SEA HR Director

Antal International; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 734,000 - 978,000; Full time

Job summary

Bureau Veritas is seeking a Southeast Asia HR Director to provide strategic leadership and ensure operational excellence across the region. You will align people strategy with business goals, oversee talent acquisition and development, compensation, culture, change management and compliance, and thrive in a multi-country, multi-business environment.

Reporting to the area leadership team, you will shape culture, drive workforce planning and lead an HR team to deliver value across diverse

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 12 years of progressive HR experience, with at least 8 years in a senior HR leadership role, ideally within a multinational corporation operating in Southeast Asia.
• Experience serving diverse industries is highly desirable.
• In-depth knowledge of labor laws and HR best practices across multiple Southeast Asian countries.
• Proven experience in strategic HR planning, talent management and employee relations within a multi-business-line environment.
• Strong leadership skills with a demonstrated ability to influence and drive change across diverse business units and cultures.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills, with fluency in English.
• Proficiency in one or more Southeast Asian languages (e.g., Bahasa Indonesia, Thai, Vietnamese) is a significant advantage.
• Cultural sensitivity and the ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive HR strategies tailored to the unique needs of the various business lines within Southeast Asia, aligned with overall business objectives.
• Act as a key member of the Southeast Asia leadership team, providing HR insights and strategic advice on organizational design, talent management and workforce planning.
• Lead and mentor the HR team in Southeast Asia, ensuring effective implementation of global HR policies while accommodating specific local requirements and cultural nuances.
• Partner with the executive leadership team to support business transformation and growth, and provide strategic guidance on the human capital agenda.
• Develop and oversee a comprehensive recruitment strategy to attract top talent for diverse business units.
• Design and implement tailored talent development programs, including specialized training, leadership development and career progression opportunities.
• Foster a culture of diversity and inclusion, ensuring that the workforce reflects the diverse client industries served.
• Create succession plans for key roles.
• Ensure full compliance with local labor laws and employment regulations in each Southeast Asian country of operation; stay abreast of changes.
• Manage complex employee relations issues, including conflict resolution and disciplinary actions, ensuring consistency and fairness.
• Uphold and adapt company policies to suit the varied business lines, ensuring relevance across cultures.
• Develop and manage competitive compensation and benefits programs tailored to diverse needs.
• Oversee annual salary reviews, performance appraisals and incentive programs.
• Serve as a key stakeholder for HR Shared Service Center (HRsSC) to ensure efficient delivery of transactional HR services.
• Act as primary contact for BU leaders regarding HRsSC services.
• Utilize HR analytics to provide data-driven insights and recommendations.

Skills

Strategic mindset

Interpersonal skills

Labor laws knowledge

Change management

Leadership influence

English fluency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR/BA; Master’s preferred

Job description

The Southeast Asia HR Director is responsible for providing strategic leadership and operational excellence in human capital management across the Southeast Asia area, aligning the people strategy with Bureau Veritas’s overall business objectives. This role oversees all HR functions — from talent acquisition and development to compensation, culture, change management and compliance — to cultivate a productive, inclusive and high-performing workforce. The HR Director serves as a key member of the area leadership team, shaping culture, aligning workforce strategies with business goals and enabling long-term organizational success.

Major Responsibilities

Strategic HR Leadership

• Develop and implement comprehensive HR strategies tailored to the unique needs of the various business lines within Southeast Asia, aligned with overall business objectives.
• Act as a key member of the Southeast Asia leadership team, providing HR insights and strategic advice on organizational design, talent management and workforce planning.
• Lead and mentor the HR team in Southeast Asia, ensuring effective implementation of global HR policies while accommodating specific local requirements and cultural nuances.
• Partner with the executive leadership team to support business transformation and growth, and provide strategic guidance on the human capital agenda.

Talent Acquisition and Development

• Develop and oversee a comprehensive recruitment strategy to attract top talent for diverse business units, from technical specialists to industry experts.
• Design and implement tailored talent development programs, including specialized training, leadership development and career progression opportunities.
• Foster a culture of diversity and inclusion, ensuring that the workforce reflects the diverse client industries served.
• Create succession plans for key roles.

Employee Relations and Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with local labor laws and employment regulations in each Southeast Asian country of operation, staying abreast of changes and advising the business accordingly.
• Manage complex employee relations issues, including conflict resolution and disciplinary actions, ensuring consistency and fairness.
• Uphold and adapt company policies to suit the varied business lines, ensuring relevance and applicability across different cultures.

Compensation and Benefits

• Develop and manage competitive compensation and benefits programs tailored to the diverse needs of employees across different business lines and countries.
• Oversee the annual salary review process, performance appraisal systems and incentive programs.

Operations Governance and Analytics

• Serve as a key stakeholder for the HR Shared Service Center (HRsSC), collaborating closely to ensure efficient and effective delivery of transactional HR services, including payroll, benefits administration and HRIS support.
• Act as the primary point of contact for business unit leaders regarding HRsSC services.
• Utilize HR analytics to provide data-driven insights and recommendations for optimizing HR strategies.

Cultural Integration and Change Management

• Champion the company’s values and culture, promoting cross-cultural understanding and collaboration across diverse business lines.
• Lead change management initiatives, facilitating smooth transitions and ensuring stakeholder buy-in.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 12 years of progressive HR experience, with at least 8 years in a senior HR leadership role, ideally within a multinational corporation operating in Southeast Asia.
• Experience serving diverse industries is highly desirable.
• In-depth knowledge of labor laws and HR best practices across multiple Southeast Asian countries.
• Proven experience in strategic HR planning, talent management and employee relations within a multi-business-line environment.
• Strong leadership skills with a demonstrated ability to influence and drive change across diverse business units and cultures.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills, with fluency in English.
• Proficiency in one or more Southeast Asian languages (e.g., Bahasa Indonesia, Thai, Vietnamese) is a significant advantage.
• Cultural sensitivity and the ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.

Skills and Qualities

• Strategic mindset with hands-on execution capability.
• Strong interpersonal and networking skills.
• Deep knowledge of Southeast Asian labor laws and compliance.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Decision-making, coaching and mentoring skills.
• Ability to deal with confidential or sensitive information discreetly.