People Partner (South Africa & Zambia)

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.

Operating across multiple African countries, we're building a business where high performance, accountability and continuous improvement are part of how we work every day. As we continue to grow, we're investing in building People teams that enable our managers, support our employees and create the foundations for long-term success.

The Opportunity

As our South Africa and Zambia operations continue to grow, so does the need for a People function that combines operational excellence with trusted business partnership.

This role is based in Cape Town and supports two markets at different stages of growth, where People plays a critical role in enabling managers, strengthening compliance and building scalable ways of working. Alongside delivering day-to-day HR operations, you'll help establish key People practices for the first time, several of which are being built from the ground up as the business continues to evolve.

Working across South Africa and Zambia means no two days are quite the same. You'll partner with managers on complex employee relations matters, oversee core People operations, own key statutory compliance requirements and continuously look for opportunities to improve how we work.

Reporting to the People Manager – South Africa & Zambia, you'll work closely with Talent Acquisition, People Operations, Finance and colleagues across our international People team spanning South Africa, Nigeria, Malta and Spain.

This is a role for someone who enjoys building trust, solving problems and creating practical solutions that make a genuine difference to both employees and the business.

What You'll Do

Employee Relations & Business Partnering

You'll be the trusted People partner for managers and employees across South Africa and Zambia, providing practical, commercially balanced HR support.

• Manage employee relations matters from consultation through to resolution, including investigations, disciplinary processes, hearings and CCMA referrals
• Coach managers on performance, conduct and employee relations matters, helping build confidence and capability
• Provide pragmatic advice aligned with employment legislation, company policy and business needs
• Support organisational change initiatives while maintaining a positive employee experience
• Build trusted relationships that encourage managers to seek guidance early and address people challenges proactively

HR Operations & Payroll

You'll ensure our core People operations run smoothly while continuously improving the way we work.

• Manage the employee lifecycle across South Africa and Zambia, including onboarding, promotions, transfers and offboarding
• Coordinate monthly payroll inputs, ensuring accuracy and timely submission
• Administer employee benefits and HR documentation
• Maintain accurate, compliant and audit-ready employee records
• Respond to employee queries with professionalism, empathy and efficiency
• Identify opportunities to improve operational processes and reduce friction

Employment Equity, Compliance & Governance

You'll take ownership of our statutory compliance frameworks, several of which are being established in the business for the first time.

• Own Employment Equity activities, including committee establishment, administration and statutory reporting
• Own B-BBEE, Skills Development (WSP/ATR) and COIDA administration
• Prepare documentation for audits, annual submissions and verification processes
• Monitor legislative developments and support ongoing compliance
• Strengthen governance processes and promote HR best practice

Projects & Continuous Improvement

You'll contribute to initiatives that improve how we support our people and our business.

• Identify opportunities to simplify and improve People processes
• Support the rollout of HR initiatives, policies and systems
• Partner with Talent Acquisition to deliver a seamless onboarding experience
• Analyse People data and provide insights that support business decisions
• Contribute to regional and global People projects

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role isn't measured simply by completing HR processes, it's reflected in the confidence managers have in your advice, the trust employees place in the People team and the quality of the foundations you help build.

You'll quickly become a trusted partner to managers across South Africa and Zambia, combining sound judgement with strong execution. You'll confidently navigate employee relations matters, ensure critical People operations run smoothly and help bring structure and consistency as People practices continue to evolve.

Just as importantly, you'll bring curiosity, ownership and a continuous improvement mindset. You'll look beyond the immediate issue, identify opportunities to improve the way we work and build practical solutions that make life easier for managers, employees and the wider People team.

Location

This role is based in Cape Town, with regular on-site presence at our Cape Town office. The Zambia population is supported from South Africa.

Requirements

What You'll Bring

• 4–6 years' experience in an HR Generalist, HR Business Partner or People Partner role.
• Previous experience within a fast-paced, growing organisation where adaptability and ownership were essential.
• Strong knowledge of South African labour legislation and practical experience managing employee relations matters, including CCMA processes.
• Experience supporting payroll administration and broader HR operations.
• Working knowledge of Employment Equity, B-BBEE and Skills Development legislation.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently.
• High levels of integrity, professionalism and discretion.
• A Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Industrial Psychology or a related discipline.

Nice to Have

• SABPP registration.
• Experience supporting multiple African markets.
• Familiarity with Zambian employment legislation.
• COIDA administration experience.
• Experience within technology, digital or gaming businesses.

Who You Are

We're looking for someone who enjoys working close to the business and takes pride in creating practical, people-focused solutions. You'll be naturally collaborative, comfortable building relationships across different teams and confident working in environments where priorities evolve and no two situations are the same.

You don't wait for perfect processes before taking action. You bring structure where it's needed, exercise sound judgement and remain calm when navigating complexity. You're someone who enjoys solving problems, takes ownership and focuses on finding practical solutions rather than simply escalating issues.

Most importantly, you're a People Partner in the truest sense of the role: someone managers trust, employees feel comfortable approaching and colleagues genuinely enjoy working alongside.

Benefits

• Pension Fund (Liberty Life): Company-supported retirement plan with employer matching contributions.
• Medical Aid (Discovery Health): Company contribution towards your monthly medical cover premiums.
• Comprehensive Group Risk Cover: Includes life insurance, disability income protection, critical illness benefit, and funeral cover for you and eligible dependants, as per scheme rules.
• Performance Bonus: Discretionary bonus aligned with individual impact and overall contribution.
• Employee Wellness Programme (ICAS / October Health): Confidential counselling and holistic support services available to you and your immediate family.
• Annual Leave & Birthday Day Off: 20 working days of annual leave per year, plus one additional paid day off on your birthday.
• Work From Anywhere (10 Days): Up to 10 business days per year to work remotely from a location of your choice.
• Hybrid & Flexible Working: This role follows a hybrid model with 3 days in-office and 2 days remote, structured around team and operational needs. This position is based in Cape Town; candidates must be located there or willing to relocate. Regular in-office attendance on designated days is a core requirement of the role.
• Parking: Complimentary company-supported parking at our office, providing easy access to a prime professional workspace.

*Eligibility for the discretionary bonus depends on the onboarding cycle and start date; employees joining after a certain point in the year may not be eligible for the 2026 cycle.

KingMakers is an equal opportunity employer committed to building diverse and inclusive teams that reflect the communities and markets we serve across Africa. In line with our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, we encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and identities as our commitment to creating an environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. In accordance with our Employment Equity goals, preference may be given to candidates from designated groups, where appropriate.