People Operations Coordinator

Johannesburg Based | Scale-Up | Full-Time | People Machine | Hiring Manager: Danielle Lifschitz

We’re hiring a People Operations Coordinator to run the operational backbone of Jem’s people function.

At Jem, people operations is not an admin role. It is a core part of how we scale responsibly, keep standards high and build an AI-native company. You will work closely with Dani (People Lead) to run people operations, support hiring execution, manage the Johannesburg office and help build AI-first people systems.

This is a hands-on role with real ownership. You will be expected to run things, not just support them.

⭐️ Your Mission

Keep people operations, hiring support and office operations running smoothly while helping us reduce manual work and move fast using AI and automation.

⭐️ What Success Looks Like

• The Johannesburg office is well run, organised and a place people want to work in.
• Onboarding and employee lifecycle processes are consistent and reliable.
• People data, systems and records are accurate and up to date.
• Hiring pipelines are supported without slowing down delivery.
• Manual people ops work is steadily reduced through AI and automation.
  
  

⭐️ What You’ll Do

People operations

• Own onboarding setup, employee records and people ops administration
• Manage assets, access and employee lifecycle changes
• Handle day-to-day employee queries, policies and benefits support
• Keep all people systems clean, accurate and well maintained

Johannesburg office management

• Take ownership of the JHB office experience
• Manage catering, events, deliveries and office supplies
• Run the storeroom and general office organisation

Hiring and talent support

• Support hiring pipelines and coordination across roles
• Maintain an always-on approach to hiring support
  
• Support interview scheduling and candidate experience

AI-native people machine

• Help build and improve AI-enabled people ops workflows
• Use AI tools to reduce admin, improve quality and increase speed
• Actively look for processes that should be automated or redesigned
  
  

⭐️ You’ll Thrive Here If You

• Are organised, proactive and detail-oriented
• Enjoy owning processes and making things run smoothly
• Are curious about AI and excited by automation and systems
• Like variety and broad exposure rather than a narrow role
• Care deeply about employee and candidate experience
• Are comfortable taking ownership in a fast-moving environment
  
  

⭐️ Requirements

• 2 - 4 years’ experience in People Ops, HR, recruitment or a related role (or a strong internship/graduate background)
• Based in Johannesburg
• Comfortable juggling admin, coordination and stakeholder support
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Confident to manage a workspace and the people within it.
• Tech-comfortable and quick to learn new tools (ATS, HR systems, Notion, Slack, etc.)
  
• Curious about AI and motivated to work in an AI-native environment
  
• Preferably have some start-up experience. 

⭐️ What You Can Expect From Us

• Hybrid work environment with an expectation of coming in 4 days a week. 
• Competitive salary (R20,000 - R30,000 per month, depending on experience and fit)
• Strong benefits (lunch provided 4 times a week, medical aid contribution, retirement annuity contribution, etc.)
• 22 days annual leave
  
• We respond to all applications. You can expect feedback on your application, even if we decide not to move forward.
  
  

This role is central to how Jem scales and how people experience the company every day.

If you want a practical, high-ownership people ops role and are excited by building AI-native systems, we would love to hear from you.