Head of People & Culture at Wasoko

Job summary:

We're looking for an exceptional leader who is excited to shape our ongoing efforts to create an innovative and inclusive work culture across East Africa with our rapidly growing team of staff. Your primary goal will be creating a team experience that attracts, retains, and grows the best talent for our company. We are seeking someone who is passionate about people, and inspired by our mission to empower local entrepreneurs and transform informal business across Africa.

Responsibilities:

• Develop comprehensive people strategy covering performance management, talent acquisition, employee engagement, compensation and benefits, retention, training, employee relations, and culture change and embedding initiatives.
• Collaborate with executives and managers to foster a culture of learning and continuous feedback through programs, tools, and experiences.
• Lead and motivate HR teams overseeing people development, talent management, and capability management, setting performance targets and goals.
• Utilize data-driven insights to address employee performance, retention, and engagement proactively.
• Enhance HR expertise through exchanges with central HR functions, external best practice companies, and thought leadership institutions.
• Advise CEO, CHRO and executive team on people-related matters to align talent, processes, and policies with strategic goals.
• Implement scalable solutions and programs to empower leaders and prepare high-potential employees for management roles.
• Build trust across the organization, listening actively and resolving people issues effectively.
• Ensure senior management remains informed about organizational dynamics for proactive decision-making.
• Develop a high-performing People team through effective management and development of HR talent.
• Ensure proper corporate governance is followed in all HR processes and services
• Offer expert guidance on policies and practices to enhance organizational effectiveness within HR domains.
• Drive transformation projects to improve organization, team, and individual effectiveness, challenging the status quo.
• Participate in leadership meetings, governance processes and serve as a business partner to the CEO and the Executive Committee members.

Requirements:

• 8+ years of leadership experience in People/HR roles, preferably with recent experience in expanding and managing People Operations within a high-growth startup.
• Bachelor's degree is required; a Master’s degree or related certifications are advantageous.
• Proficiency in supporting both salary and hourly workforces, including creating relevant and effective employee review processes and feedback loops.
• Demonstrated project management skills with a track record of designing and implementing people strategies that drive tangible business outcomes.
• Ability to coach and mentor, foster relationships and effectively support a diverse workforce in achieving developmental goals.
• Strong communication skills, capable of providing strategic insights and constructive feedback.
• Expertise in employment law, compensation, benefits, organizational development, employee relations, and training.
• Capacity to comprehend complex business challenges, navigate ambiguity, and lead through change.
• Positive attitude, proactive approach, and willingness to take initiative.
• Strategic and innovative mindset with a focus on operational excellence.
• Well-developed leadership, communication, team-building, and influencing abilities, coupled with unwavering integrity.
• Proven track record of building, developing, and leading high-performing HR teams aligned with business objectives.
• Fluency in English (both spoken and written) with the ability to communicate effectively in a professional setting.
• Bonus points for experience in developing and facilitating employee training programs, prior exposure to fast-paced and decentralized environments, and expertise in supporting organizational scaling efforts.