General Manager - Customer Operations & Collections at Happy Pay Jobs

Happy Pay · Cape Town, Western Cape · 1w ago

Happy Pay
Closing 15 Apr 2026

About the Role

  • We are appointing a General Manager: Customer Operations & Collections to transform, scale, and professionalise Happy Pay’s customer service and debt collections function.
  • An operations team already exists, with early systems and processes in place. This role is about taking that foundation and turning it into a scalable, KPI-driven operation capable of supporting a fast-growing BNPL credit book.
  • This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives in unstructured, high-growth environments — a leader who can design systems, implement tools, set performance standards, and coach teams while the business is moving quickly.
  • You will own the evolution of the customer service and debt collections function as Happy Pay grows through 2026 and beyond.

What You’ll Do

Transform & Scale the Collections Function

  • Lead the end-to-end transformation of Happy Pay’s debt collections operation in line with rapid growth of the credit book.
  • Design and implement a scalable collections operating model, covering early-stage, late-stage, and customer support interactions.
  • Introduce structure, governance, and repeatability into an evolving startup environment.

Systems, Tooling & Automation

  • Assess existing systems and lead the implementation of fit-for-purpose collections and customer service tools CRM, diallers, workflow, payments, reporting.
  • Work closely with Product and Technology teams to prioritise and deliver operational tooling.
  • Build supporting training materials and user guides for systems and processes.

KPI-Driven Performance Management

  • Define, implement, and own KPIs and performance frameworks across customer service and collections.
  • Build reporting packs and insights for senior leadership and executives, including portfolio performance, customer outcomes, and operational efficiency.
  • Use data to drive continuous improvement, resourcing decisions, and strategy.

Debt Book & Call Centre Management

  • Own operational oversight of the BNPL debt book, ensuring sustainable performance and fair customer outcomes.
  • Lead and coach call centre agents and customer experience teams, setting clear expectations and performance standards.
  • Establish QA, coaching, and feedback loops to improve agent effectiveness and customer interactions.

Training, Coaching & Capability Building

  • Design and implement training frameworks for collections and customer service teams, including onboarding and ongoing development.
  • Coach team leaders and agents to operate effectively within new systems and performance expectations.
  • Build leadership capability within the team as the operation scales.

Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement

  • Report regularly to senior leadership and executives on performance, risks, and opportunities.
  • Partner closely with Risk, Compliance, Finance, Product, and Technology teams.
  • Act as the senior operational owner for customer service and collections as Happy Pay scales.

Requirements

  • 5+ years’ experience in collections, customer operations, call centre management, or credit operations
  • Proven experience building, transforming, or scaling collections or customer service operations
  • Strong hands-on experience with debt book management and call centre environments
  • Demonstrated ability to implement systems, tooling, and reporting frameworks
  • Experience setting and managing KPI-driven operations
  • Comfortable operating in fast-moving, unstructured startup environments

Advantageous

  • Experience in BNPL, fintech, unsecured lending, or retail credit
  • Exposure to modern collections trends, digital channels, and automation
  • Experience leading teams through periods of rapid growth and change

What You’re Like

  • Scrappy, practical, and execution-focused
  • Comfortable building while running
  • Structured thinker who brings clarity to ambiguity
  • Confident leading frontline teams and senior stakeholders
  • Motivated by impact, not titles
  • Calm under pressure and commercially minded
Application requirements
  • Z83 application form
  • Comprehensive CV
  • Certified ID copy