Associate Director, Human Resources - Switzerland

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Brief Description

The Associate Director, Human Resources International is responsible for partnering with global business functions to help the business achieve their priorities and deliver the HR strategy. This role collaborates closely with business units and internal HR centres of excellence. It combines operational and strategic HR responsibilities, including managing the HR mailbox, hiring, onboarding, employee lifecycle changes, performance management, leave management, benefits administration, offboarding, employee relations, policy management, and employment law compliance.

Specific Job Duties

• Based in Geneva, Switzerland, handling all onsite HR requirements for the Switzerland employee base.
• Manage hiring, onboarding, changes, and offboarding processes, including preparing employment documents, managing onboarding logistics, ensuring legal work checks, visa management, and conducting orientation sessions.
• Oversee contractor agreements across Europe, manage offboarding, and support data reconciliation and reporting with HRIS.
• Conduct pre-screening and initial interviews if needed.

Business Partnership

• Manage the HR shared mailbox and handle employee and manager queries.
• Update HR platforms with policy and process changes.
• Partner with leadership on HR and talent strategies, analyze trends, and conduct stay interviews.
• Lead talent development, career planning, and employee engagement initiatives.
• Support job description reviews, compensation strategies, and employee recognition programs.
• Manage performance review cycles, including goal setting, calibration, and succession planning.

Payroll, Benefits, and Leave Management

• Coordinate payroll changes, benefit enrollments, and manage leave of absence processes.
• Collaborate with external benefit brokers and oversee benefit renewals.

Legal, Policy, and Employee Relations

• Guide management on employee relations, performance, and absence management.
• Ensure compliance with employment laws and policies across countries.
• Lead audit compliance and maintain documentation controls.

Team Collaboration

• Cross-train to support HR functions across Europe.
• Assist with diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and employee engagement surveys.
• Support compensation review processes and lead project initiatives.

Desired Skills and Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with significant HR experience.
• Knowledge of European employment law, including Switzerland and France.
• Experience with payroll management and multiple languages (French, German, Italian, Spanish).
• Experience in life sciences industry HR processes and policies.
• Proficiency in HRIS systems like ADP and Workday is a plus.
• Strong communication, confidentiality, and organizational skills.
• Certifications such as SHRM-CP, HRCI-PHR, or CIPD preferred.
• Proactive, adaptable, and able to work independently and in teams.

UBC is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion.