HR People Ops, APAC

Firstminute Capital; Singapore; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Job summary

Mistral is seeking an founding HR Operations Manager for APAC to establish and scale our HR infrastructure across the region. You will oversee payroll, onboarding, vendor management, and multi-country compliance, supporting our regional growth.

Relocation is possible to Singapore, Australia, Japan or Korea, and you will collaborate with local and international stakeholders to optimize HR systems and employee lifecycle processes.

Qualifications

• 8 to 15 years of progressive HR experience, ideally in high-growth or startup environments.
• Deep expertise in Singaporean labor law and APAC regulations; experience across multiple APAC markets.
• Proficient with HR technology, including HRIS and payroll management software.
• Hands-on builder mindset with a track record of turning fragmented tasks into efficient workflows.

Responsibilities

• Manage and execute monthly payroll for APAC employees and EoR staff to ensure timely compensation.
• Oversee onboarding, contracts, amendments, and HRIS records.
• Resolve employee inquiries and coordinate international work visas.
• Lead HR expansion when entering new countries with compliant operations.
• Audit vendors, benchmark payroll providers, and automate workflows.
• Implement people-related procedures aligning with local labor regulations.

Skills

HR experience

Payroll management

Onboarding

Vendor management

HRIS

EoR familiarity

Cross-border payroll

Communication

Problem solving

Tools

HRIS software

Payroll software

Job description

About Mistral

Mistral provides full-stack AI solutions: from frontier models to developer tools, applications, and compute. We partner with enterprises tackling the hardest problems across high-stakes industries like finance, manufacturing, defense, healthcare, and the public sector, co-creating customized AI systems that they can run on their terms.

We are a dynamic, collaborative team passionate about AI and its potential to transform society. Our diverse workforce thrives in competitive environments and is committed to driving innovation. Our teams are distributed between Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East. We are creative, low-ego and team-spirited.

The Role

As an founding HR Operations Manager for APAC, you will establish and scale our HR infrastructure across the region. This role exists to ensure our regional operations run smoothly, seamlessly blending day-to-day compliance, payroll execution, and expansion into new markets.

Working closely with local and international stakeholders, you will own the end-to-end employee lifecycle. Your impact will be felt directly through the design of efficient HR systems, structured onboarding experiences, and accurate multi-country payroll management.

You will act as a practical builder, optimizing everything from everyday employee inquiries to complex vendor management. By bridging legal compliance with a collaborative approach, you will support our regional growth while fostering a compliant and organized workplace.

This role can be relocated in Singapore, Australia, Japan or Korea.

What You Will Do

• Manage and execute monthly payroll for employees and Employer of Record (EoR) staff across the APAC region to guarantee timely, accurate compensation.

• Oversee the onboarding journey, ensuring all contractual elements, labor amendments, and internal HRIS records are systematically completed and updated.

• Resolve day-to-day employee inquiries and coordinate international work visas to support business travel and team mobility.

• Lead HR expansion initiatives when entering new countries, establishing local benefits administration and compliant operations from scratch.

• Optimize regional operations by auditing external vendors, benchmarking payroll providers, and automating manual workflows.

• Implement people-related procedures and best practices that mitigate company risk and align with local labor regulations.

What We're Looking For

• 8 to 15 years of progressive HR experience, ideally within a high-growth or startup environment.

• Deep expertise in Singaporean labor law and employment regulations, with additional experience navigating multiple APAC markets such as South Korea, Australia, India, or Japan.

• Solid understanding of regional payroll mechanisms, local tax laws, and handling Employer of Record (EoR) frameworks.

• Practical proficiency with modern HR technology, including HRIS and payroll management software.

• A hands-on, builder mindset with a proven track record of turning fragmented tasks into efficient, streamlined workflows.

• Strong communication and problem-solving skills centered on a service-oriented approach to supporting team members.

• Singapore citizenship or Permanent Residency (PR) status, required due to visa constraints for this specific position.

What We Offer

We offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and work-life balance. Benefits vary by country and may include healthcare coverage, parental leave, retirement plans, relocation support, wellness programs, meal and transportation allowances, and other location-specific perks.

For the most up-to-date details on benefits available in your location, please refer to our Benefits page.

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