People Lead (6-Month FTC - Maternity Cover)

About Playlink

We are an innovative iGaming company offering a comprehensive suite of crypto-focused products, including sportsbook and casino experiences. By combining cutting-edge technology with a deep understanding of the crypto space, we aim to revolutionise the betting and gaming experience for a global audience.

Our mission is to create the most effortless and accessible betting and gaming entertainment experience, delivering innovation and personalisation at every touchpoint.

Our vision is to become a leading player in the betting industry by combining seamless user experiences with groundbreaking personalisation and community-driven engagement.

Whether it’s through competitive sportsbook offerings or immersive casino gameplay, we are dedicated to creating a unique and engaging platform. Join us in shaping the future of crypto iGaming.

The Company

We are an innovative, fast-growing, remote-first global startup operating at the intersection of iGaming, casino, and crypto. Our team of 50 is dotted across the globe, working asynchronously to build the future of our industry.

As an early-stage startup, we operate with agility and high momentum. The foundational People processes are established and fully operational — we are now seeking someone to maintain and manage these structures, whilst proactively identifying and designing opportunities for continuous optimisation.

The Role

We are looking for an experienced People Lead to join us on a 6-month fixed-term contract (with potential for extension) for maternity leave cover.

This is a standalone HR position, meaning you will have full ownership of our People function. You won’t just be maintaining the current operations — you will be leading our remote culture, managing our global operations and compliance, and act as a trusted partner to our Founders. We need someone who deeply understands the founder mentality, can navigate wearing multiple hats with ease, and excels at operating cross-functionally in a lean, rapid startup environment.

Responsibilities

• Standalone Function Management - run the day-to-day People operations fully autonomously, serving as the sole point of contact for our global workforce.

• End-to-End Employee Lifecycle - partner closely with managers to run the full employee lifecycle — including recruitment, onboarding, offboarding, performance management, development, employee relations, organisational design, reward / remuneration, and policy writing and implementation.

• Global Payroll & EOR Management - manage our global workforce operations utilising Deel, ensuring seamless onboarding, offboarding, regulatory compliance, and monthly contractor/EOR management.

• People Operations & Systems - maintain and elevate our internal tech stack. Design and implement efficient remote workflows utilising platforms such as Notion, Miro, and Slack, establishing automated integrations to minimise manual overhead.

• Data Analysis - analyse HR data and metrics to identify trends, opportunities, and risks — translating these insights into clear actionable recommendations.

• Process Maintenance & Innovation - ensure the continuity of existing foundational People processes while proactively introducing scalable, sophisticated methodologies to enhance corporate culture, operational efficiency, and employee engagement.

• Founder Partnership - partner closely with the founders to align People initiatives with broader commercial objectives, serving as a strategic sounding board within a high-growth startup environment.

• Employee Relations & Engagement - support our global team across multiple timezones, managing employee lifecycle events, and navigating multiple communication styles effectively.

Required Experience & Skills

• Startup Experience - a proven track record within early-stage or scaling startups. Candidates must demonstrate resourcefulness, resilience, and the ability to establish order in an ambiguous, fast-paced environment.

• Standalone Capability - must be comfortable working as a team of one.

• Remote Management - experience working remotely and managing People operations for a global workforce.

• Deel & EOR Experience - must have practical, hands-on experience managing global teams and compliance. Experience and knowledge of working with Deel is required.

• Systems & Operations - proficiency in HR tech. Experience building or restructuring workspaces in Notion, mapping workflows and talent mapping in Miro, and deploying Slack integrations / automations is highly valued.

• Stakeholder Management - Exceptional emotional intelligence and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with founders.

Must be available to start in July/August 2026 — please ensure alignment with this timeline ahead of applying.