Director, HR Operations, EMEA & APAC

As pioneers and global leader, Hiab is ambitious to write forward our success story, inspiring and shaping our industry. The world in which we operate with our class-leading products, intelligent services and innovative digital solutions is constantly changing.

Purpose of the position

The Director, HR Operations is responsible for overseeing and optimising human resource operations across the EMEA and APAC regions. The role drives efficiency, enhances the employee experience, and ensures the seamless delivery of HR services across the organisation, in cooperation with the centralised People Services. The role is pivotal in ensuring the efficient and effective execution of Hiab’s People Strategy across countries, while ensuring compliance with local legislative environments. The work is primarily conducted through the leadership and development of Country HR organisations, providing direction and support to ensure local legal compliance and alignment with global processes and systems. The role safeguards operational integrity while enabling a unified, Employee First HR experience across geographies. As a member of the Hiab HR Leadership Team (HRLT), the role also contributes to the development and execution of Hiab's People Strategy and its priorities, bringing the HR Operations point of view to the strategy work.

Main Tasks And Responsibilities

• Strategic leadership: Provide direction and coaching to Country HR Managers in EMEA and APAC across all operational areas, including but not limited to employment lifecycle management, labour relations, payroll, rewards, and local/global development initiatives
• People Strategy Execution: Ensure the successful localisation and implementation of the Hiab People Strategy across countries while aligning with central policies and initiatives
• Compliance & Governance: Own oversight of employment law (specifically works council regulations), collective labour agreements, and HR vendor management across all countries
• Performance & Capability: Drive a strong development culture in the HR operations team, ensuring role clarity, competence development, and high-performing delivery
• Service Continuity: Partner with HR Services, COEs, and Business HR to ensure seamless, employee-focused delivery of core HR services and apply global processes and policies in EMEA and APAC. Oversee the implementation, standardisation and adoption of global HR policies, processes, and programs across the countries, considering local specifics and legal requirements
• Budget & HR Vendor Oversight: Ensure cost-efficient and high-quality delivery of key services (e.g., payroll, benefits, recruitment vendors) through proactive management of contracts and performance
• Data & Analytics: Lead use of data insights (e.g., attrition, cost efficiency, engagement inputs) to support decision-making and performance tracking.
• Change Leadership: Actively support country and regional transformations (restructurings, integrations, legal entity changes, etc.) with strong project execution and risk mitigation
• Collaboration & Communication: Represent the voice of Country HR in strategic HR initiatives. Ensure local perspectives and employee needs are reflected in the global HR agenda
• Quality Assurance: Support audit readiness, policy alignment, and continuous improvement across countries.
  
  

Education

What you’ll need to succeed

• Degree in Organizational Psychology, Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field; Master's degree preferred
  
  

Experience

• Demonstrated success in leading operational HR and managing remote or matrix teams
• Deep experience in local HR legal requirements, labor relations, and employment policies
• Proven track record in driving change, coaching teams, and building a high-performance culture
• Experience in HR transformation and implementing global processes/tools locally
  
  

Competencies & Desired Behavior

Working Together

• Strong cross-border collaboration mindset. Actively shares knowledge and leverages networks to solve challenges and support peers
  
  

Communicating with Impact

• Can translate complex messages into clear, actionable communication for HR teams, leaders, and employees. Builds trust through transparency
  
  

Leading with Direction

• Acts as a strategic voice in HRLT. Creates clarity, prioritizes focus areas, and ensures effective deployment of the People Strategy across countries
  
  

Engaging with Empathy

• Balances business needs with an employees-first approach. Listens deeply and values cultural nuance in HR execution
  
  

Taking Accountability

• Delivers with quality and integrity. Takes initiative and owns outcomes. Proactively identifies risks and removes obstacles
  
  

Creating Value

• Business-oriented. Aligns HR delivery with operational and financial goals. Adds value through practical solutions
  
  

Continuously Improving

• Actively seeks feedback, challenges the status quo, and champions standardization where beneficial
  
  

Leading for Growth

• Coaches and develops Country HR Managers. Role models learning, adaptability, and forward-looking thinking.
  
  

You will be part of

As part of a global organization, you will gain access to an extensive network and exciting development projects. At the same time, we value personal development and the close collaboration that characterizes our local operations. Cooperation, commitment, quality, and order are the guiding principles we work by. We are constantly working to maintain a pleasant and enjoyable work environment for our employees with opportunities to grow in your role and develop it further.

Interested to join?

If you are excited about this opportunity, please submit your application/CV in English. We look forward to hearing from you!

Hiab (Nasdaq Helsinki: HIAB) is a leading provider of smart and sustainable on road load-handling solutions, committed to delivering the best customer experience every day with the most engaged people and partners. Hiab's premium equipment includes HIAB, EFFER and ARGOS loader cranes, MOFFETT and PRINCETON truck mounted forklifts, LOGLIFT forestry cranes, JONSERED recycling cranes, MULTILIFT skiploaders and hooklifts, GALFAB roll-off cable hoists, ZEPRO, DEL and WALTCO tail lifts, and the service brand HIPERFORM, a comprehensive suite of smart solutions that help maximise the life-cycle value of Hiab’s equipment.

As the industry pioneer, Hiab continues to make on road load-handling smarter, safer and more sustainable to build a better tomorrow. Globally, Hiab is represented on every continent through its extensive network of 3,000 own and partner sales and service locations, enabling delivery to over 100 countries. The company's continuing operations sales in 2024 totalled approximately EUR 1.6 billion and it employs over 4,000 people. www.hiabgroup.com