Head of HR Operations & Programmes, Asia Pacific

Key Responsibilities

Own HR Operations & Employee Experience (APAC-wide)

• Design and lead a consistent HR operations framework across APAC – from onboarding to offboarding and everything in between.
• Ensure our HR processes are simple, employee-centric and aligned with our culture and values.
• Oversee HR data integrity, employee records and HR systems

Lead Regional Payroll & Compliance

• Oversee payroll operations across APAC markets together with local teams and external vendors to ensure accurate and timely processing.
• Ensure HR practices meet local labour, social security, tax and employment regulations in each market.
• Act as the escalation point for regional compliance matters and partner with Legal/Finance on audits and statutory reporting.

Drive Change Management & People Programmes

• Lead people-related change initiatives (new HR systems, policy changes, organisation changes, benefits launches, ) with clear communication and thoughtful change plans.
• Partner with HRBPs and leaders to turn ideas into implementable programmes that land well on the ground.
• Build toolkits, playbooks and timelines so markets know what to do, when, and how.

Shape Employee Experience, Onboarding & Offboarding

• Design and continually refine onboarding experiences that help new joiners feel connected, clear and set up for success from Day One.
• Ensure offboarding is handled with care, consistency and compliance, protecting both our people and the company.
• Use feedback and data (surveys, exit themes, service SLAs) to improve key touchpoints

Steer HR Vendors, Tools & Infrastructure

• Lead selection, onboarding and ongoing management of HR vendors (payroll providers, benefits partners, HR tech platforms, etc.).
• Own the HR technology roadmap in partnership with IT – from HRIS and payroll tools to ticketing and knowledge bases.
• Ensure strong contracts, service levels and value for money

Oversee Safety, Security & Workplace Operations (with local teams)

• Partner with Workplace / Office Operations teams in each market to ensure safe, secure and well-run offices.
• Coordinate regional standards for health & safety, emergency response and business continuity, with room for local adaptation.

Run Budgeting, Analytics & Operations Reporting

• Manage the People & Culture operations budget for APAC, working closely with Finance.
• Build and maintain operational dashboards (e.g., headcount, turnover, payroll accuracy, cycle times, onboarding metrics).
• Share insights and recommendations with leadership to support better decision-making.

Lead and Grow the Team

• Lead, coach and develop the HR Operations and Workplace/Office Operations teams across APAC.
• Foster a culture of service excellence, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Help your team grow their skills in project management, systems thinking and stakeholder management.

Qualification & Requirements

Attributes (You’re likely to see yourself in most of these:)

• Systems Thinker – You naturally look for patterns, root causes and scalable solutions, not quick fixes.
• Empathetic Operator – You care about both the process and the person at the other end of it.
• Calm Under Pressure – You stay composed when juggling deadlines, stakeholders and multiple markets.
• Change Champion – You know how to bring people along on the journey, not just announce changes.
• Data-Curious – You enjoy turning numbers into stories and
• Collaborator – You value partnership with HRBPs, TA, Finance, Legal, IT and office
• Practical & Hands-On – You’re willing to roll up your sleeves when
• Inclusive & Respectful – You create space for diverse perspectives and ensure policies/processes are fair.
• Sense of Humor – You don’t mind laughing (including at yourself) even when things get busy.

Background

• Significant experience in HR, with a strong focus on HR Operations and/or HR shared services in multi-country APAC environments.
• Solid knowledge of payroll operations, HR compliance and employment regulations across several Asian markets (e.g., Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia).
• Proven track record in leading cross-functional programmes and change initiatives (systems implementation, policy rollouts, org changes, etc.).
• Experience managing regional teams and working in a matrix environment with multiple stakeholders.
• Comfortable working with HRIS / payroll systems, data and reporting
• Strong communication skills – able to explain complex concepts in a simple, human way to different audiences.
• Fluent in English; additional Asian language(s) would be a plus, but not a
• A mindset that values learning, experimentation and continuous improvement over “how it’s always been done.”

Benefits

• A front-row seat in shaping the People & Culture infrastructure that supports our growth in APAC.
• The chance to design and launch programmes that directly impact how people experience Hoffman – from their first day to their last.
• Opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across markets and disciplines, and to influence regional and global initiatives.
• A culture that values curiosity, creativity, accountability and, yes, good