Head of People Enablement and Governance

About the Role

As the Head of People Enablement and Governance, you will oversee critical operational systems and processes globally that maintain organizational compliance, efficiency, and employee satisfaction. This includes management of payroll, benefits, HR systems, compliance adherence, real estate, facilities, travel logistics, and administrative expenses across all locations.

Primary Responsibilities

• Own the global HR information system (HRIS) to ensure it serves as the single, reliable system of record, involving its selection, implementation, customization, and continuous improvement.
• Establish and enforce strict employee data governance policies, ensuring data security, accuracy, and compliance with privacy laws internationally.
• Build and maintain a robust reporting and analytics framework to convert people data into actionable insights for leadership decision-making.
• Supervise end-to-end payroll processing across all markets to guarantee accuracy, timeliness, and adherence to local statutory regulations through your Payroll and Benefits Manager.
• Oversee administration of employee benefits such as life and health insurance, maintaining strong relationships with vendors and brokers, and lead periodic review and optimisation of benefit costs and value.
• Ensure full compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements for the People function in all operating countries, leading internal and external audits and maintaining precise records and policies.
• Manage the real estate portfolio by identifying, negotiating, and managing office leases and rental contracts. Oversee facility operations including maintenance, space planning, physical security, utility services, and vendor contracts to maintain operational and safety standards.
• Direct corporate travel management by establishing travel policies, coordinating arrangements for employee travel, and managing relationships with travel service providers to optimize cost and compliance.
• Administer all administrative expenses with a strong focus on cost efficiency and value, including overseeing vendor contracts and expenditure tracking.
• Lead and develop the People Enablement and Governance team, promoting capability building, streamlining processes, and reinforcing governance to ensure scalable and reliable operations.

Qualifications and Experience

• At least 12 years of leadership experience in HR operations, people infrastructure, or related functions, preferably within multi-country environments.
• Proven expertise managing payroll, benefits, and compliance across multiple countries, with knowledge of African markets highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to implement and optimize people-related systems.
• Experience managing real estate assets, facilities, and office operations.
• Hands-on experience in corporate travel program management including vendor and policy oversight.
• Budget ownership skills with a history of successful vendor, broker, and lease contract management.
• Background in regulated industries, especially within financial services, with preference for experience in institutions regulated by bodies such as the Central Bank of Nigeria.
• Professional certifications in HR, finance, or compliance (e.g., CIPM, SHRM, CIPD) are advantageous.

Essential Competencies and Attributes

• Proactive system and process builder focused on designing improvements rather than only managing existing structures.
• Strong governance mindset with meticulous attention to detail and risk awareness.
• Ability to manage both people-related and operational elements like real estate, facilities, travel, and costs.
• Composure and credibility during audits, regulatory reviews, and time-sensitive situations.
• Excellent communication and partnership skills across People, Finance, and executive leadership, particularly in regulated environments.

Additional Information

The position is based in Lekki, Lagos, and is a full-time role within the People and Culture department. This role reports to the Head of People and Culture and supervises the Payroll and Benefits Manager directly. The function is a strategic control point designed to maintain organizational discipline, structure, and governance in a fast-moving, regulated multi-country context.