Director Employee Relations Human Capital Management Asia Pacific

SUMITOMO MITSUI BANKING CORPORATION Singapore Branch; Singapore; On-site; SGD 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A major banking institution in Singapore seeks a Director of Employee Relations to lead their ER agenda. The role focuses on ensuring a fair and compliant workplace, handling complex ER matters, and fostering a positive employee experience. Candidates should have 8-10 years of experience in Employee Relations, strong knowledge of local employment laws, and demonstrate excellent stakeholder management and communication skills. This leadership position drives policy implementation and collaborates with HR and legal teams as needed.

Qualifications

• 8-10 years of experience in Employee Relations or related HR discipline.
• Strong knowledge of Singapore employment laws and regulatory frameworks.
• Proven ability to manage complex ER cases and conduct investigations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Employee Relations function in Singapore.
• Collaborate with country leadership and HR teams.
• Drive cultural change by embedding ER best practices.
• Provide expert advice to HR Business Partners.
• Partner with Legal and Compliance teams.
• Design and deliver ER capability-building initiatives.
• Lead investigations of ER cases.
• Conduct neutral reviews of escalated ER cases.
• Implement and maintain ER policies and procedures.
• Monitor legislative changes and assess impact.
• Analyze and report on ER trends.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Integrity

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

Job Summary

The Director of Employee Relations (ER) will lead the ER agenda in Singapore, ensuring a fair, respectful, and legally compliant workplace. This role drives policy implementation, manages complex ER matters, and fosters a positive employee experience aligned with global and regional ER strategies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Employee Relations function in Singapore, aligning ER strategies with APAC and global frameworks to support business objectives
• Collaborate with country leadership and HR teams to identify emerging ER trends, assess risks, and develop proactive solutions
• Drive cultural change by embedding ER best practices that promote fairness, compliance, and employee engagement
• Provide expert advice to HR Business Partners, managers, and leaders on handling grievances, disciplinary actions, performance disputes, and workplace conflicts
• Partner with Legal, Compliance, and Risk teams to resolve ER issues effectively and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements
• Design and deliver ER capability‑building initiatives through training and knowledge sharing with HR and business teams
• Lead thorough and objective investigations of ER cases, ensuring documentation, risk assessment, and recommendations comply with global protocols and local laws
• Conduct neutral reviews of escalated ER cases to ensure fairness and proportionality in outcomes
• Implement and maintain ER policies and procedures that comply with Singapore employment law and global standards
• Monitor legislative changes and assess their impact on ER practices to ensure ongoing compliance
• Ensure adherence to internal controls and regulatory requirements in ER case management
• Analyze and report on ER trends, case themes, and outcomes to inform preventative strategies and continuous process improvements

Required competencies and certifications

• Bachelor’s Degree with 8–10 years of experience in Employee Relations or related HR discipline
• Strong knowledge of Singapore employment laws and regulatory frameworks
• Proven ability to manage complex ER cases and conduct investigations
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Ability to work independently in a lean environment while collaborating with regional and global teams
• High integrity, resilience, and discretion in handling sensitive employee matters

Preferred competencies and qualifications

• Capacity to provide support to the HR Business Partner team as workload and priorities allow