at Singapore's AI and Technology Training Provider
Full-time | Singapore | People & Culture | Onsite

The opportunity

Vertical Institute is one of Singapore's fastest-growing AI and technology training providers, operating across B2C and B2B programmes with a diverse and expanding workforce. At that scale, the people function is no longer just about hiring and onboarding - it is about building the employment infrastructure, policy rigour, and cultural foundations that allow a fast-growing company to scale without the people problems that derail it.

We are looking for an HR Business Partner to lead the people function reporting directly to the CEO. This is the most senior HR role in the company. You will own the full HR remit - employment law compliance, policy development, employee relations, talent acquisition oversight, performance management, and the day-to-day operations of a lean HR team. You will be the person the CEO and department heads turn to when a people issue is complex, sensitive, or commercially significant.

This role demands someone who brings both technical depth and sound judgment to the people function. We are looking for an HR professional who knows Singapore employment law well enough to advise confidently, who can draft policy, and who handles sensitive matters with the discretion and professionalism that the leadership team can rely on.

What you will own

Employment law, policy, and compliance

Own and maintain the company's employment contracts, HR policies, and employee handbook - ensuring everything is legally sound, clearly written, and consistently applied across the organisation.
Serve as the internal authority on Singapore employment law - the Employment Act, MOM requirements, CPF obligations, and relevant MOM guidelines
Ensure full compliance across payroll, leave entitlements, statutory obligations, and government reporting requirements with no lapses.
Lead the company's response on any regulatory or statutory employment matters - managing the process, the documentation, and the outcome.
Periodically review and update employment contracts and HR policies to reflect changes in legislation or business structure

Employee relations and performance management

Handle employee relations matters with sound judgment and procedural rigour
Advise managers on how to handle difficult people situations correctly - coaching them through the process rather than taking over, so that management capability builds over time.
Manage investigations and grievance processes in a way that is fair, thorough, and defensible - protecting both the employee and the company.
Maintain the documentation standards that ensure every HR action is properly evidenced and legally sound.

Talent acquisition and onboarding

Oversee the talent acquisition function, working with the TA team to ensure hiring is timely, rigorous, and aligned with the company's standards and culture.
Own the onboarding experience from offer acceptance through probation completion - ensuring new hires are set up for success from day one.
Maintain fair, consistent, and legally compliant hiring practices across all roles, including offshore and contractor positions.

HR operations and team leadership

Lead a lean HR team covering payroll, onboarding, and employee engagement - setting clear standards, reviewing their work, and developing their capability over time.
Own and continuously improve the HR SOPs, checklists, and systems that keep operations clean and audit-ready.
Manage government grant and manpower scheme applications where applicable, including MOM-related programmes and workforce development initiatives.

Strategic HR partnering

Partner with the CEO and department heads on organisational design, headcount planning, and people strategy as the company scales.
Surface people risks early - retention concerns, compliance gaps, capability issues - with a recommended course of action rather than just an observation.
Build the HR infrastructure and reporting that gives the leadership team real visibility into the health of the organisation - not just headcount numbers but the indicators that matter.

What we look for

We are looking for an HR professional who combines deep employment law knowledge with the judgment to apply it in a fast-moving, commercially oriented environment. Beyond that:

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Law, or a related discipline.
6 to 10 years of progressive HR experience, with meaningful time in a role that required full ownership of employment law compliance and employee relations.
Strong, demonstrable knowledge of Singapore employment law. This is essential, not a nice-to-have.
Proven ability to handle sensitive employee matters - disciplinary proceedings, terminations, and disputes - with the procedural rigour and composure that protects both the employee and the company.
Experience drafting and reviewing employment contracts, HR policies, and employee handbooks with an eye on both legal soundness and practical clarity.
Comfortable leading a lean HR team while remaining hands-on with the operational and compliance work yourself.
Strong communicator - you advise the CEO and managers with clarity and confidence, and you know how to deliver difficult information without creating unnecessary friction.
Experience with offshore or multi-jurisdictional workforces is an advantage.
IHRP certification or equivalent HR professional qualification is preferred.

Why this role

Full HR Ownership

This is the most senior HR role in the company. You own the function, set the standards, and are the final word on people matters - reporting directly to the CEO.

Broad Exposure

You will work across the full HR spectrum - hiring, policy, compliance, and people partnering - in a company that moves fast and values getting things right.

CEO Proximity

You report directly to the CEO and are a core voice in how the company is built. People decisions here are taken seriously at the top.

Grow with Us

Vertical Institute is scaling fast and the HR function is evolving with it. This is a rare opportunity to step in at an inflection point and help define how the people function matures from here.

About Vertical Institute

Vertical Institute is Singapore's AI and technology training provider. We are a Skills and Workforce Development Agency (SWDA) Registered Training Provider and IBF-accredited institution. Over 50,000 professionals have trained with us across individual programmes and enterprise engagements, including partnerships with government agencies, MNCs, and financial institutions. We are headquartered at the Lifelong Learning Institute.