People Relations Partner

The People Relations team enables fair, consistent and legally compliant people practices while supporting business transformation across China and ASPAC. The team partners with P&C, Legal, Compliance, business leaders, unions, employee representatives and external advisers on complex employee and labour relations matters. This role reports to the Head of People Relations and serves as the senior subject matter expert for China and ASPAC labour law, collective consultation and employee representative engagement. The role provides regional strategic leadership while directly overseeing complex cases, negotiations, labour arbitration support and workforce transformation.

Key tasks

• Develop the People Relations strategy for China and ASPAC, establish governance frameworks and policies, drive consistent practices and lead regional workforce risk reviews.
• Guide and support complex and sensitive employee relations cases, including misconduct, ethics concerns, conflicts of interest, retaliation allegations, harassment complaints, grievances, disciplinary actions, executive investigations and whistleblowing matters.
• Oversee investigation quality, evidence reviews, outcome consistency, escalation processes and litigation risk, ensuring lessons learned are embedded into business practices.
• Lead negotiations with unions and employee representatives and develop bargaining strategies, negotiation plans and communication approaches.
• Negotiate collective agreements covering pay, benefits, working time, attendance, shifts, organisational change, restructuring, flexibility programmes and employee welfare.
• Lead the regional labour relations strategy across ASPAC, support labour arbitration matters and manage consultation requirements during restructurings.
• Provide labour and employee relations leadership during acquisitions, divestments, integrations, outsourcing, reorganisations, site closures and workforce reductions.
• Assess labour risks, consultation obligations and employee communication requirements, partnering with Legal and P&C to develop compliant implementation plans.
• Advise on employee handbook requirements, workforce governance and organisational decisions, and establish People Relations metrics that provide leaders with insight on workforce risks.
• Coach P&C and business leaders, support country P&C professionals, build capability, establish standards and create development plans.
• Build constructive relationships with senior leaders, unions, representative bodies, compliance teams and external advisers while supporting business transformation objectives.

Experience required

• Degree in business, law, human resources management or a related discipline.
• At least 8 to 12 years of experience in HR and People Relations across China and ASPAC.
• Demonstrated experience in employee relations, labour relations, complex investigations and employment risk management.
• Practical knowledge of China and ASPAC labour law, collective consultation requirements and employee representative engagement.
• Experience leading union or employee representative negotiations and supporting collective agreements.
• Experience supporting labour arbitration matters, restructurings and workforce transformation.
• Strong influencing, negotiation, judgement, stakeholder management and written communication skills.
• Ability to work across countries and a matrix organisation, balancing legal, employee, operational and reputational considerations.
• Chinese or additional ASPAC language knowledge is preferred as an advantage

Success measures

• Reduced industrial relations risk exposure and litigation cost.
• Successful negotiation outcomes and strong employee representative relationships.
• Effective resolution of employee disputes and complex investigations.
• Positive, compliant workforce transitions.
• Improved manager and P&C capability and consistent regional practice.