Job Description

About Us:
VALR is Africa's largest crypto exchange by trade volume, founded in 2018 and headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa. Serving over 1 million users globally, including 1,100 corporate and institutional clients, we're licensed by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in South Africa, with additional approvals to offer services in Europe and initial approval from Dubai's VARA.
VALR distinguishes itself with a customer-first philosophy, delivering secure, transparent, and innovative solutions for both professional and retail traders.
Our Vision:
Our vision is to create a world where finance unites rather than divides. Our name, derived from the word "valour" without distinction between American and British English, symbolises our commitment to universal values of courage, ethical integrity, and the intrinsic worth of every human being. These values drive us to design a platform that breaks down financial barriers, making it as seamless to send value across borders as it is to send an email.
Our Mission:
At our core, we're a values-driven exchange, dedicated to building a financial ecosystem that serves all of humanity. We believe in simplifying the complex world of crypto and blockchain to make it accessible to everyone, bridging the gap between traditional finance and the blockchain-powered future.
We're dedicated to:
Serving all Humanity: Inspired by the adage "it is expensive to be poor," we're committed to creating a financial ecosystem accessible to all, challenging the status quo and reducing the frictions of outdated systems.
Promoting for Unity: Our platform reflects our belief in a socio-financial evolution. We envision a future where the global community is not defined by national boundaries but united by a shared vision of justice and prosperity.
Job Requirements

• Proven experience leading HR strategy and people leadership in a scaling, fast-moving organisation; remote-first and multi-country exposure preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, including full ownership of performance management, disciplinaries, and employee relations.
• Strong capability in organisational development, org design, workforce planning, and leadership enablement.
• End-to-end recruitment ownership experience at senior level, including role scoping with leaders, JD drafting/approval, correct levelling and salary-range confirmation, and pipeline oversight.
• Experience driving culture/engagement programs and interpreting engagement survey results into action.
• Comfortable presenting People insights and recommendations at Exco/Board level.
• Strategic thinking with a practical execution focus.
• Sound judgement and consistency in complex people matters.
• Strong coaching and influence skills with senior leaders.
• Governance mindset without adding unnecessary bureaucracy.
• Organised, decisive and able to manage multiple priorities under pressure.
• Strong people-leadership capability to develop and guide an HR team.

Job Responsibilities

• Own and drive VALR's people strategy and annual HR priorities, ensuring alignment with business direction and scaling needs.
• Lead company-wide performance management standards and continuous feedback practices; coach HoDs and managers to run meaningful 1:1s, development conversations, and fair performance decisions.
• Set and drive company-wide performance management standards, including continuous feedback practices and manager capability in meaningful 1:1s, feedback and development discussions.
• Take accountability for employee relations, including disciplinary actions, misconduct, investigations, grievances, and poor-performance cases, ensuring consistent, legally sound processes aligned with internal legal requirements.
• Define and embed learning, development and career progression practices, ensuring consistent application of levels, progression, and internal mobility across departments.
• Lead organisational design and development work with the CEO and HoDs, including workforce planning, role clarity, structure reviews and succession considerations.
• Own recruitment end-to-end, including recruitment strategy, pipeline delivery, and early alignment with leaders on role need, scope, level and salary range.
• Manage recruitment vendors and agencies, including selecting partners, negotiating terms, monitoring performance, and controlling recruitment-related expenses.
• Own benefits governance and employee communications, ensuring HR team execution with providers is accurate and that final confirmed data is shared with HR Ops for payroll and HRIS updates.
• Lead the full Employment Equity process, including EE committee management, quarterly reviews, report compilation using HR Ops source data, approval flow and compliant submission.
• Own HR documentation and standards (policies, SOPs, templates, HR Wiki, country annexures), keeping content current, usable and compliant.
• Lead, coach and develop the HR team, balancing portfolio load across TA/HR Ops Specialists, ensuring strong delivery, early risk escalation and consistent HR support.
• Work closely with the Payroll & HR Operations Lead to ensure People decisions are operationally workable, payroll-accurate and correctly enabled in the HRIS.

Job Benefits
Innovative Work Environment
Engage with the latest blockchain technologies and tools in a rapidly evolving industry.
Work from anywhere with secure, stable internet connectivity, allowing you to create your ideal workspace.
Career Development
Benefit from an annual professional development allowance alongside scheduled company training sessions to keep you at the forefront of the crypto industry.
Competitive Compensation
Competitive salaries that align with industry standards.
When you contribute to our success, you'll be rewarded with discretionary bonuses, recognising your impact on VALR's growth.
Receive preferential Tier 5 trading fees on VALR, with no monthly trading volume required.
Diversity and Inclusion
A commitment to fostering a diverse workforce with initiatives that promote equity and belonging.
Wellness
Employees are encouraged to strive for coherent and wholesome lives, fulfilling their work, personal, social, physical and spiritual goals to the best of their abilities.
Compliance with statutory leave required by individual countries, in addition to flexible leave options.
Impact and Contribution
At VALR, we believe in a financial system that recognises the oneness of humanity. Our mission is to break down financial barriers and promote universal values of courage, ethical integrity, and the intrinsic worth of every individual.
Engage in initiatives that promote education and awareness about cryptocurrencies, ensuring that everyone has the tools and knowledge to participate in the evolving financial landscape.
Dynamic Team Culture
Open communication and teamwork across departments, fostering innovation and creativity.
Enjoy social gatherings outside of work to strengthen team bonds and boost morale.
Global Exposure
Work with colleagues from around the world.
Exposure to diverse perspectives and practices in the crypto space.
Recognition and Rewards
Regular acknowledgement of employee accomplishments, fostering a culture of appreciation and motivation.
Join us for retreats that blend professional development with team bonding in inspiring locations.
Tools for Success
Receive a Mac laptop and a discretionary allowance to purchase all the extras needed for a productive home office--yours to keep after three years (terms and conditions apply).

Skills Required