Lead HR Ops Specialist - Global HR Shared Services

Syme Drummond Ltd; Glasgow; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A forward-looking international organisation in Glasgow is seeking a Lead HR Operations Specialist to oversee HR Shared Services. The role involves managing complex HR inquiries, ensuring high-quality employee experiences, and contributing to service improvement initiatives. Ideal candidates will have experience in multinational HR operations, excellent communication skills, and ideally proficiency in additional languages. This is a hybrid position with significant responsibility and the opportunity to influence HR practices.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in HR Shared Services or transactional HR operations.
• Confident HRIS user, ideally with Oracle experience.
• Ability to manage escalated transactions independently.

Responsibilities

• Handle escalated HRSS cases and VIP requests.
• Manage HR transactions ensuring data accuracy.
• Support continuous process improvement.

Skills

HR Shared Services experience

Understanding of SLAs and KPIs

HRIS knowledge (Oracle preferred)

Excellent communication skills

Cultural awareness

Flexibility and resilience

Tools

HRIS systems

Case/ticketing systems

Job description

Lead HR Operations Specialist – Shared Services

Hybrid working: 3 days on-site, 2 from home

This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in the growth of a new global HR Shared Services function based in Glasgow. This is your chance to join a forward-looking, international organisation that’s building a high-performing HR operations hub to deliver best-in-class support across EMEA and North America.

As the Lead HR Ops Specialist, you’ll act as the point of escalation and mentor for the wider team, handling the most complex HR cases, VIP requests and cross-border transactions. You’ll combine operational excellence with a customer-first mindset, ensuring consistency, accuracy and a high-quality employee experience across multiple regions.

What you’ll be doing

• Handle escalated HRSS cases/enquiries and VIP requests from leaders across EMEA and North America, ensuring timely and compliant resolution.
• Manage the full range of HR transactions – from onboarding and transfers to reorganisations and offboarding – ensuring data accuracy, process integrity and excellent customer service.
• Act as a key escalation point and informal coach for the wider team, supporting workflow planning and knowledge sharing.
• Build trusted relationships across HR, Payroll, Finance, Centres of Excellence and beyond to deliver a seamless service.
• Support continuous improvement, helping to refine processes and shape how the new Shared Services hub operates.
• Contribute to cross-regional initiatives and data quality projects ahead of the function’s global go-live.

About you

You’re an experienced HR Shared Services professional who enjoys working in a fast-moving, global environment. You thrive on structure, accuracy, and solving problems, and you’re motivated by being part of a new function where you can make a genuine impact.

Essential experience you’ll bring:

• Proven experience in HR Shared Services or transactional HR operations within a multinational environment.
• Strong understanding of SLAs, KPIs, and service delivery in a customer-focused setting.
• Confident HRIS user (Oracle preferred) and skilled in case/ticketing systems.
• Excellent communication skills and cultural awareness.
• Experience managing complex transactions or escalations independently.
• Ideally, proficiency in German, Swedish or Finnish (in addition to fluent English).
• A flexible, resilient mindset with the ability to adapt in a period of exciting change and growth.

Why this role?

You’ll be joining a growing global organisation at a key moment - helping to shape how HR Shared Services operates from the ground up. Expect variety, responsibility, and the chance to contribute your ideas in an environment that values collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.

You’ll report to a highly experienced and supportive HR leader who’s passionate about developing people and building a trusted, high-performing team.

If you’re ready to be part of a global HR transformation and want to play an influential role in a newly established centre of excellence, this is an opportunity not to miss.

Apply now or email [e-mail] to hear more!