People Manager

Sonata One; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 500 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

Sonata One, a rapidly scaling fintech company, seeks an experienced HR Manager to lead their South African team. This role focuses on fostering an inclusive workplace culture, driving employee engagement, and ensuring compliance with local labor laws. The ideal candidate will have substantial HR experience and a passion for culture transformation.

Benefits

Competitive compensation package

Comprehensive health benefits

Opportunities for professional growth and career advancement

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5+ years of experience in HR, with at least 2 years in a leadership/managerial role.
• Strong knowledge of South African labour laws and HR compliance.
• Experience in culture transformation and DEIB strategies.

Responsibilities

• Drive cultural transformation and implement DEIB strategies.
• Ensure compliance with South African labour laws and employment equity regulations.
• Develop and implement employee engagement strategies.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Communication

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business Administration, or a related field

Tools

HRIS

Job description

Sonata One is a rapidly scaling, regulated fund services and technology (fintech) business. We're The Private Funds Clearinghouse, connecting more than 53,000 investors with 6,500 funds and 180 fund managers around the globe. Our vision is to change the paradigm of private markets investing through harmonising the end-to-end investment process within one platform. Investors benefitfrom a seamless, one & done experience across the fund lifecycle (from fund selection and subscription through to settlement and reporting) underpinned by a globally compliant KYC passport and 24/7 support. Fund managers can raise capital faster at a lower cost from a wider pool of pre-approved investors. Founded in 2015, Sonata One has a presence in eight locations worldwide including the US, UKand Luxembourg, Guernsey, South Africa and Mauritius.

We operate as #OneGlobalThread in line with our values: We challenge the norm, we change the way we think and work, by connecting systems and people, while committing to our vision and each other. We are now looking to recruit an experienced HR Manager to join our global team.

Position Overview:

We are looking for a People Manager to lead and support our South African team in a high-growth FinTech environment. This role will focus on fostering a dynamic, inclusive workplace culture while driving employee engagement, process improvements, and employer equity. You will play a key role in culture transformation, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives, and strategic HR projects that align with business goals. As a People Manager, you will ensure compliance with South African labour laws while championing a people-first approach that supports both organizational success and employee well-being

Responsibilities:

Culture Change & DEIB

• Drive cultural transformation by embedding company values and ensuring an inclusive workplace.
• Lead and implement DEIB strategies, fostering a culture of equity, belonging, and psychological safety.
• Collaborate with leadership to create initiatives that support diverse talent attraction, retention, and advancement.
• Educate and empower leaders and employees on inclusive leadership and bias mitigation.

Employer Equity & Compliance

• Ensure adherence to South African labour laws, employment equity (EE) regulations, and industry best practices.
• Partner with internal legal, People and compliance teams to develop fair and transparent policies.
• Monitors pay equity and workforce representation, working towards a more equitable workplace.

Employee Engagement & Experience

• Develop and implement engagement strategies to drive motivation, retention, and productivity.
• Manage employee experience programs, including feedback loops, recognition initiatives, and well-being efforts for the South African office.
• Act as a trusted advisor for employees, addressing concerns and ensuring a supportive work environment.
• Use employee surveys and analytics to identify trends and implement improvement plans.

Project Support & Strategic HR Initiatives

• Support and manage People-related projects, including workforce planning, change management, and leadership development.
• Work closely with HRD to align people strategies with business objectives.
• Champion initiatives that enhance employee growth, career progression, and skills development.

People Operations & Employee Experience

• Lead all People-related activities for our South African team, including talent management, compensation, benefits, and workforce planning. Working with the wider Peeple team as needed
• Ensure smooth onboarding and offboarding processes to create a seamless employee experience working alongside the wider People Team.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to employees and managers on HR policies, procedures, and best practices.

Talent Development & Performance Management

• Drive performance management processes, including goal setting, appraisals, and feedback cycles working closely with L and D Manager.
• Develop employee engagement, DEIB and retention initiatives to foster a positive workplace culture.
• Working with L and D manager identify training and development opportunities to support employee growth and career progression to help build journey pathways for our employees and training plans.
• Partner with HRD, and leadership to implement succession planning and talent development strategies.

Employee Relations & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with South African labour laws, employment regulations, and company policies.
• Address and resolve employee relations issues, including grievances, disciplinary actions, and conflict resolution on a timely basis.
• Work with legal and the wider HR team to update Employee Handbook, policies and procedures as needed.

Qualifications:

Essential

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5+ years of experience in HR, with at least 2 years in a leadership/managerial role.
• Strong knowledge of South African labour laws, employment equity (EE) requirements, and HR compliance.
• Experience in culture transformation, DEIB, and employee engagement strategies.
• Proven ability to implement process improvements and enhance HR operational efficiency.
• Strong stakeholder management, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and drive strategic HR initiatives.
• Proficiency in HRIS and data-driven decision-making.

Preferred

• FinTech, tech, or startup experience.
• HR certification (e.g., SABPP, SHRM-CP, PHR).
• Background in implementing employer branding and employee experience initiatives.

Being part of Sonata One provides a collaborative and inclusive work culture that values innovationand diversity. We believe in the power of our unique mission, and we all work together towards that one single goal. We also believe in being real. We’re not a big corporate. Everyone has an important role to fulfil, and your contribution will be an integral part of our success story.

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation package
• Comprehensive health benefits.
• Opportunities for professional growth and career advancement.