HR Consultant (Maternity cover)

Our Scrums.com Story

At Scrums.com (formerly SovTech), we believe the future of software lies in the talent, innovation, and creativity found on the African continent. For over a decade, we have been pioneering world-class software development for a global audience. We are the leading custom software development company from Africa that, like any great tech company, was founded in a garage. Scrums.com has now grown to more than 350 of the best AI-powered software engineering experts, building world-class platforms for growing businesses across four cities on three continents.

‍Looking ahead, we remain committed to growing Africa's tech ecosystems. Africa is home to the world's youngest population, with over 50% of Africans under the age of 25. Recent estimates indicate there are over 700,000 professional software developers across Africa today. That number is projected to double by 2025. We believe in the future of African tech talent and the impact it will have on scaling global companies.

Accelerating business growth with expert tech talent

Trusted by 400+ companies, Scrums.com helps businesses scale with our cloud-based engineering subscription platform, offering consistent, cost-effective AI-powered experts, teams, and reliable developer analytics. 

Our Culture

Our culture is underpinned by 8 core values. 

Earth’s leading software company from Africa- that's where we're going.

Why Join Us?

Be part of a dynamic, people-first team that’s showcasing and advancing Africa’s tech landscape on the global scale. At Scrums.com, we celebrate your individuality, empower your decision-making, and create meaningful experiences. Together, we’re driving innovation and building  exceptional teams 🚀 Take a look at some of the highlights:

Embrace Our African Talent Footprint, Flexibility, and Autonomy 🌍

• At Scrums.com, we champion an empowered workplace where you shape the culture, influence decisions on tech stacks, and take charge of user testing—all while working from wherever you thrive best across our interconnected Guilds.

• Our distributed teams span South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and other parts of the continent, showcasing the diversity and brilliance of African talent.

The Scrums.com Vibes 💙

• Annual Foos-Fest ⚽️ : Showcase your skills at our legendary Foosball Festival and take home quirky, sought-after awards.

• AI-Powered Hackathons 💻 : Collaborate with your team to create innovative, market-ready products in just 24 hours—all while enjoying live music and family-friendly fun.

• Year-End Celebrations 🏞️ : Reflect and connect at our unforgettable year-end events, a decade-old tradition we continue to cherish.

• Popcorn Fridays, Dev Chats, and Braais🍿 : Bond with colleagues over insightful discussions and sizzling good vibes.

• Fluid Clubs🥾 : Join like-minded peers in activities like hiking, running, and more to foster shared interests beyond work.

• Weekly All-Hands 🙌 : Stay inspired and in the loop with our weekly All-Hands sessions that bring us together as one team.

• Explore Week 🐘 : Our annual tradition encourages you to work from anywhere around the globe for one exciting week—freedom meets inspiration!

Scrums.com Rewards & Recognition 🎉

• Stacos (our company currency) : Reward and recognise your peers with Stacos and exchange them for cool vouchers to celebrate accomplishments big and small.

• Commission Incentives : Unlock attractive rewards for successful business development leads and employee referrals.

Continued Career Growth & Support 🔑

• Internal AI Platforms : We empower our teams with access to both closed and open source LLM’s that make work easier and empower your professional growth. We love AI! 

• High-Performance Culture : Stay aligned and on track with OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) and structured annual reviews.

• Personalized Mentorship : Receive dedicated guidance from leadership and the Talent SuccessTeam through one-on-one sessions and quarterly check-ins tailored to your career aspirations.

Our teams are powered by AI—Transforming How We Work 🤖

• Our teams embrace cutting-edge AI platforms, agents and tools, creating smarter workflows and accelerating career development with AI. 

• OpenAI, Anthropic, Llama - we use them all so choose what suits you best!

• You don’t need your own licenses - we cover the costs and have our own internal AI platforms that gives you access to them all in a secure environment. 

Outstanding Employee Benefits* ➕

• Discovery Medical Aid : Prioritizing your health with the best care.

• Half-Day Birthday Leave : Celebrate your special day with an afternoon off!

• Family responsibility & Parental Benefits : Providing full support for a meaningful work-life balance.

*Please note: Benefits may vary depending on employment type

Join us and be part of a dynamic, supportive team that’s making waves across Africa.

About the Role:

We are seeking an experienced and proactive People Operations Consultant to cover a maternity leave within our People Ops team (6 month contract). This is a unique opportunity not only to keep things running smoothly but also to bring a fresh, strategic perspective into how we operate. We’re looking for someone who can step in, handle all core HR and people functions, and identify improvements that make a lasting impact.

Key Responsibilities:

1. HR Operations Oversight

   1. Take full ownership of HR operations across the company, acting as the primary point of contact for all people-related matters.

   2. Ensure all processes—from onboarding to offboarding—are executed smoothly and compliantly.

   3. Provide guidance and support to managers and team members on HR best practices and queries.

2. Employee Relations & Disciplinary Handling

   1. Manage and resolve employee relations issues sensitively and in line with legal and internal policies.

   2. Handle any disciplinary or grievance matters with professionalism, ensuring fairness and consistency.

   3. Support managers in difficult conversations and performance concerns.

3. Policy Review & Optimisation

   1. Audit all existing HR policies, procedures, and documentation for compliance, clarity, and effectiveness.

   2. Update, streamline, and implement improved versions of policies that align with company values and legal requirements.

   3. Introduce any new policies needed to support a growing, modern workplace.

4. Performance & Review Cycle Management

   1. Set up, launch, and oversee the annual performance review cycle.

   2. Ensure the process is fair, efficient, and aligned with company objectives.

   3. Provide documentation, tools, and guidance to managers and employees.

   4. Sign off on final reviews and outcomes in collaboration with leadership.

5. Payroll & Contractor Payments

   1. Manage monthly payroll processes in collaboration with finance and any external payroll providers, ensuring accuracy and timely payments.

   2. Oversee contractor payments, ensuring invoices are processed and paid correctly and on time.

   3. Maintain accurate records of compensation, benefits, and contract terms.

   4. Work closely with finance and legal teams to ensure compliance and consistency.

6. Strategic Input & Knowledge Sharing

   1. Provide insights and recommendations for long-term improvements in HR systems, tools, and processes.

   2. Share knowledge and expertise with the internal People Ops team to upskill and future-proof our approach.

   3. Identify opportunities to better align people operations with business goals and team needs.

Ideal Experience & Skills:

• Proven experience in a senior HR or People Operations role, ideally in fast-paced or scaling environments.

• Strong working knowledge of payroll processes and contractor management.

• Solid understanding of employment law and HR compliance.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.

• Strong problem-solving skills with a proactive, solution-oriented mindset.

• Experience managing performance cycles and leading policy reviews.

• A passion for people and a continuous improvement approach.

What Success Looks Like:

• HR operations and payroll run smoothly with minimal disruption during the cover period.

• Policies and documentation are up-to-date, compliant, and user-friendly.

• Managers feel supported and confident in handling people matters.

• The performance review process is launched effectively and seen as a valuable tool across the company.

• Contractors and employees are paid on time, with accurate records and clear processes.

• Clear recommendations are made to improve people practices for the long term.