Lead, People Operational Excellence

South Pole is an energetic, global company offering comprehensive sustainability solutions and services. With offices spanning all continents across the globe, we strive to create a sustainable society and economy that positively impacts our climate, ecosystems and developing communities. With our solutions, we inspire and enable our customers to create value from sustainability-related activities.

Our Corporate Functions team is the “enablement engine” of South Pole. Behind the scenes, we provide the business with world-class solutions and best practices that sustain business growth and success. We cover key areas such as Finance, HR, Office Management, Legal, IT, Operations, etc. If you are a smart, ambitious and dynamic professional with a strong passion to make a real difference in the fight against climate change, the below position may be right for you!

Job summary:

The Lead, People Operational Excellence is a key strategic role focused on driving automation and efficiency within HR. This position is responsible for leading initiatives to streamline processes and policies, optimize HR workflows, enhance the employee experience, and implement advanced automation technologies. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in HR operations, automation tools, and process optimization, with a commitment to fostering a culture of continuous improvement, innovation and operational excellence.

Main tasks & responsibilities:

Operational Excellence Leadership:

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• Develop and implement strategic initiatives to drive automation and efficiency within HR processes.
  
• Establish and maintain best practices for HR operations (including implementing a multi-tier HR service delivery model), ensuring alignment with organizational goals and regulatory compliance.
  
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, leveraging methodologies such as Lean, Six Sigma, and Agile.
  

Automation and Technology Implementation:

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• Identify opportunities for automation within HR processes and workflows.
  
• Lead the selection, implementation, and optimization of HR automation tools and technologies.
  
• Ensure seamless integration of automation solutions with existing HR systems.
  

Process & Policy Improvement:

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• Analyze current HR processes to identify inefficiencies and areas for improvement.
  
• Develop and execute process improvement plans, incorporating automation to streamline workflows.
  
• Monitor and measure the impact of process changes, making adjustments as needed to achieve desired outcomes.
  
• Identify opportunities for optimizing HR policies, and design policies aligned with organizational goals.
  
• Ensure HR processes are compliant with local regulations, as well as internal policies.
  

Project Management:

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• Manage end-to-end project lifecycles for HR automation and operational excellence initiatives, including planning, execution (incl. stakeholder management), and evaluation.
  
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure successful project delivery and alignment with organizational priorities.
  
• Maintain project documentation, track progress, and report on key metrics to stakeholders.
  

Stakeholder Collaboration:

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• Collaborate with People & Culture leaders and other stakeholders to understand business needs and translate them into operational improvements.
  
• Act as a liaison between People & Culture and other departments, ensuring seamless integration of HR processes with overall business operations.
  
• Facilitate workshops and training sessions to promote awareness and adoption of automation and best practices.
  

Data Analysis and Reporting:

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• Utilize HR analytics and data-driven insights to inform decision-making and measure the success of automation and operational initiatives.
  
• Develop and maintain dashboards and reports to track key performance indicators (KPIs) related to HR operations.
  
• Present findings and recommendations to senior leadership, providing actionable insights to drive continuous improvement. 
  

Requirements:

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• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Information Technology, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
  
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in HR operations, with a strong focus on automation, operational / organizational excellence, and process improvement.
  
• Proficiency with HR automation tools and technologies (e.g. AI, machine learning).
  
• Experience implementing a multi-tier HR service delivery model.
  
• Certification in Lean, Six Sigma, or other process improvement methodologies is highly desirable.
  
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with proficiency in data analysis tools.
  
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate with stakeholders at all levels.
  
• Proven track record of leading and managing teams to achieve operational excellence.
  
• High attention to detail and a proactive approach to identifying and addressing challenges.
  

This role offers an exciting opportunity to lead the transformation of HR operations through automation and efficiency initiatives. If you are a dynamic leader with a passion for leveraging technology to enhance HR processes and drive operational excellence, we encourage you to apply.

What we offer:

At South Pole, we care about our employees as much as we care about the planet. South Pole is not just an employer, we are a Team. South Pole does not just offer people a job, we offer you a career. By joining our team, you will find strong purpose and deep meaning in everything you do. You will have the chance to make a real difference for our clients and for the planet, working alongside a passionate team of like-minded colleagues, while building your knowledge/skills and developing your career in a fun, dynamic, international and fast-growing organisation. 

We’re a planet of 7.5 billion unique and different people. We all have a contribution to make and South Pole is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status or disability. Our recruitment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need.