Employee Relations Specialist Asia Pacific, Vice President

About the role

Barclays is looking for an experienced Employee Relations professional to act as the regional subject matter expert for Asia Pacific. The role advises employees, managers, HR teams and control functions on complex, high-risk employment matters, manages workplace investigations, supports policy and governance initiatives, delivers manager guidance and training, and drives continuous improvement of ER processes and colleague experience. It works with HR, Legal, Compliance and business leaders in a regulated, fast-paced financial-services environment.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and support ER strategies aligned with the organisation's direction and vision.
• Develop, implement and maintain regional and local ER policies, guidelines and risk-management governance.
• Benchmark ER practices across markets and advise on country-specific, regional and global policies and labour regulations.
• Provide expert consultation, guidance and coaching to HR teams, business leaders, managers and employees on complex or high-risk matters.
• Manage end-to-end ER cases, including complaints, grievances, conduct concerns, disciplinary matters and allegations of harassment, discrimination or retaliation.
• Advise on workforce change and restructuring, and oversee wellbeing initiatives such as the Employee Assistance Programme.
• Manage industrial relations activities across the region.

Required profile

• Degree-qualified, with at least 10-15 years of Employee Relations experience across multiple APAC markets or regions.
• Significant knowledge of employment law and ER in a regulated, complex financial-services environment.
• Experience managing complex investigations and cases involving multiple and senior stakeholders.
• Preferred: ER experience in banking or financial services, and Mandarin reading and speaking.

Required skills

• Strong understanding of employment legislation and cultural awareness across key Asia Pacific markets.
• Ability to assess legal, regulatory and organisational risks and drive ER matters to resolution.
• Counselling, coaching, conflict resolution and advisory skills, with strong influencing techniques.
• Analytical, problem-solving and presentation skills, with excellent written and verbal communication.