Director, HR Operations – China and APAC

Position Summary

The Director, HR Operations – China and APAC is responsible for leading the delivery of HR operations, employee relations, talent processes, compliance, and organizational support across the Asia Pacific region. The role serves as the senior HR Operations leader for the region and is accountable for ensuring consistent, high-quality HR support that enables business growth, employee engagement, and organizational effectiveness.

The position has direct leadership responsibility for the China HR team (HR People Partners located in Shanghai and Zhuhai) while coordinating broader APAC HR operational activities through partnership with local Spectris HR teams across non-China APAC countries.

As a member of the regional HR leadership team, this role works closely with Centers of Excellence, Business Leaders, and HR Business Partners to implement global HR strategies while ensuring local execution and compliance.

Reporting Relationship: VP Human Resources

Indirect (Dotted Line) Relationship:  Sr Director, Global HRBP

Location: China (Shanghai preferred)

Direct Reports:

• HR People Partner, Shanghai
• HR People Partner, Zhuhai
• Additional China HR Operations and administrative resources as assigned

Key Responsibilities

Regional HR Operations Leadership

• Lead the delivery of HR operations across China and APAC, ensuring efficient, compliant, and employee-focused HR services.
• Develop and maintain strong partnerships with local Spectris HR teams supporting non-China APAC countries.
• Ensure effective execution of core HR processes including onboarding, offboarding, employee lifecycle management, workforce administration, policy administration, and compliance.
• Drive harmonization and standardization of HR processes while accommodating local business and legal requirements.
• Monitor HR service delivery levels and continuously improve efficiency, quality, and employee experience.

China HR Team Leadership

• Directly manage and develop HR People Partners located in Shanghai and Zhuhai.
• Provide leadership, coaching, performance management, and career development support to team members.
• Ensure consistent application of company policies, employment practices, and employee relations standards across China operations.
• Lead organizational initiatives and local HR projects supporting business priorities within China.

Spectris Partnership and APAC Coordination

• Act as the primary HR Operations liaison between Malvern Panalytical and Spectris HR teams supporting APAC.
• Coordinate HR operational activities in countries where HR services are delivered through Spectris support models.
• Ensure alignment between Spectris-delivered HR services and company expectations, policies, and service standards.
• Escalate and resolve operational issues impacting business leaders or employees.
• Participate in regional HR governance meetings and support continuous improvement initiatives with Spectris partners.

Employee Relations and Compliance

• Provide expert guidance on employee relations matters across APAC.
• Lead investigations and resolution of workplace issues, ensuring appropriate risk management.
• Ensure compliance with labor laws, regulations, and employment practices across countries within the region.
• Partner with Legal and external advisors where required.
• Maintain awareness of emerging legislative developments and their impact on the organization.

Talent and Organizational Effectiveness

• Support workforce planning, succession planning, and organizational design initiatives.
• Partner with Regional business leaders to identify talent needs and organizational capabilities required for future growth.
• Facilitate implementation of global talent management, performance management, and employee engagement programs.
• Promote a culture of accountability, inclusion, and continuous development.

HR Programs and Change Management

• Lead regional implementation of global HR initiatives and transformation projects.
• Support integration, acquisition, and organizational change programs within the region.
• Drive adoption of new HR technologies, processes, and ways of working.
• Champion continuous improvement and data-driven decision making.

Metrics and Analytics

• Utilize HR metrics and analytics to identify trends and improve organizational performance.
• Monitor workforce indicators including turnover, engagement, hiring effectiveness, compliance, and productivity measures.
• Provide regular insights and recommendations to senior leadership.

Leadership Expectations

• Demonstrates enterprise thinking and business acumen.
• Builds trusted relationships with leaders across functions and geographies.
• Operates effectively within a matrix organization.
• Balances strategic priorities with operational execution.
• Leads through influence while developing high-performing teams.
• Maintains the highest standards of professionalism, confidentiality, and integrity.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Psychology, or related discipline.
• Master's degree or advanced HR qualification preferred.

Experience

• 10+ years progressive Human Resources experience.
• 5+ years leadership experience managing HR professionals.
• Demonstrated experience leading HR operations across multiple countries.
• Strong knowledge of employment legislation and employee relations practices in China.
• Experience working within a matrixed, multinational organization.
• Experience partnering with shared service, outsourced, or host-company HR support models.
• Previous experience supporting manufacturing, technology, scientific, or industrial organizations preferred.

Skills

• Leadership and team development
• Employee relations and investigations
• Organizational design and change management
• Workforce planning and talent management
• HR compliance and risk management
• Stakeholder management and influencing skills
• Data analysis and HR metrics
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Fluent English and Mandarin preferred

Success Measures

First 12 Months

• Establish a high-performing China HR team with clear accountability and development plans.
• Improve consistency and quality of HR operational delivery across APAC.
• Strengthen partnership effectiveness with Spectris HR teams.
• Increase manager satisfaction with HR support and responsiveness.
• Successfully implement global HR initiatives within agreed timelines.
• Maintain full compliance across China and APAC HR operations.
• Deliver measurable improvements in employee experience and operational efficiency.

We provide market-leading, material characterization technologies for the world's most innovative companies, academic institutions, and government laboratories in the analytics of advanced materials.

We support our customers through their biggest challenges, from developing lifesaving vaccines to sustainable fuels. We wake up every day to delight our customers through innovation, high-quality solutions and workflows, and excellence in customer satisfaction.

We are a recognized leader for quality and insights in material characterization; winning customers with performance and keeping them with service. With more than 2,000 employees operating in over 20 countries across the world, and R&D sites in North America, Europe and Asia.

We are part of Spectris, a company which combines precision with purpose to equip customers to solve some of their greatest challenges to make the world cleaner, healthier and more productive. In 2025, Spectris acquired Micromeritics as part of Malvern Panalytical.