Regional Compliance Operations Manager, APJ

THE ROLE:

As the Regional Compliance Operations Manager for Asia Pacific and Japan, you will lead HR compliance and operations governance across the region. You will help country and regional teams maintain statutory compliance, strengthen audit readiness, implement employment-related changes and improve employee lifecycle processes. Based in Singapore, you will partner with Employee Relations Legal, Payroll, Total Reward, HR Services, HR Business Partners, EHS , Talent Acquisition, Centers of Excellence and external vendors across Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Japan, Korea, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Greater China. This role provides an opportunity to shape regional governance standards and lead meaningful compliance and operational transformation.

THE PERSON:

You are a collaborative and pragmatic HR compliance leader who can translate complex employment requirements into clear and scalable processes. You communicate with clarity, exercise sound judgment and build trusted partnerships across cultures, functions and levels. You are comfortable balancing strategic priorities with operational detail, navigating ambiguity and driving accountability through data, governance and constructive influence.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Labor and Employment Compliance

• Monitor labor and employment law changes across APJ countries and coordinate timely implementation.

• Lead compliance governance reviews and country compliance assessments.

• Oversee statutory reporting, recordkeeping and mandatory employment obligations.

• Partner with Legal and Employee Relations on regulatory and employment matters.

HR Operations Governance

• Drive standardization and harmonization of HR operational processes.

• Maintain and improve onboarding, offboarding, probation, retirement, leave and other employee lifecycle processes.

• Support country and regional audits.

• Drive process documentation, standard operating procedure maintenance and knowledge management.

Risk and Audit Management

• Coordinate internal and external HR audits.

• Track corrective actions and compliance remediation efforts through closure.

• Manage compliance dashboards and executive governance reporting.

Vendor and Third-Party Oversight

• Govern HR vendors supporting compliance and operational activities.

• Monitor vendor adherence to contractual and regulatory expectations.

Projects and Transformation

• Lead APJ compliance initiatives, labor laws/codes readiness activities and HR operations transformation programs.

• Partner with HR Services and Centers of Excellence on process transitions and continuous improvement efforts.

• Change management and transformation experience - managing a team/ stakeholder through the change and transforming them effectively
• As a Compliance specialist – there is a need for Informed risk taking with structured thoughts process to informed risk taking in consultation with ER and Legal, while also aligning stakeholders on recommendations relative to risk.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:

• Demonstrated experience (10+ years) in HR compliance, HR operations, employee relations or employment law.

• Experience supporting multiple APJ countries. Strong knowledge of statutory employment obligations and audit practices, interpreting statutory employment obligations and local countries practices, implementing audit readiness.

• Demonstrated experience leading regional compliance programs, regional compliance and governance reviews and remediation initiatives.

• Strong stakeholder management experience across HR, Legal, Payroll and business leadership teams.

• Experience with ServiceNow, human resources information systems, compliance tracking tools and governance reporting.

• Greater China exposure is preferred.

• Employee relations experience is strongly desired.

ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS:

• A degree in human resources, law, business, industrial relations or a related discipline is preferred.

• A relevant HR, compliance, employment law or project management certification is desired.

LOCATION:

Singapore