People Operations Associate

About Wave

Wave is building financial services that are simple, affordable, and easy to use so that more people across Africa can participate in a cashless economy. The company started by offering mobile money services and has since grown rapidly, serving millions of users across multiple countries.

The wider goal is to help make Africa the first cashless continent by removing the barriers that keep people from accessing and using financial services.

Role Overview

This position is the main people operations and office administration point of contact for the Malawi team. You will help keep the Lilongwe office and upcountry locations running smoothly by coordinating HR processes, administration, events, logistics, and workplace support. The role suits someone who works quickly, is comfortable with data, and enjoys building practical systems that help things run well.

People Operations

• Set up and maintain HR policies, procedures, and admin workflows for Wave Malawi.
• Handle onboarding for new hires and help them settle into the company culture.
• Keep employee records updated, including pay, benefits, insurance, promotions, transfers, performance reviews, and exits.
• Support the processing of work permits when required.
• Act as the main business partner for people-related issues and support.

Office Management and Administration

• Run daily office operations while maintaining a safe, healthy, and well-functioning workplace.
• Build trackers and prepare monthly operational reports.
• Manage the front desk, utilities, security, supplies, equipment, and stock levels.
• Keep the workspace clean and organized and coordinate cleaners.
• Oversee security personnel.
• Follow up on payment of facility-related bills such as electricity, water, and canteen expenses.
• Support other tasks that improve the working environment.

Logistics

• Coordinate local and international travel, including visas, flights, hotels, and car hire.
• Handle fleet, fuel, and driver administration.
• Manage office budgets and purchasing activities.
• Track canteen operations and other vendors.
• Help organize corporate events such as happy hours, retreats, and conferences.

Key Details

This is a permanent full-time position based in Lilongwe, Malawi, with occasional travel to field locations outside the city. Work authorization in Malawi is required. The compensation is competitive and determined through a transparent formula.

Wave provides health insurance for employees and their dependents, 26 weeks of parental leave for mothers, 4 weeks for fathers, subsidized childcare when parents return to work, airtime reimbursement, free meals, and a well-designed office space.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree or professional training in business administration, human resources, or a closely related discipline.
• At least 4 years of experience in a similar role, preferably within a fast-moving international organization.
• Practical experience with Google Suite or Microsoft Office tools.
• Strong ability to stay organized and prioritize effectively.

Success Traits

• Persistent and willing to push through to get things done.
• Calm and effective under pressure or during a crisis.
• Thoughtful about how office spaces and physical environments shape team culture.
• Able to work independently with little supervision.
• Strong at collaborating, communicating, negotiating, and building relationships.
• Professional, accountable, and respectful of internal policies.
• Comfortable with proactive and frequent communication to keep work moving.
• Able to adapt quickly to shifting priorities, complexity, and change.
• Analytical, practical, and detail-focused.
• Experienced in creating and implementing processes with limited direction.
• Solution-oriented with strong follow-through.
• Able to understand priorities and work accordingly.
• Flexible enough to work irregular hours when needed.

Team Environment

The company has growing teams across several African countries and remote employees around the world. It values autonomy, ownership, and end-to-end responsibility, from identifying a problem to monitoring the solution once it is live.

The organization has strong backing from major investors and is recognized among top revenue-generating companies from Y Combinator.

Application Notes

Applicants should submit a resume in English and a cover letter explaining their interest in the company and this role. The employer is an equal opportunity organization and welcomes diversity.