Role Overview
The HR Lead (Senior Manager) will be responsible for establishing, leading, and scaling the HR function for KDN Philippines in a high-growth, technology-driven, shared services/startup-like environment.
This role requires a HR leader, with mandatory tech hiring expertise, strong hands-on execution capability, and broad exposure across the HR lifecycle including L&D, employee engagement, retention, compensation & benefits, risk management, labor laws and legal & compliance.
The incumbent will work closely with Philippines business leadership, ASPAC Regional HR leadership, global HR CoEs, and central HR support teams in KDN India to enable rapid workforce scaling, operational stability, and alignment with regional and global people strategies. Collaboration, ownership, and a roll up your sleeves mindset are critical to success in this role.
Key Responsibilities
HR Strategy & Leadership
- Set up and lead the end-to-end HR function for KDN Philippines, including HR policies, frameworks, governance, and operating models.
- Act as a trusted HR Lead to KDN Philippines leadership and regional stakeholders.
- Align local HR strategies with ASPAC regional and global KDN people strategies.
- Drive organizational culture, employee engagement, and values in line with business objectives.
- Build a scalable HR model leveraging central HR and TA support from KDN India.
Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning
- Lead and scale technology hiring across engineering, data, digital, and IT services roles.
- Develop and execute TA strategies aligned to business growth and delivery plans.
- Conduct industry benchmarking and talent market scans to inform hiring strategy, compensation decisions, and workforce planning.
- Partner with business leaders on workforce planning, capability building, and succession planning.
- Bring an advisory mindset to hiring decisions (good to have).
HR Operations & Employee Lifecycle Management
- Oversee the full employee lifecycle, including:
- Onboarding
- Performance management
- Compensation & benefits
- Learning & development
- Employee engagement and retention
- Employee relations and offboarding
- Design and implement HR processes that balance speed, compliance, and scalability.
- Support L&D initiatives, employee capability building, and leadership development programs.
- Use HR data and insights to support decision-making and continuous improvement.
Risk Management, Compliance & Governance
- Ensure full compliance with Philippine labor laws, statutory requirements, and regional HR standards.
- Manage HR risk, employee relations matters, and compliance issues.
- Provide guidance on complex HR, employee relations, and governance matters.
- Ensure audit-ready HR processes and documentation.
Stakeholder & Global Collaboration
- Operate effectively in a global, matrixed organization, partnering with regional and global HR teams.
- Support and localize global HR programs and initiatives.
- Act as a key connector between leadership, employees, and cross‑border stakeholders.
- Collaborate closely across teams; collaboration is key to success in this role.
Candidate Profile
Required Experience & Background
- 12–18 years of progressive HR experience with Senior Manager–level experience mandatory.
- Strong background in IT / technology-driven organizations, preferably within:
- Shared services
- Global delivery centers
- Startups or scale‑up environments
- Professional services or consulting firms
- Proven technology hiring experience in the Philippines.
- Demonstrated experience setting up an HR function from scratch or scaling HR operations rapidly.
- Strong understanding of Philippines compensation & benefits practices.
- Hands-on exposure across HR domains:
- TA, L&D, employee engagement, retention, C&B, risk management, legal & compliance.
- Experience working in regional or global, multi-cultural, matrixed environments.
Preferred / Good-to-Have Experience
- Advisory or consulting exposure.
- Prior experience with a Big 4 organization or similar global professional services firm.
- Exposure to ASPAC or global HR roles within multinational organizations.
Key Competencies & Attributes
- Strong business partnering and stakeholder management skills.
- Strategic thinking combined with strong hands-on execution.
- Highly collaborative, proactive, and solution-oriented.
- Comfortable operating in ambiguity and fast-paced, startup-like environments.
- Strong communication, influencing, and leadership capabilities.
- High ownership mindset with the ability to work independently.
