HR Manager, APAC

Viewqwest Private Limited; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading telecommunications company in Kuala Lumpur seeks an experienced HR Manager to oversee operations with a strong focus on vendor management across APAC. The ideal candidate should have 7-10 years of HR experience, including regional exposure in the telco industry. Responsibilities include managing HR vendors, ensuring compliance with labor laws, and utilizing advanced data analysis to drive strategic decisions. The role also involves leading recruitment efforts and fostering an inclusive workplace culture across various APAC countries.

Qualifications

• 7-10 years of HR experience, including 4 years in a regional APAC role.
• In-depth understanding of labor laws in APAC countries.
• Experience in compliance audits and advisory.

Responsibilities

• Lead HR operations with a focus on vendor management across APAC.
• Oversee relationships with external HR vendors.
• Utilize advanced Excel skills to analyze HR metrics.
• Lead end-to-end recruitment for regional roles.
• Foster an inclusive workplace culture across APAC.

Skills

Excel proficiency

Data analysis

Stakeholder communication

Negotiation skills

Cross-cultural collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in human resources or related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

PowerPoint

HRIS systems

Job description

The HR Manager will lead HR operations with a strong emphasis on vendor management across APAC, ensuring seamless talent acquisition, employee relations, and compliance with diverse labor laws. You will play a pivotal role in optimizing HR processes through data-driven insights, leveraging your proficiency in Excel and presentation tools to influence stakeholders. This position requires a numbers-sensitive mindset to analyse metrics, forecast trends, and mitigate risks in a fast-paced telco environment.

Key Responsibilities

Vendor Management (APAC Focus): Oversee and optimize relationships with external HR vendors and partners in the Philippines, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. Negotiate contracts, monitor performance SLAs, and ensure cost-effective delivery of recruitment, payroll, and training services across these markets.

Regional HR Strategy: Develop and implement HR policies tailored to APAC diversity, including talent mobility, performance management, and succession planning. Provide strategic input on workforce planning for telco-specific roles like network engineering and customer support.

Labor Law Compliance: Ensure adherence to local labor regulations in the Philippines (e.g., DOLE guidelines), Hong Kong (e.g., Employment Ordinance), Singapore (e.g., MOM requirements), and Malaysia (e.g., Employment Act). Conduct audits, advise on risk mitigation, and support cross-border employee transfers.

Data Analytics & Reporting: Utilize advanced Excel skills (e.g., pivot tables, VLOOKUP, macros) to analyze HR metrics such as turnover rates, recruitment ROI, and vendor KPIs. Prepare compelling presentations (using PowerPoint or similar) for senior leadership to drive data-informed decisions.

Talent Acquisition & Development: Lead end-to-end recruitment for regional roles, focusing on telco talent pools. Design training programs to upskill teams on emerging technologies like 5G and digital transformation.

Employee Relations & Culture: Foster an inclusive workplace culture across APAC time zones, handling escalations, engagement surveys, and change management initiatives.

Budget & Cost Management: Monitor HR budgets with a keen eye for numerical accuracy, identifying efficiencies in vendor spend and operational costs.

Requirements

Education & Experience: Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or related field. Minimum 7-10 years of HR experience, with at least 4 years in a regional APAC role within the telco or similar fast-paced industry.

Regional Exposure: Proven track record managing HR operations or vendors in APAC markets, specifically the Philippines, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore.

Labor Law Knowledge: In-depth understanding of labor laws in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia, with experience in compliance audits and advisory.

Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel for data analysis and forecasting; strong presentation skills for stakeholder communications (e.g., dashboards, reports).

Personal Attributes: Highly detail-oriented with a sensitivity to numbers—able to spot discrepancies in budgets, metrics, and forecasts. Excellent communication, negotiation, and cross-cultural collaboration skills. Ability to thrive in a matrixed, multicultural environment.

Other: Willingness to travel regionally (up to 20-30%) and work flexible hours to accommodate APAC time differences.

Preferred Qualifications

Certification in HR (e.g., SHRM-CP, CIPD) or labor law specialization.

Experience with HRIS systems (e.g., Workday, SAP SuccessFactors) and telco-specific HR challenges like shift-based workforce management.

Mandarin or other APAC language proficiency is a plus.