Senior Manager Of People

Job description

## About Us Guidepost Global Education (GGE) is a leading provider of world-class education, dedicated to nurturing the potential of every child. We operate the world’s largest Montessori network, under the brands **Guidepost Montessori** and **Nest Pre-school**, with more than 100 schools across the United States and Asia. We are committed to building teams that are passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and families, fostering an environment where our educators and staff can thrive and grow. ## Position Overview We are seeking a strategic and hands-on **Senior Manager Of People** to lead an HR team providing dedicated support to our Hong Kong business. This role is a key member of our regional People Operations (Asia) team. While the preliminary focus is on Hong Kong, the position has a path at the regional level to support our business in Singapore and new markets in the APEC area. This pivotal role demands a full-spectrum HR generalist who will serve as a trusted advisor to school leaders, execute core HR functions, and champion initiatives that significantly enhance the employee experience for our dedicated educators and staff. The ideal candidate will be a proactive partner, eager to drive people initiatives that support our educational mission and foster a high-performance, nurturing culture. ## Key Responsibilities ### Strategic Business Partnership - Act as a strategic advisor to school leaders and business managers in Hong Kong on all people-related matters, including talent acquisition and management, performance coaching, and change management. - Develop a deep understanding of the business and educational goals to provide insightful, data-driven HR solutions that support our schools. - Translate business strategy into actionable HR plans and priorities. ### Full-Spectrum HR Operations - Manage the end-to-end employee lifecycle for Hong Kong employees, including onboarding, probation, confirmation, transfers, promotions, and offboarding. - Oversee and ensure the accurate and timely processing of payroll, benefits administration, and leave management in coordination with external vendors or the regional People Operations team. - Maintain impeccable employee records and ensure all HR practices are in full compliance with local Hong Kong employment laws and regulations. - Serve as the first point of contact for all employee queries regarding policies, procedures, and benefits. ### Employee Experience & Engagement - Proactively identify opportunities to enhance the overall employee experience and drive engagement initiatives for our school teams. - Manage employee relations with a fair, consistent, and supportive approach, fostering a positive and inclusive work environment. - Conduct regular check-ins and pulse surveys to gauge employee sentiment and recommend actionable improvements. ### Talent Acquisition & Development - Partner with hiring managers and the talent acquisition team to support the full recruitment cycle for Hong Kong roles, from teachers to operational staff, ensuring a smooth and positive candidate experience. - Support performance management cycles, guiding leaders on goal setting, constructive feedback, and development planning for educators. - Identify training needs within the business and coordinate or deliver development programs. ### Cross-Functional & Regional Collaboration - Work closely as an integrated member of the regional People Operations (Asia) team to align on global initiatives, share best practices, and ensure consistency in HR delivery across Guidepost. - Collaborate effectively with other support functions (Finance, IT, Operations) to provide seamless support to the schools. ## Qualifications and Experience - Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field. - Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in a generalist HR role, with proven experience as an HR Business Partner or similar. - Must have experience supporting a diverse client group, ideally within education, retail, hospitality, or other multi-site operations. - Exceptional command of English, both verbal and written, is essential. - Proficiency in Chinese (Mandarin) is highly preferred to effectively communicate with regional stakeholders and team members. - In-depth knowledge of Hong Kong employment legislation and HR best practices will be a huge plus, but not a must. - Must be comfortable working remotely and possess a proven ability to build strong relationships in a hybrid environment. - Willing and able to travel occasionally (approximately 4 times per year) as required. ## Key Competencies - **Strong Customer Service Mindset:** A genuine passion for supporting and serving employees and school leaders. - **Business Acumen:** Ability to understand business and educational priorities to provide practical HR support. - **Collaborative Spirit (Cross-Team Collaboration):** Excellent interpersonal skills with a proven ability to build strong, trusting relationships at all levels of the organization, both in-person and virtually. - **Eagerness for Regional Exposure:** A proactive and curious mindset, keen to engage on regional projects and understand broader APAC HR dynamics. - **High Integrity and Discretion:** Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with professionalism. - **Proactive, Agile & Self-Sufficient:** A self-starter who can operate effectively and independently in a remote setting, managing multiple priorities for various school locations. ## What We Offer - A pivotal role with significant impact on our schools and the employee experience of our educators. - Opportunities for professional growth and regional exposure within a global education leader. - A collaborative and mission-driven work environment. - Flexible remote work arrangement with occasional travel. - Competitive compensation package.