Head of People Services

The Head of People Services leads the organization’s shared HR services function, ensuring seamless delivery of HR Operations, Payroll, HR Systems, and employee support services. This role is responsible for driving operational excellence, process optimization, compliance, and digital transformation across the employee lifecycle while delivering a high-quality employee experience.

The role partners closely with HR Business Partners, Talent Acquisition, Finance, IT, and business leaders to ensure efficient, compliant, and scalable people operations.

Key Responsibilities:

HR Operations

• Lead and oversee end-to-end HR operations across the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, employee movements, benefits administration, offboarding, and records management.
• Ensure HR processes, policies, and documentation are standardized, compliant, and continuously improved.
• Drive operational efficiency through automation, process redesign, and service delivery improvements.
• Establish and monitor service level agreements (SLAs), operational KPIs, and employee service standards.
• Ensure compliance with employment laws, labor regulations, internal policies, and audit requirements.
• Manage employee data integrity, confidentiality, and governance practices.

Payroll Management

• Oversee accurate and timely payroll processing for all employees.
• Ensure compliance with statutory requirements, tax regulations, CPF, MPF/social security contributions, and payroll reporting obligations.
• Manage payroll vendors and external partners where applicable.
• Lead payroll audits, reconciliations, and year-end reporting activities.
• Resolve payroll-related issues and implement controls to minimize risks and discrepancies.
• Continuously improve payroll processes, controls, and employee self-service capabilities.

HR Systems & Digital Transformation

• Own and manage HR systems, including HRIS, payroll platforms, employee self-service tools, and related integrations.
• Partner with IT and vendors to implement system enhancements, upgrades, and new HR technologies.
• Drive HR digitalization initiatives to improve efficiency, reporting, analytics, and employee experience.
• Ensure system security, data privacy, and compliance with organizational standards.
• Develop HR dashboards and reports to support workforce analytics and decision-making.
• Lead user training, adoption, and change management for HR systems.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management 

• Lead, mentor, and develop the People Services team to foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with HR leaders and business stakeholders to align operational services with business needs.
• Serve as the escalation point for complex employee services, payroll, and systems issues.
• Manage budgets, vendors, and service delivery performance related to People Services.

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• Minimum 15+ years of progressive HR experience, including leadership in HR Operations, Payroll, and HR Systems.
• Strong knowledge of employment laws, payroll regulations, and HR compliance requirements.
• Experience managing HRIS and payroll platforms such as BIPO HRMS, Workday, SAP SuccessFactors, Oracle HCM Cloud, or similar systems.
• Proven experience in process improvement, automation, and HR transformation initiatives.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and project management capabilities.

Grow with us – Career growth and learning

We believe our greatest strength lies in the growth and development of our team. From day one, we create an environment that builds confidence and lays the foundation for long-term success. Whether you’re launching your career or stepping into a leadership role, we provide the tools, learning opportunities, and personalised guidance to help you thrive.

More about career growth at ESR

Our values and purpose

Our values are the foundation of everything we do—shaping our performance, culture, and ambition. Our purpose is rooted in the pursuit of excellence across all areas of our business, with a focus on maintaining the highest standards of performance, accountability, and integrity.

When you join us, you commit to three core principles:

• We Do the Right Thing: Integrity is non-negotiable. We hold ourselves to the highest standards of accountability, ensuring that every financial decision and business move is ethical and transparent.
• We Win as One Team: Our culture thrives on collective success. We break down functional silos to ensure that our ambitions are met through seamless collaboration and mutual support.
• We Think Beyond the Present: We don’t just manage for the quarter; we build for the years to come. We challenge ourselves to look past immediate gains to secure long-term excellence and sustainable growth.

More about our values and purpose