Manager - HR Operations

Petrofac is a leading international service provider to the energy industry, with a diverse client portfolio including many of the world’s leading energy companies.

We design, build, manage, and maintain infrastructure for our clients. We recruit, reward, and develop our people based on merit, regardless of race, nationality, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, marital status, or disability. We value our people and treat everyone who works for or with Petrofac fairly and without discrimination.

The world is re-thinking its energy supply and energy security needs and planning for a phased transition to alternative energy sources. We are here to help our clients meet these evolving energy needs.

This is an exciting time to join us on this journey.

Are you ready to bring the right energy to Petrofac and help us deliver a better future for everyone? 

JOB TITLE: Manager – HR Operations

Main Purpose of this Role.

The HR Operations Manager is responsible for leading the HR Shared Services function and ensuring efficient, accurate, and compliant delivery of HR operational services across multiple geographies including the Middle East and India region.

The incumbent will lead centralized HR operational delivery across Payroll Operations, HR Data Management, and Talent Acquisition Operations while driving process standardization, governance, service excellence, operational scalability, and continuous improvement across the region.

The role will manage a team of HR operations professionals through functional leads and will partner closely with HR Business Partners, Talent Acquisition teams, Finance, IT, and business stakeholders to ensure seamless employee lifecycle support and operational efficiency.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

HR Shared Services Operations

·       Lead and manage centralized HR shared services operations across multiple countries and business units.

·       Ensure delivery of HR operational services in line with defined SLAs, governance standards, and regional compliance requirements.

·       Drive standardization and harmonization of HR operational processes across geographies.

·       Establish operational metrics, dashboards, governance reviews, and service delivery controls.

·       Manage escalations and ensure timely resolution of operational issues.

·       Support expansion of the Shared Services operating model into additional countries.

Payroll Operations Governance

·       Oversee payroll operations across supported geographies to ensure timely and accurate payroll processing.

·       Ensure payroll inputs, validations, reconciliations, and statutory compliance activities are completed accurately.

·       Coordinate with payroll vendors, Finance teams, and local HR stakeholders across countries.

·       Support payroll audits, compliance reviews, and governance requirements.

HR Data Management & HRIS Administration

·       Ensure accuracy, integrity, and confidentiality of employee master data and HR records across all supported countries.

·       Govern employee data transactions including onboarding, transfers, promotions, compensation changes, mobility, and separations.

·       Maintain strong HR documentation and records management practices.

·       Partner with HRIS teams on automation initiatives, system enhancements, and reporting improvements.

Talent Acquisition Operations

·       Lead TA Operations activities include interview coordination, offer management, onboarding administration, candidate documentation, and recruitment support activities.

·       Ensure consistent operational support to recruiters, hiring managers, and candidates across regions.

·       Monitor operational turnaround times and recruitment support metrics.

·       Drive positive onboarding and candidate experience.

Employee Lifecycle Management

·       Oversee onboarding, confirmation, transfer, mobility, and offboarding processes across supported geographies.

·       Ensure timely issuance of employee documentation and HR letters.

·       Support employee query management and HR operational support activities.

Governance, Compliance & Process Excellence

·       Ensure compliance with company policies, internal controls, and applicable country-specific labour and payroll regulations.

·       Maintain audit readiness and support internal/external audits.

·       Develop and maintain SOPs, operational guidelines, and process documentation.

·       Identify opportunities for automation, simplification, and operational efficiency improvements.

·       Drive continuous improvement and service excellence initiatives within HR operations.

Stakeholder & Team Management

·       Partner with HRBPs, Talent Acquisition teams, Finance, IT, Admin, and business stakeholders across regions.

·       Lead, coach, and develop a team of HR operations professionals through functional leads.

·       Build a strong customer-service-oriented and performance-driven operations culture.

·       Support organizational transition towards a regional HR shared services model.

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATION & SKILLS:

·       Bachelor’s degree required

·       MBA / PGDM in Human Resources preferred

·       Strong knowledge of HR operations, payroll processes, HR systems, and employee lifecycle management

·       Understanding of multi-country HR operations and regional payroll governance preferred

·       Knowledge of labour law and statutory compliance requirements across India and Middle East countries preferred.

·       Ability to be discreet when dealing with confidential information.

·       Have a keen eye for detail whilst being results-oriented and able to stay calm under pressure and in uncertainty, inspiring the same in their team.

·       HR Shared Services Management

·       Team Leadership & People Management

·       Payroll Governance

·       HR Data Management & HRIS Exposure

·       Stakeholder Management

·       Operational Excellence & Process Improvement

·       Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills

·       Communication & Coordination Skills

·       Service Delivery Orientation

·       Planning & organizing

·       Change & Transformation Management

Experience:

·       10–15 years of HR operations/shared services experience

·       Experience managing multi-functional HR operations teams

·       Strong exposure to payroll operations, HR data management, onboarding/offboarding, and TA operations

·       Experience supporting regional or multi-country HR operations preferred

·       Experience working in MNC/shared services/GCC environment preferred

·       Prior experience managing team leads and operational teams preferred