager to take full ownership of the HR function.

This is not a maintenance role. It is a strategic leadership position for an experienced HR professional who understands how to build scalable people infrastructure in a fast-paced, regulated, revenue-driven environment. You will partner directly with senior leadership across Operations, Trading, Marketing, Product and Technology to drive workforce strategy, elevate leadership capability, and embed a culture aligned to commercial growth and regulatory discipline.

If you understand that HR in a betting environment must be data-informed, operationally sharp and legally watertight — this is your seat at the table.

The Mandate

The HR Manager will lead and manage the full HR lifecycle, ensuring that people strategy directly supports business performance, compliance, and sustainable scale. You will be responsible for operational HR delivery, employee relations, performance frameworks, workforce planning and organisational development within a highly regulated online gaming environment.

This role requires commercial maturity, strong ER expertise and the ability to influence leadership in a high-pressure, KPI-driven setting.

HR Leadership & Operational Excellence

• Lead the end-to-end HR function across Operations, Trading, Marketing, Product, Technology and Support teams

• Develop and implement HR frameworks aligned to regulatory requirements and business objectives

• Provide pragmatic, commercially aligned guidance to managers on all people-related matters

• Ensure consistent application of HR policies and best practice

• Oversee HR administration, contracts, systems and documentation to ensure accuracy and compliance

You will build structure without bureaucracy and ensure governance without slowing momentum.

Workforce Planning & Talent Strategy

• Develop workforce plans aligned to growth, including 24/7 and shift-based operational models

• Partner with Talent Acquisition to ensure hiring aligns with business needs and capability gaps

• Lead succession planning, retention strategies and talent mapping initiatives

• Identify critical skills shortages and implement development plans to strengthen internal capability

This environment moves quickly. Workforce agility is non-negotiable.

Performance & Leadership Enablement

• Implement and manage a structured, KPI-aligned performance management framework

• Guide managers in addressing underperformance and recognising top performers

• Provide coaching and practical leadership support across management levels

• Drive leadership development initiatives to strengthen managerial capability

High performance is expected. You will ensure it is measurable, fair and sustainable.

Employee Relations & Regulatory Compliance

• Lead all ER matters including disciplinaries, grievances, incapacity and misconduct cases in line with South African labour law

• Ensure compliance with legislation and gaming-related regulatory obligations

• Provide guidance on rostering, overtime, incentives and operational workforce management

• Proactively mitigate organisational risk through sound governance and ER best practice

This industry is regulated. Precision matters.

Culture, Engagement & Wellbeing

• Embed a culture of accountability, integrity, responsible gaming and commercial focus

• Lead engagement initiatives and convert survey data into actionable improvement plans

• Implement recognition, wellbeing and inclusion programmes suited to a high-performance environment

Culture is not a slogan here. It is a competitive advantage.

Reward, Analytics & Commercial Insight

• Partner with Finance on salary benchmarking, incentive schemes and annual reviews

• Monitor HR metrics including turnover, absenteeism, ER trends and engagement levels

• Provide data-driven people insights to senior leadership to inform strategic decisions

You will use people analytics as a management tool — not a reporting exercise.

Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree in Human Resources, Industrial Psychology, Business or related field (postgraduate qualification advantageous)

• 6–10 years progressive HR experience, including at least 3 years in an HR Manager or Senior HR Generalist capacity

• Experience within iGaming, Sports Betting, Online Gaming, Digital Entertainment or similarly regulated industries preferred

• Strong working knowledge of South African labour legislation and ER processes

• Demonstrated experience leading a full HR function in a fast-paced, growth-driven environment

• Strong stakeholder management, organisational and leadership capability

• Comfortable using HR systems and analytics to inform decision-making

Why This Role Matters

This position sits at the intersection of regulation, performance and scale. The business is growing, the industry is evolving and leadership requires a HR partner who can think commercially, act decisively and build systems that will sustain long-term growth.

If you are looking to step into a strategic HR leadership role where impact is visible and performance is measurable, this opportunity will challenge and reward you in equal measure.

Confidential discussions are welcomed.