Human Resources Director

Talent Recruit; Petaling Jaya; On-site; MYR 320,000 - 520,000; Full time

Job summary

Talent Recruit is partnering with an Education Industry - International School in Malaysia to recruit a Director of Human Resources. This role shapes people strategy, culture, and workforce capability across the school.

You will partner with the Senior Leadership Team to implement HR strategies that support the schools business plan, academic objectives, and long-term growth. The ideal candidate has 15+ years in HR, including 6+ in senior leadership, and fluency in English and Bahasa.

Qualifications

• Degree in Human Resources/Business Administration or related field.
• Minimum of 15 years of HR experience, including at least 6 years in a senior leadership role.
• Fluency in English and Bahasa (both written and spoken).
• Strong knowledge of local employment laws and HR best practices.
• Proven experience developing and implementing HR policies and strategies.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement HR strategies aligned with mission and objectives.
• Lead recruitment, onboarding, retention, and workforce planning.
• Foster an inclusive, high-engagement workplace culture and manage employee relations.
• Design and oversee performance management frameworks and reviews.
• Oversee compensation, benefits, and reward structures in line with market benchmarks.
• Lead training and development to build leadership and capability.
• Ensure compliance with local laws and manage HR contracts and governance.
• Manage audits, regulatory reporting, and risk mitigation related to HR.

Skills

Strategic Planning

Leadership

Talent Management

Employee Relations

Performance Management

Compensation & Benefits

Training & Development

Policy Development

HR Analytics

Education

Bachelor/Master in HR or related field

Professional HR qualifications

Job description

We are representing one of our clients in the Education Industry- International School. They are currently hiring for Director of Human Resources . This role plays a critical part in shaping the schools people strategy, organisational culture, and workforce capability.

The Director will work in close partnership with the Senior Leadership Team to develop and implement HR strategies that support the schools business plan, academic objectives, and long-term growth.

Responsibilities

Strategic Planning

• Develop and implement comprehensive HR strategies aligned with the organisations mission, vision, and strategic objectives.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on workforce planning, organisational design, succession planning, and change management.
• Lead initiatives that strengthen organisational culture, leadership capability, and employee performance across the school

Talent Acquisition and Management

• Oversee end-to-end recruitment strategies for academic and non-academic roles, ensuring timely and high-quality hiring.
• Develop talent pipelines and succession plans to support long-term organisational needs.
• Drive onboarding, retention, and workforce planning strategies to attract and retain top talent.

Employee Engagement and Relations

• Foster a positive, inclusive, and high-engagement workplace culture.
• Lead employee relations initiatives and handle complex employee matters with professionalism and sensitivity.
• Act as the key point of contact for industrial relations cases, disciplinary actions, grievances, and dispute resolution.

Performance Management

• Design and implement performance management frameworks aligned with organisational goals and educational outcomes.
• Support leaders and managers in conducting fair, effective performance reviews and managing underperformance.
• Promote a culture of accountability, feedback, and continuous improvement.

Compensation and Benefits

• Develop and oversee competitive compensation, benefits, and reward frameworks aligned with market benchmarks and internal equity.
• Ensure salary structures, incentives, and benefits programs support attraction, motivation, and retention of talent.
• Review and recommend enhancements to remuneration strategies as needed.

Training and Development

• Lead learning and development strategies to build leadership capability, professional growth, and organisational effectiveness.
• Identify training needs and implement development programs for teaching and non-teaching staff.
• Support succession planning and leadership development initiatives.

Compliance, Legal and Contract Management

• Ensure full compliance with local employment laws, labour regulations, and education-sector requirements.
• Oversee employment contracts, policies, handbooks, and HR governance frameworks.
• Manage audits, regulatory reporting, and risk mitigation related to HR practices.

Requirements

• Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; professional HR qualifications preferred.
• Minimum of 15 years of professional HR experience, including at least 6 years in a senior leadership role.
• Fluency in English and Bahasa (both written and spoken)
• Strong knowledge of local employment laws, industrial relations, and HR best practices.
• Proven experience in developing and implementing effective HR policies, frameworks, and strategies.

Desired Qualities

• Strong business acumen with the ability to align HR strategies with organisational goals.
• Collaborative, approachable, and team-oriented leadership style.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and ethical standards.