HR Manager – Design Hotels

In a Nutshell: 

You will work closely with the Director Human Resources – Business Partner on putting the HR strategy into practice; you will support optimizing the HR processes and structures, driving people operations, constantly enhancing employee experience, and fostering people relations. As an HR Manager, you will play a key role in overseeing core HR functions, with a primary focus on payroll operations for employees located in the UK, USA, Singapore, and Germany. Additionally, you will manage various HR tasks, including recruitment, employee relations, performance management, compliance, and HR policy development. You will supervise a team of two (2) direct reports, providing leadership and ensuring smooth HR service delivery. 

Tasks & Responsibilities 

Payroll Management: 

• Manage and prepare preliminary monthly payroll for UK, USA, Singapore, and Germany, ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations. 

• Communicate with external payroll providers in each country, ensuring accurate and timely information regarding employee compensation, benefits, and deductions. 

• Review and verify payroll data, including tax compliance, benefits, pension contributions, and other deductions. 

• Prepare and submit payroll reports to the finance department as per defined process. 

• Resolve payroll discrepancies and stay updated on payroll legislation. 

HR Operations: 

Recruitment & Onboarding: 

• Lead the end-to-end recruitment process, including creating job descriptions, sourcing candidates, conducting interviews, and making hiring recommendations. 

• Collaborate with hiring managers to define job requirements and competencies. 

• Manage the onboarding process, ensuring new hires are integrated into the company smoothly. 

• Maintain and improve the employer brand through recruitment strategies and candidate experience. 

Employee Relations: 

• Act as the first point of contact for employee queries and concerns, providing guidance on employment policies, performance issues, and grievances. 

• Manage employee disciplinary processes, including investigations and conflict resolution, ensuring compliance with employment law and company policy. 

• Facilitate effective communication between employees and management, fostering a positive and inclusive workplace culture.  

• Manage the offboarding process, ensuring employee records are deleted in line with local laws and as per company policy. 

• Conduct exit interviews, providing insights into employee retention and satisfaction. 

Performance Management: 

• Support the performance appraisal process, ensuring employees are provided with timely feedback and development opportunities. 

• Assist managers in setting performance goals and addressing underperformance. 

• Drive the development and execution of training and development programs that align with the company’s growth strategy. 

Compensation & Benefits: 

• Administer the company’s compensation and benefits programs, ensuring they remain competitive and compliant with local regulations. 

• Conduct benchmarking and salary surveys to ensure market competitiveness. 

• Oversee pension schemes and other benefit programs across multiple jurisdictions. 

HR Compliance & Legal: 

• Ensure compliance with local employment laws and regulations in the UK, USA, Singapore, and Germany. 

• Monitor and update HR policies and employee handbooks in line with legal changes and company culture. 

• Lead audits and investigations related to HR compliance, working closely with legal and finance teams as required. 

• Maintain accurate employee records and ensure data protection compliance (e.g., GDPR). 

• Support legal cases and issues with lawyers. 

HR Data & Reporting: 

• Maintain HR metrics such as turnover rates, headcount, employee satisfaction, and performance data. 

• Prepare regular HR reports for management, providing insights and recommendations for improvement. 

• Ensure HRIS (Human Resources Information Systems) is updated with accurate employee data. 

• Assist in setting up new digital tools to facilitate admin and HR processes. 

• Oversee content and HR-related communication on the social intranet. 

• Create and update internal presentations and documentations. 

• Handle daily tasks and correspondence in English. 

Employee Engagement & Wellbeing: 

• Lead initiatives to enhance employee engagement, such as organizing corporate events, recognition programs, and wellness initiatives. 

• Develop programs that promote employee wellbeing, mental health support, and work-life balance. 

• Conduct employee satisfaction surveys and use the data to improve workplace culture. 

HR Strategy: 

• Partner with the DHR to develop and implement HR strategies that align with business goals. 

• Support the execution of organizational development initiatives, such as restructuring, talent management, and succession planning. 

• Contribute to the design and implementation of a diversity and inclusion strategy across all locations. 

• Support the DHR and the Company and HR budget including staffing & payroll forecast. 

• Actively support Marriott Integration in the execution of the road map. 

Stakeholder Management:  

• Leading a team of Assistant HR Manager and a Working Student

• Close cooperation with the IT team to ensure smooth staff operations.  

• Building strong rapport and relationships with all global Design Hotels employees, partners, and stakeholders. 

Key Competencies: 

• Create Belonging: Build relationships by promoting an environment of collaboration, trust, respect, opportunity, and inclusion. 

• Develop Others: Develop diverse, inclusive, and high-performing talent and teams. 

• Lead Change: Courageously lead change, innovation, inspire others through optimism, and adapt to changing business needs. 

• Learn & Excel: Apply professional expertise while seeking out and integrating diverse perspectives and learning opportunities. 

• Deliver Results: Set ambitious goals, create alignment, and drive execution. 

Experience & Mindset 

• Minimum 6–8 years of hands-on HR experience, with a strong focus on HR operations and payroll in an international environment
   
• Proven experience managing multi-country payroll processes (Germany plus at least one of UK, USA, Singapore) in close collaboration with external payroll providers and Finance
   
• Demonstrated people leadership experience, including leading and developing a small HR/Admin team and ensuring high service quality
   
• Strong knowledge of German labor law and solid understanding of international HR compliance topics
   
• High confidence working with HR systems and data, including reporting, audits, and process optimization
   
• Advanced MS Excel skills and strong analytical capabilities
   
• Ability to operate independently, set priorities, and make sound decisions in a fast-paced, operational environment
   
• Strong stakeholder management skills, including close collaboration with Finance, IT, external advisors, and global teams
   
• Mindset: operationally grounded, structured, hands-on, resilient, and service-oriented, while able to think end-to-end and improve processes sustainably
   
• Personal qualities: empathetic, clear communicator, reliable, pragmatic, and calm under pressure