Head of People

We are searching for a dedicated and visionary Head of People to join our team and champion a culture where everyone feels empowered to thrive. In this pivotal role, you’ll bring our company’s vision to life by nurturing an environment that values each person’s growth, well-being, and potential. You’ll work hand in hand with our leadership team and oversee our HR team to shape a workplace where people feel valued, heard, and inspired. With a focus on ownership, communication, coaching, and influence, you will guide our people strategy, empowering each team member to play a key part in our journey of excellence in the African luxury travel industry.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Alignment & Leadership Synergy

◦ Partner closely with the leadership team to identify cross-functional priorities, ensuring HR initiatives support both immediate needs and long-term business growth.

◦ Establish HR as a strategic bridge that enhances collaboration across departments, creating compounded impact through aligned, cohesive actions.

2. Guiding People Strategy with Heart & Vision
◦ Create and lead an inspiring HR strategy that is deeply aligned with our company’s mission and values, supporting both team and business growth in the luxury travel space.
◦ Collaborate closely with leaders to embed a culture that reflects our dedication to excellence, caring for our people, and delivering extraordinary experiences.
◦ Develop and implement a structured framework that integrates our core behaviours and values into all HR processes, including onboarding, performance reviews, and daily interactions. Ensure that these frameworks encourage alignment with company values and reinforce positive behaviours at all levels.

3. Inspiring Leadership & Growth
◦ Serve as a mentor, coach, and advocate for growth within our team, fostering an environment of mutual respect, support, and continuous learning.
◦ Promote leadership that values active listening, perspective-taking, and humility across all levels. Encourage team members to tackle challenges collaboratively, fostering a supportive and high-performance environment where accountability and mutual respect drive success.
◦ Develop programs that nurture emerging leaders; and encourages professional development whilst celebrating  the unique contributions of every individual.
◦ Establish and guide structured performance review processes that assess individual contributions, foster growth, and reinforce alignment with core behaviors and values, ensuring that feedback is meaningful, actionable, and empowers each team member to reach their potential.

4. Attracting & Retaining Top Talent

◦ Design an inviting talent acquisition approach to attract exceptional individuals who will flourish in our high-touch, luxury travel environment. Individuals who embody empathy, curiosity, and a genuine passion for Africa

◦ Build retention strategies that reinforce a sense of belonging and purpose, showing every team member they are valued and supported in their career journey.

5. Leading Change with Compassion & Clarity
◦ Champion change initiatives that inspire resilience and adaptability, guiding our team through growth with openness and transparency.

◦ Communicate with warmth and integrity, ensuring everyone feels connected, informed, and excited about where we’re heading together.

◦ Develop thoughtful communication strategies that reinforce a culture of active listening, where feedback is valued, and everyone is equipped to adapt confidently to new developments.

6. Creating an Engaging, Vibrant Culture
◦ Foster a culture that is inspiring, inclusive, and reflective of the high standards of luxury travel.
◦ Lead engagement efforts that make work feel meaningful and bring our team closer together with a sense of ownership, pride, and unity.
◦ Develop initiatives that nurture a workplace where people feel truly valued, motivated, and empowered to contribute to our shared success.

Key Competencies:

• Approachable Leadership: Ability to lift up and motivate others, fostering a positive, inclusive environment.
• Strategic Collaboration: Skilled in aligning HR initiatives with broader organisational goals, creating interconnected solutions that drive collective success across teams.
• Empathy & Communication: Strong commitment to open, honest communication that values each person’s voice.
• Coaching & Development: A genuine passion for supporting others’ growth and potential.
• Business & People-Centric Mindset: Strong business acumen combined with a commitment to people-focused initiatives. 
• Ownership & Accountability: Proactively takes responsibility for guiding people strategies that drive long-term success.
• Agility & Pragmatic Decision-Making: A proactive, solutions-oriented approach with the ability to think on their feet. Moves swiftly and logically to address challenges and make impactful, effective decisions.

Qualifications & Experience:
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• Proven oversight and accountability for the HR team and HR functions, ideally within high-touch and rapidly scaling industries.
• Track record of fostering leadership, coaching, and change initiatives with care and respect.
• Dedication to creating a people-centered workplace where everyone can thrive.

Who are we?
Discover Africa Group is a team of innovative, experienced, and ambitious go-getters passionate about sharing Africa’s best with travellers from all around the world. Our company consists of Discover Africa Safaris, which specialises in bespoke luxury safari travel in Southern and East Africa, and Drive South Africa – Africa’s leading online rental car comparison and booking engine.

Whether it’s helping to plan an unforgettable tailor-made African safari or enabling an epic self-drive road trip, our undying mission is to showcase Africa’s unique natural beauty and diverse cultures. We’ve been there and done that so we know exactly what it takes to experience Africa at its finest. We pride ourselves on our excellent customer satisfaction (we’re consistently rated 5 stars) and strive to deliver exceptional experiences for every traveller that entrusts us with their African adventure. We’re friendly, supportive, personal and professional. We understand that we’re not selling a product – we’re in the business of making travellers’ dreams come true.

How to apply: 

We invite you to apply for this exciting role through our career portal.

https://discoverafricagroup.bamboohr.com/hiring/jobs/34