Chief of People Full Time Job

Chief of People position available in Johannesburg.

The online gaming and sports wagering industry is unlike any other. It is fast-moving, highly regulated, technology-driven, customer-obsessed, and operates around the clock. Success is built on innovation, agility, exceptional talent, and a culture that can adapt as quickly as the market evolves.

An industry-leading online betting and gaming operator is seeking an outstanding Chief of People to join its Executive Leadership Team and help shape the next phase of its growth journey.

This is not a traditional HR leadership role. We are looking for a commercially minded executive who understands the unique dynamics of the betting and gaming sector and has a proven track record of leading people strategies within this highly competitive environment.

The successful candidate will be responsible for building a world-class employee experience, attracting top industry talent, driving organisational performance, and ensuring the business remains an employer of choice within one of the most exciting sectors globally.

If you have successfully led people functions within online betting, sports wagering, casino gaming, fantasy sports, or related digital gaming businesses, this opportunity offers the platform to make a significant impact at executive level.

The Opportunity:

Reporting directly to the CEO, the Chief of People will be responsible for creating and executing a people strategy that supports ambitious growth objectives across multiple business functions.

You will partner closely with senior leadership to develop a high-performance culture capable of thriving within a rapidly evolving gaming and betting landscape while ensuring the business attracts, develops, and retains the industry’s best talent.

This role requires a leader who understands the realities of operating within a regulated betting environment, where technology, customer experience, product innovation, compliance, and operational excellence intersect daily.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership
  • Develop and execute a comprehensive people strategy aligned with the company’s commercial objectives and expansion plans.
  • Act as a strategic advisor to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team on all workforce and organisational matters.
  • Drive organisational effectiveness and workforce planning to support business growth.
  • Lead succession planning and leadership development initiatives across the organisation.
• Talent & Culture
  • Build and strengthen an employer brand that attracts top-tier professionals from the betting, gaming, technology, digital marketing, and customer operations sectors.
  • Create talent acquisition strategies designed to secure the industry’s most sought-after specialists and leaders.
  • Foster a high-performance culture focused on accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  • Champion employee engagement initiatives that support retention and long-term career development.
• Performance & Development
  • Lead performance management frameworks that drive business outcomes and individual growth.
  • Develop learning and development programmes that support leadership capability and future succession requirements.
  • Establish clear career pathways across the organisation.
• Reward & Employee Experience
  • Design and oversee competitive compensation and benefits structures that enable the business to remain competitive within the gaming and betting talent market.
  • Ensure reward strategies effectively support attraction, retention, and performance objectives.
  • Enhance the overall employee experience across all stages of the employee lifecycle.
• Governance & Compliance
  • Ensure full compliance with labour legislation and employment best practices.
  • Support regulatory and governance requirements associated with operating within a highly regulated industry.
  • Establish robust people policies and frameworks that support sustainable growth.

Essential Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources, Business, Psychology, Law, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years’ progressive HR leadership experience.
• At least 5 years operating at Executive, Head of People, HR Director, or Chief People Officer level.
• Current or recent experience within the online betting, sports wagering, sportsbook, casino gaming, or broader gaming sector is essential.
• Proven experience building and leading people strategies within a fast-paced, customer-centric, technology-led environment.
• Strong understanding of the talent landscape across betting, gaming, product, technology, marketing, operations, customer support, and trading functions.
• Demonstrated success leading organisational growth, transformation, and culture-building initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of South African employment legislation and HR best practice.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and executive communication skills.
• Strong commercial acumen and the ability to align people initiatives with business performance.

What We’re Looking For:

• The successful candidate will bring more than HR expertise.
• They will understand the pressures of major sporting events, peak trading periods, customer acquisition cycles, product launches, regulatory demands, and the relentless pace that defines the betting and gaming industry.
• They will be comfortable operating in a data-driven environment, partnering with executive stakeholders, and helping scale an organisation that competes for talent against some of the industry’s most recognised brands.
• Most importantly, they will have a genuine passion for developing people, building exceptional workplace cultures, and creating an environment where high-performing teams can thrive.