Director People - AME

Job Description

We’re looking for a People Director to act as a trusted advisor to the MD of South Africa and their leadership team. In this high-impact role, you’ll drive the delivery of Sage’s People Strategy while shaping and executing tailored people plans that enable business success. You’ll lead on key strategic initiatives such as organisation design, talent management, and leadership development, collaborating closely with People Business Partners and Centres of Expertise to ensure seamless delivery. As the face of the People Function in South Africa, you’ll play a vital role in shaping culture, driving engagement, and delivering an outstanding colleague experience. This is a fantastic opportunity to influence at the highest levels and make a real difference in a dynamic, purpose-driven business.

This is a hybrid role with 3 days in our Johannesburg office.

What will you be doing?

You will act as a trusted advisor, coach, and partner on all People-related matters. In this pivotal role, you will lead the development and execution of strategic people plans for the region, driving talent management, succession planning, and organisational effectiveness initiatives. You’ll play a key role in shaping and implementing change, including strategic workforce planning and organisational design. Collaborating closely with our Talent Acquisition Centre of Excellence, you’ll lead senior-level recruitment and onboarding. You’ll also partner with CoEs and the wider People Business Partner network to define business needs, influence global initiatives, and ensure effective delivery. As a visible champion of Sage’s People Strategy, you’ll drive cultural alignment, colleague engagement, and regional responsibilities such as disaster recovery planning. This role requires a confident leader who can manage People risk, build strong stakeholder relationships, and enable strategic outcomes through impactful people solutions.

What are we looking for?

We’re looking for an experienced and strategic HR professional who brings deep expertise in partnering with senior leaders in complex, fast-paced environments. You’ll be confident influencing and coaching at the executive level and guiding decisions across the full spectrum of People services. With proven experience in organisation design, talent management, and strategic workforce planning, you’ll develop and deliver people strategies that directly support business goals. You’ll bring strong commercial acumen, translating business performance into impactful people initiatives. As a skilled project and change leader, you’ll thrive in a matrixed, global environment, building trusted relationships across cultures and senior stakeholder groups. You’ll be comfortable navigating ambiguity, communicating with influence, and driving results at pace. A relevant HR qualification is essential, alongside strong communication and relationship-building skills that foster collaboration and alignment across teams. This is a fantastic opportunity to shape people strategy at the heart of business transformation.

What’s in it for you?

• Work away scheme for up to 10 weeks a year
• On-going training and professional development
• Paid 5 days yearly to volunteer through our Sage Foundation
• Flexible work patterns and hybrid working