Deputy Director, Workforce Services

Job Summary

You will lead Workforce Services for A*STAR, overseeing HR operations, service delivery, payroll, benefits administration and employee records.

Key Responsibilities

• Set the Workforce Services strategy and operating model, ensuring services are organised around clear standards, employee journeys and Research Institute-aligned needs.
• Oversee end-to-end HR operations and employee lifecycle services, including onboarding, employee administration, staff movements, secondments, contract renewals, work pass administration and offboarding.
• Lead payroll administration, including statutory obligations, payroll controls, reconciliation, exception management, business continuity and audit readiness.
• Oversee benefits administration, including insurance, medical and wellbeing schemes, corporate passes, vendor management, benefits-related audits and portfolio audit administration.
• Ensure strong governance over employee data, personnel files and records, including accuracy, retention, security and audit availability.
• Drive service excellence by setting service standards, monitoring case resolution and using employee feedback, service data and operational insights to address pain points.
• Lead process optimisation and digitalisation, using automation, workflow and self-service to simplify HR processes and improve productivity, controls and user experience.
• Partner various teams, including Policy & Governance, Employee Experience, Finance, Digital and business stakeholders to ensure policies are executable, services are integrated and improvements are delivered effectively.

Requirements

• Preferably 10 to 12 years of relevant HR experience, including HR operations, workforce/shared services, payroll, benefits administration or employee lifecycle services.
• Proven experience leading teams and managing service delivery in a complex, multi-stakeholder environment.
• Strong understanding of operational controls, employee data integrity, records management, audit readiness and statutory compliance relevant to workforce services.
• Experience driving process improvement, digitalisation or automation, with the ability to translate service issues into practical technology-enabled solutions.
• Strong stakeholder management, analytical and problem-solving skills, with the judgement to balance employee experience, service efficiency, governance and risk.

All new hires are appointed on a 3-year renewable contract in the first instance.