Lead – HR Service Delivery

Job Description Overview This role is responsible for safeguarding delivery integrity, accuracy, and credibility across People Operations through robust governance, data-driven oversight, and rigorous investigation. The role holder will act as the operational and analytical individual owning complex investigations, overseeing payroll and HR operations transitions, strengthening controls, and translating strategy into execution. What This Role Does (At a Glance) Ensures 100% People Operations delivery through robust governance, controls, and checkpoints Investigates complex HR and payroll issues end-to-end and identifies root cause, not symptoms Oversees payroll accuracy and availability checks across regions and teams Leads HR Operations transition and transformation into a scalable People Hub model Uses data, reporting, and dashboards to surface risks, trends, and improvement opportunities early Key Responsibilities 1. Delivery, Governance, Audit & Risk Control Establish and own robust governance checkpoints across Hire-to-Retire processes to ensure flawless execution Perform periodic audits of HR Operations processes, identifying gaps and implementing sustainable control improvements Proactively identify operational, system, and risks before they impact employees or payroll Design and enforce controls, validations, escalation paths, and audit mechanisms Ensure SOPs remain current, usable, and audit-ready for People Hub and HR Service Delivery teams Build, strengthen, and enforce controls across employee lifecycle processes Owner escalation and complex / high-risk operational issues 2. Investigation & Root-Cause Analysis Serve as the primary investigator for HR Operations and payroll issues Independently work backwards through systems, data flows, handoffs, and decisions - even where historical knowledge or documentation is missing Convert investigation outcomes into corrective actions, control improvements, and SOP enhancements Support with fact-based analysis and clear recommendations 3. HR Operations Transition Management (Asia to India) Be the catalyst for a smooth transition of HR Operations activities from Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, and China to India Conduct deep-dive analysis of existing operations, documenting undocumented or fragmented current-state practices Ensure business continuity and zero disruption to employee lifecycle activities during transition phases Act as the key interface between HR Operations and People Hub teams to drive smooth transition and stabilisation Oversee Tier 1 & 2 HR case management, ensuring timely, appropriate, and consistent resolution of complex cases 4. HR Transformation & Operating Model Design Identify new HR Operations workstreams that can be delivered from India as part of the future-state shared services model Re-engineer and standardise Hire-to-Retire processes, including: Recruitment Operations Background verification Onboarding Employee Data Management Transfers & Movements Benefits Administration Leave & Time Employee Relations Operations Exit & Records Management Drive employee self-service by building strong processes and high-quality knowledge content 5. Payroll Operational Oversight & Transition Ensure stable, accurate payroll delivery across Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, and South Korea through strong validation, controls, and governance oversight Act as the designated backup for in-country payroll owners, with the capability to independently run payroll when required to ensure continuity and risk mitigation Perform detailed payroll validation and availability checks, identifying anomalies prior to payroll sign-off Monitor payroll quality metrics and drive corrective actions to achieve sustained, error-free payroll delivery 6. Systems & Employee Experience Act as an operational SME for Workday and ServiceNow within HR Operations Diagnose system and data issues, understanding how processes and systems interact end-to-end Support training and best-practice adoption across People Hub and regional teams Partner closely with all teams to ensure seamless operational delivery and a consistent employee experience 7. Data, Reporting & Continuous Improvement Own HR Operations reporting covering volumes, turnaround times, SLAs, error rates, escalations, and trends Analyse operational and payroll data to identify patterns, recurring issues, and systemic risks Develop and maintain dashboards and automated reports (Power BI preferred) to support decision-making Use data to proactively recommend improvements, automation opportunities, and control enhancements About you Strong background in HR Operations & Payroll Proven expertise in governance, controls, investigations, and root-cause analysis High level of technical and systems proficiency (Workday, ServiceNow, Payroll interfaces, data flows) Strong analytical, data, and reporting capability (Power BI or equivalent preferred) Structured thinker with exceptional attention to detail and risk awareness Ability to work independently in ambiguity and take ownership Ability to collaboratively work with multicultural teams Experience in multi-country or regional HR Operations environments (Asia/Middle East) Exposure to HR transitions, shared services, or transformation programmes Audit, compliance, or control-design experience Rewards & benefits Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. This includes: Comprehensive life insurance coverage. Premium medical insurance for you and your dependents. Generous annual leave balance. Flexible and hybrid work solutions. Remote work opportunities outside of country. Company gratuity scheme. Discretionary bonus program. Relocation assistance. Employee Wellbeing Program: 24/7 access to specialists in finance, legal matters, family care, personal health, fitness, and nutrition. Seize every opportunity to sharpen your skills, expand your expertise, and be recognized for the impact you make. About AtkinsRéalis We're AtkinsRéalis , a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people. Find out more. Worker Type Employee Job Type Regular At AtkinsRéalis , we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.