Interim People Director

KingMakers is a proudly African company shaping the future of sports and iGaming entertainment across the continent. Since 2018, we’ve been building platforms (including BetKing and SuperSportBet) that bring millions of fans closer to the excitement of play through technology, integrity, and innovation. With operations in markets such as South Africa, Nigeria and Zambia, and hubs across Europe, we’re redefining what quality, trust, and entertainment looks like in our industry. Our vision is clear: to be the home where Africa plays. To get there, we hold ourselves to high standards of speed, accountability, collaboration and talent. We believe great companies aren’t built by luck, they are built by great people and strong foundations. About the Role We are hiring an Interim People Director to take ownership of People Operations delivery in one of our most strategic and fast-growing markets. This is a senior, hands-on leadership role designed for someone who brings operational discipline, compliance expertise, and visible leadership. You will be the most senior People leader in South Africa, responsible for delivering workforce support, governance and high-quality employee experience while we strengthen our long-term People structure. This is a 6-month fixed-term role, based in Cape Town under a hybrid working model, with a minimum of three days per week in the office. You will work closely with our Group Chief Executive Officer, Group Chief Legal Officer, and global HR leadership, acting as the operational “glue” that connects compliance, People Operations, employee experience and business execution. You will lead through clarity, trust and example, supporting our People Leadership Team to perform at their best, while ensuring that KingMakers continues to grow within a compliant and well-structured People framework. Key Responsibilities Operational Leadership - People Operations Excellence - Own end-to-end People Operations delivery for South Africa - Improve BAU execution with clear SLAs, workflows, roles & accountability - Clarify and optimise prioritisation across global People Operations - Lead systematic remediation of operational gaps and backlogs - Ensure strong guidance for local People Partners, Talent Partners and People Coordinators supporting frontline managers - Proactively identify operational risks and structural issues before escalation - Build trust and credibility with leaders in Customer Operations & Technology hubs Compliance, Employment Equity & Risk Management - Achieve full compliance with all South African labour and HR requirements - Lead the Employment Equity and BBBEE compliance programmes (reporting, committee, governance, tracking) - Partner with Legal to close existing compliance gaps with urgency - Manage audits, risk assessments and legal-readiness actions - Oversee accurate documentation across personnel files, policies and registers - Ensure compliant handling of IR/ER cases with consistency and due process People Team Leadership & Capability - Act as direct senior leader of the People Leadership Team. - Provide clarity of roles, decision-making and ownership across the function - Develop operational capability of People Partners and Ops specialists - Lead by example with strong presence, accountability and operational discipline - Inspire confidence, motivation and purpose within the team - Set high standards and coach performance, not just manage it - Strengthen ways of working between South Africa and global teams Strategic Planning & Organisational Transition - Partner with Group leadership to design the 2026 People structure - Assess resource needs, spans of control and workload distribution - Create a future-proof operating model focused on speed + experience + compliance Requirements Must-Have Experience - 10+ years in senior HR/People leadership roles - Leading People Ops delivery in fast-moving, agile and high-growth organisations - Strong command of South African labour law & compliance - Managing a frontline workforce (e.g., customer service, operations, etc.) - Guiding and improving HR case management & employee relations - Operating within international/matrix structures - Leading change and stabilisation in periods of organisational transition Leadership Competencies - Bias for action: takes ownership and resolves issues quickly - Strong operational rigour: plans, tracks and closes - Leads by example: sets the rhythm, pace and behaviours for the team - Low ego, high accountability: “no job too small” mindset - Visible and present leader: builds trust through proximity - Calm under pressure: strong judgement in ambiguity - Influential communicator: aligns diverse stakeholders rapidly Nice to Have - Industry experience in digital, technology, igaming, customer operations or B2C - Experience across multiple African markets - HRIS / People Tech exposure (HiBob, ATS, payroll tools) Success Metrics (first 6 months) - Employment Equity and BBBEE compliance delivered - Major operational risks remediated or controlled - BAU SLAs and prioritisation model defined and functioning - Solid governance operating across the People team - Improved process for handling employee complaints and claims - People satisfaction improved (leaders + employees) - 2026 People structure and strategy defined and approve You will thrive here if… - You are driven by high standards — you raise the bar for how People functions operate. - You create structure, clarity and consistency where it’s needed most. - You turn complexity into direction and confident execution. - You lead by example — your presence inspires trust and action at every level. - You take full ownership and move fast— you don’t wait to be told what needs fixing. - You believe employee experience and business performance should elevate each other.