At Pula, we are radically restructuring agricultural insurance, using technology to insure the previously unbanked, uninsured, untapped market of 1.5 billion smallholders worldwide. We work in eight countries across Africa and Asia, providing insurance cover to hundreds of thousands of farmers. We are seeking a Head of People & Culture to lead our HR transformation.
Your Mission
You will lead the transformation of Pula’s People & Culture function into a data-driven, high-impact powerhouse that fuels our business growth. Your leadership will ensure that our talent acquisition strategy is proactive and forward-looking, our performance management system is transparent and effective, and our learning & development initiatives prepare our employees for the future.
Key Responsibilities
Culture & Employee Experience
- Partner with senior leadership to define and implement culture programs that enhance team collaboration, engagement, and motivation.
- Lead initiatives that foster inclusivity and create a workplace where employees feel valued and inspired to perform at their best.
- Drive innovative internal culture activities, such as ‘Lunch & Learn’ sessions, and develop new engagement programs.
- Own employee feedback mechanisms, ensuring data-driven improvements to enhance workplace satisfaction and productivity.
Performance Management & Talent Development
- Overhaul and optimize the performance management system to ensure clear, measurable goals aligned with company objectives.
- Establish a transparent meritocracy, where high performance is recognized, and underperformance is addressed constructively.
- Develop and implement succession planning strategies to strengthen Pula’s leadership pipeline.
- Design and roll out cutting-edge Learning & Development (L&D) programs to upskill employees at all levels.
Talent Acquisition
- Build and lead a best-in-class recruitment function, ensuring Pula attracts top global talent across multiple geographies, with a focus on enterprise sales teams.
- Define Pula’s Employer Value Proposition (EVP) to position us as a top employer in a competitive talent market.
- Develop strategic partnerships and talent pipelines to proactively identify and engage high-potential candidates.
- Deliver an engaging, seamless onboarding experience, ensuring new hires feel connected to our mission and set up for success from day one.
Learning & Development
- Establish and manage the Pula Academy and L&D programs at all levels.
- Identify and manage a list of company-approved training providers to ensure quality programs are delivered to employees within a predetermined and acceptable cost framework.
HR and Compliance Excellence
- Ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations across all markets where Pula operates.
- Maintain accurate records and drive operational excellence in all people-related processes.
- Implement policies and frameworks that reinforce a culture of accountability, integrity, and performance.
Requirements
- 12+ years of proven leadership in People & Culture, HR, or Talent roles, with a strong understanding of culture-building, performance management, and recruitment best practices.
- BA/BSc/HND degree qualification.
- Experience in fast-paced, high-growth companies, preferably in the startup or fintech/insuretech space.
- Strong background in enterprise sales talent acquisition, with a deep understanding of hiring and driving productivity in sales teams (preferred).
- Proven ability to build human capital systems from scratch, from recruitment to performance management.
- High comfort level with technology and data-driven decision-making, including Google Suite, CRM tools, and task management systems (e.g., Asana, Slack, Jira, Metabase, KOAN).
Personal Attributes
- Hands-on leader who connects the dots and drives results.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to influence and inspire.
- High-energy, assertive, persuasive, and a problem solver who thrives in ambiguity.
- Transparent, team-oriented leader capable of building trust and collaboration.
How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should apply via the Pula recruitment portal on BambooHR. Click the link provided in the application section to submit your details.
