Director, Employee Relations, Asia

You are as unique as your background, experience and point of view. Here, you’ll be encouraged, empowered and challenged to be your best self. You'll work with dynamic colleagues - experts in their fields - who are eager to share their knowledge with you. Your leaders will inspire and help you reach your potential and soar to new heights. Every day, you'll have new and exciting opportunities to make life brighter for our Clients - who are at the heart of everything we do. Discover how you can make a difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities around the world.

Job Description:

Sun Life is seeking a Director, Employee Relations to lead our Asia Employee Relations team.

Based in Hong Kong, we are looking for an experienced human resources/employment law professional with excellent problem-solving skills, strong judgment, and proven experience managing complex employment issues with multiple stakeholders in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate will have a comprehensive understanding of employee relations best practices and employment law issues and be an effective communicator who demonstrates a high level of discretion.

In this role, you will lead a team of human resources professionals and work closely Sun Life’s HR Business Partners and business leaders as a subject matter expert and execution partner on complex employee issues and relevant policy matters. You will also work collaboratively with HR Centres of Excellence to advise on and operationalize practices and policies related to relevant employment legislation to proactively mitigate risk and ensure compliance.

What will you do?

• Works closely with HR, Legal, Compliance partners to oversee investigations, employee cases, policy violations and employees concerns
• Balance various organizational priorities including culture, risk mitigation, cost management, organizational growth, and achievement of business goals

• Advisory/Case Management
  • Leverage comprehensive expertise and judgment to provide timely, sound, and creative employee relations advice to senior leadership and HR partners that appropriately balances business needs against employee experience and concerns, and ensures compliance with relevant employment legislation
  • Influence and build consensus with various levels of management on approaches to managing complex employment issues
  • Collaborate with HR Business Partners and business leaders on restructuring initiatives and own strategy for managing employment impacts
  • Act as a Center of Excellence for other HR teams by providing guidance and expertise on complex policy questions and unique situations

• Policy & Project Work
  • Develop/revise programs, processes, and policies to provide proactive employee relations support, address complex business issues, and ensure compliance with relevant changes in employment legislation
  • Ensure compliance with existing HR policies/processes and develop solutions for improvement where gaps are identified
  • Proactive identification of potential legislative changes, significant legal cases, and emerging external HR trends that may impact Sun Life; Understand and interpret legislative changes and practices; communicating insights and impacts to the business and recommending policy changes as needed

What do you need to succeed?

• Post-secondary education, preferably in human resources, industrial relations, or law
• Minimum of 6 years of experience in employee relations, employment law, or a related field
• Excellent knowledge of employment and human rights legislation and related practices
• Consulting and client relationship management skills
• Team leadership and coaching skills
• Comprehensive expertise in employee relations best practices (performance management, terminations, investigations, complex disability management, statutory entitlements, etc.)
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with multiple internal stakeholders to resolve complex issues and implement solutions that align with applicable employment legislation and company values
• Able to work in a fast-paced, complex environment and adapt to changing business conditions and needs
• Strong communication and business writing skills
• Advanced interpersonal skills, particularly in effectively managing high stress and sensitive/emotional situations
• Demonstrated problem solving skills and high degree of judgment and discretion in dealing with confidential and sensitive information.
• Able to take initiative and operate with a high-level of independence with multiple tasks and priorities

In this role, you will lead a team of human resources professionals and work closely Sun Life’s HR Business Partners and business leaders as a subject matter expert and execution partner on complex employee issues and relevant policy matters. You will also work collaboratively with HR Centres of Excellence to advise on and operationalize practices and policies related to relevant employment legislation to proactively mitigate risk and ensure compliance.

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