Synagie Group Asia & Europe Hiring! Full Time Regional Human Resources Director in - Ricebowl

The Human Resources Directorleads and governsall people-related functions across the Group’s global operating markets. The role is responsible for establishing and institutionalizing a structured People Governance framework, ensuring regulatory compliance, workforce discipline, manpower planning alignment, performance governance, and organizational effectiveness in support of the Group’s P&L ownership model.

The Human Resources Director serves as the executive steward of People Governance across all Business Units and is the direct leader of the HR team.

Core Responsibilities

People Governance & Compliance

• Ensure statutory and labor law compliance across all operating markets
• Maintain standardized employment contracts, policies, and HR documentation
• Develop and maintain the Group People Governance framework
• Partner with Finance on payroll controlsand statutory reporting
• Support internal and external audit processes related to HR
• Maintain People Risk Register and compliance reporting dashboard

Day-to-Day Payroll Operations– Review & Approval

• Oversee end-to-end payroll operations across all markets, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and regulatory compliance
• Review and approve monthly payroll runs prepared by the HR team prior to disbursement, including verification of headcount changes, salary adjustments, overtime, and statutory deductions
• Validate payroll reconciliation reports and ensure alignment with approved headcount budgets and offer letters
• Review and approve CPF submissions (Singapore), EPF/SOCSO (Malaysia), and equivalent statutory contributions across all markets
• Ensure accuratecomputation and timely filingof tax-related payrollobligations (e.g., IR8A in Singapore; EA Form, Form E and PCB in Malaysia; withholding taxes) across relevant jurisdictions
• Review and authorize off-cyclepayroll runs, finalsettlement computations, and severance calculations
• Implement and maintain maker-checker controls for payrollprocessing to safeguard against errors and fraud
• Coordinate with Finance to ensure payrolljournal entries are correctly postedand reconciled to the general ledger
• Monitor and resolve payrolldiscrepancies escalated by the HR team, ensuringprompt remediation and communication to affected employees
• Continuously review payroll workflows for efficiency improvements and system optimization opportunities

HR Team Leadership& Management

• Directly manage and develop the HR team across all markets, including HR Business Partners, Payroll Executives, and HR Operations staff
• Provide directleadership and oversight of HR colleagues in Malaysia and other markets through regular engagement and market visits
• Set clearperformance objectives and KPIs for each HR team memberaligned with the Group’s People Governance priorities
• Conduct regular1-on-1s, team reviews,and performance appraisals to ensure a high-performing HR function
• Build team capability through structured learning, cross-functional exposure, and professional development plans
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and serviceexcellence within the HR team
• Manage workloaddistribution across the HR team to ensureoperational efficiency and avoid single points of failure

• Mentor juniorHR team members on governance frameworks, compliance standards, and stakeholder management
• Develop succession plans and talent pipelines within the HR function to ensure business continuity

Workforce Planning & Manpower Governance

• Lead annual and quarterly workforce planning cycle in collaboration with C-suite leaders and BU heads
• Consolidate Group headcount plans and manpowerforecasts
• Align manpower planning with the Group’s P&L ownership model
• Partner with CFO on consolidated manpower budget governance
• Provide quarterly workforce analytics, productivity, and cost reporting
• Drive manpower efficiency and organizational optimization initiatives

Performance& Compensation Governance

• Standardize performance appraisal framework across Business Units
• Ensure KPI alignment discipline linked to BU accountability
• Oversee compensation benchmarking and salary band governance
• Ensure structured and transparent bonus allocation framework
• Manage disciplinary and performance improvement processes

Organizational Development & Succession

• Lead Group-level succession planning framework
• Identify leadership bench strength gaps
• Support middle management capability development
• Drive retention strategies for critical roles
• Support organizational restructuring aligned with business evolution

HR Infrastructure, Systems & AI Enablement

• Optimize and continuously enhance the Group’s Omni HR system across all markets
• Ensure strong HR data governance, audit traceability, and reporting integrity
• Develop standardized workforce analytics dashboards for management review
• Drive automation of HR workflows to improve operational efficiency
• Standardize onboarding and offboarding processes through system-based workflows
• Partner with Finance to align HR data with manpower cost reporting
• Explore and implement AI-enabled tools to enhance HR efficiency, analytics, recruitment screening, and workforce planning

Required Experience & Capabilities

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or above in Human Resources Management or a related field
• Professional HR certification is strongly preferred (e.g., SHRM-SCP, CIPD, IHRP-SP or equivalent)

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of progressive HR experience, with at least 4–5 years in a senior HR leadership role
• Proven experience managing HR functions across multiple Southeast Asian markets (Singapore is mandatory; Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and/or Vietnam preferred)
• Hands-on experience owning end-to-end payroll operations, including review, approval, and statutory compliance across multiple jurisdictions
• Demonstrated experience directly leading and developing HR teams of varying seniority
• Track recordof building or significantly improving HR governance frameworks in a multi-market, multi-entity environment
• Prior experience in a listedcompany environment (SGX, HKEX, or equivalent) is an advantage
• Background in high-growth technology, e-commerce, or consumer sectors is preferred

Technical Competencies

• Deep knowledge of labor laws, employment regulations, and statutory requirements across SEA markets, including Singapore’s Employment Act, MOM work pass requirements, and the Tripartite Guidelines
• Strong payroll expertise — familiarity with CPF (Singapore), EPF/SOCSO (Malaysia), and analogous frameworks in other markets
• Proficiency in HRIS/Payroll platforms (e.g., Omni HR, Workday, or equivalent)
• Experience with workforce analyticsand the ability to translatedata into actionable insights
• Familiarity with HR audit processes and internal controls; ability to designand enforce maker-checker workflows
• Working knowledge of compensation benchmarking methodologies and salary band design

Leadership & Interpersonal Competencies

• Proven people management skills — ability to lead, motivate, and develop a diverse HR team across geographies
• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence at C-suite and Board level
• Highdegree of integrity, confidentiality, and professional judgment
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills in English; proficiency in additional SEA languages is an advantage
• Analytical mindsetwith strong attention to detail, especially in payroll governance and compliance
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-growth environment with competing priorities
• Proactive and solutions-oriented, with a continuous improvement mindset