Regional Head of HR Operations, EMEA & APAC

The Head of HR Operations, EMEA & APAC serves as the senior HR Operations leader and subject matter expert across AutoStore's countries in Europe and Asia-Pacific, ensuring compliant, efficient, and scalable HR operations while supporting the company's global People strategy.

Covering a diverse portfolio of countries: including Germany, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Lithuania, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Australia, this role operates in a highly complex legal and regulatory environment. The role provides expert guidance on regional employment legislation, HR operations, governance, and operational risk, ensuring global

HR processes are successfully deployed while meeting local statutory requirements.

As AutoStore continues its journey towards a technology-enabled operating model, the role will play a critical part in advancing Employee Self-Service (ESS), Manager Self-Service (MSS), workflow automation, and global process standardization. Rather than focusing on transactional HR administration, the position serves as a strategic operational advisor, helping shape scalable solutions that balance global consistency with local compliance.

This role has limited people leadership responsibilities and primarily serves as a senior expert and trusted advisor.

Role reports to: Vice President, People Operations, Platforms & Governance

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior HR Operations expert across EMEA and APAC, providing guidance on operational excellence, governance, and employment compliance.
• Ensure HR operational practices comply with employment legislation, regulatory requirements, and internal governance across multiple jurisdictions.
• Partner with global process owners to translate local legal and operational requirements into globally scalable HR processes.
• Lead regional deployment of global HR policies, processes, systems, and governance frameworks.
• Drive simplification, harmonization, automation, and digital adoption across the employee lifecycle, supporting continued expansion of Employee Self-Service (ESS), Manager Self-Service (MSS), and workflow automation.
• Provide operational leadership and expert guidance during organizational restructurings, acquisitions, workforce transitions, and other business transformations.
• Partner closely with Payroll, Legal, Finance, HR Business Partners, and Centers of Excellence to ensure integrated delivery of HR services.
• Maintain high standards of HR data integrity, documentation, audit readiness, and operational controls.
• Identify operational risks and proactively develop mitigation strategies across multiple legal jurisdictions.
• Monitor regional service performance, recommend improvements, and drive continuous process optimization.
• Manage relationships with external HR service providers, payroll, and statutory partners where applicable.
• Provide coaching, guidance, and day-to-day leadership to a small HR Operations team, supporting capability development while maintaining hands-on regional expertise.

Qualifications & Experience

• Extensive experience leading HR Operations across multiple countries within EMEA and APAC.
• Demonstrated expertise managing HR Operations within complex, multinational environments with diverse employment legislation.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and HR operational practices across multiple international jurisdictions; experience supporting both European and Asia-Pacific countries is highly preferred.
• Proven ability to navigate legal complexity, balance local compliance with global standards, and advise senior stakeholders on operational risk.
• Significant experience implementing HR technology, driving process standardization, and enabling digital HR operating models, including Employee Self-Service (ESS), Manager Self-Service (MSS), and workflow automation.
• Strong understanding of HRIS platforms, payroll processes, HR governance, data privacy, and operational controls.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence globally across functions and cultures.
• Demonstrated success operating as a senior subject matter expert and trusted advisor within a matrix organization.
• Experience providing leadership and development to small teams while remaining actively engaged in operational delivery.
• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Law, or a related field; advanced qualifications are advantageous.
• Fluent in English; additional French and/or German languages are considered a strong asset.

We Offer: 

• A Collaborative and Inclusive Culture where we celebrate and value everyone’s contributions, encouraging diverse perspectives in decision-making.

• Work-Life Balance & Well-being: We offer 1 hour per week of paid exercise, prioritizing your mental and physical well-being.

• A Creative and Safe Workplace by joining a company experiencing rapid growth, with the stability of being Norway’s first unicorn listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange.

• International and Supportive Environment within a Norwegian multinational that values collaboration and innovation.

This role can be based in France or Germany within commuting distance of one of AutoStore's office locations.
• France: Lyon
• Germany: Ulm, Berlin, or Hamburg
 

Application deadline: September 1, 2026. Please note that we review applications on a continuous basis. If this opportunity excites you, we encourage you to apply as early as possible. All inquiries will be treated confidentially.
 
If you are applying from outside the listed countries, please indicate your willingness to relocate to one of the specified locations in order to be considered for the role.

Recruitment Agencies

AutoStore does not accept agency resumes or assistance for this role. Please do not forward resumes to our job's alias or AutoStore employees. AutoStore is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes. This policy should be respected.