Whot Studios Limited is a fast-growing Nigerian gaming and digital studio building products at the intersection of entertainment, technology, and financial empowerment. Our flagship product, Whot Africa, is a competitive mobile card game where players can win real cash rewards, bringing Africa's most beloved card game into the digital age. We are also building Propventure, a proptech platform, and Cash.IO, a fintech-integrated gaming product.
We are a lean, ambitious team moving fast and building for the continent. This is not a slow-moving corporate environment, we are a startup with big vision, high standards, and a culture that rewards ownership, initiative, and excellence.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: HR Manager
Location: Abuja (FCT)
Employment Type: Full-time (Hybrid)
Department: Human Resources
Reports To: CEO
The Opportunity
- We are looking for an experienced Human Resources Manager to build and lead the people function at Whot Studios from the ground up.
- This is a foundational role, you will not be inheriting a fully built HR department.
- You will be designing one. From policies and processes to team culture and compliance, you will own everything related to how we attract, manage, develop, and retain our people.
- The right person for this role has done this before.
- They have walked into a growing startup where people management was informal and chaotic, and they turned it into something structured, professional, and functional, without killing the culture in the process.
- They are as comfortable drafting an HR policy as they are having a difficult conversation with a team member.
Key Responsibilities
HR Systems & Structure:
- Design and implement the company's HR framework from scratch — policies, processes, and systems that scale with the business
- Establish clear reporting lines, org structure, and escalation paths so that routine people matters are handled through proper channels
- Develop and maintain the Employee Handbook covering all HR policies, code of conduct, leave, disciplinary procedures, and benefits
- Implement and manage HR tools for attendance tracking, performance management, and employee records
- Build an onboarding process that sets every new hire up for success from day one.
Recruitment & Talent Acquisition:
- Own the end-to-end recruitment process — job descriptions, sourcing, screening, interviewing, and offer management
- Build talent pipelines for critical roles in tech, gaming, marketing, and operations
- Ensure all hiring decisions are documented, compliant, and aligned with the company's values and culture
- Manage relationships with recruitment agencies and sourcing platforms where relevant.
Performance Management
- Design and implement a performance review system with clear KPIs and OKRs for every role
- Support managers in having effective performance conversations and managing underperformance
- Develop a clear framework for promotions, salary reviews, and career progression
- Monitor team performance data and provide insights to the CEO and leadership
Employee Relations & Culture:
- Serve as the first point of contact for all employee concerns, grievances, and disciplinary matters
- Build a culture of accountability, professionalism, and transparency across the team
- Manage staff welfare initiatives including health insurance, leave administration, and team engagement
- Handle sensitive HR matters with discretion and professionalism.
Compliance & Legal:
- Ensure full compliance with Nigerian Labour Law, PAYE, NHIS, pension (PFA), and NSITF requirements
- Maintain accurate and up to date employment contracts, offer letters, and HR documentation
- Coordinate with finance on payroll processing, statutory remittances, and tax compliance
- Manage the company's NDPR (data protection) obligations as they relate to employee data
Requirements
Essential:
- 3 - 5 years of HR experience with at least 2 years in a standalone or senior HR role
- Proven experience building HR systems and processes in a startup or fast-growing company
- Strong knowledge of Nigerian Labour Law, statutory compliance, and employment regulations
- Experience with full-cycle recruitment across technical and non-technical roles
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills — able to engage credibly at all levels
- High level of discretion and professionalism in handling sensitive and confidential matters
- Proficiency in Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and HR management tools
- Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
Desirable:
- Experience in a tech, gaming, or digital media company
- CIPM certification or equivalent HR professional qualification
- Familiarity with performance management frameworks (OKRs, KPIs)
- Experience with HRIS platforms (e.g. BambooHR, Zoho People, or similar).
Who You Are:
- You are someone who believes that great HR is not about bureaucracy.
- It is about building an environment where talented people can do their best work.
- You are structured without being rigid, firm without being intimidating, and empathetic without being a pushover.
- You take ownership, you follow through, and you understand that in a startup, the HR function is only as strong as the trust it builds with the team.
- You are not looking for a comfortable, slow-moving role.
- You are looking for a place where you can make a real difference — and you are ready to roll up your sleeves to do it.