HR Operations Director, Submer

• 8–12+ years of experience in HR Operations / People Operations
• Strong expertise in UK employment law, payroll, and HR compliance
• Experience managing employee relations and labour relations processes
• Experience in project-based, engineering, construction, or infrastructure environments
• Strong HRIS and systems experience (HiBob or similar) with a data-driven mindset
• High attention to detail and strong operational discipline
• Ability to manage complexity across geographies, projects, and stakeholders
• Strong stakeholder management skills, particularly with operational and technical teams

Desirable

• The HR Operations Director – Design, Build & Operate (D&B) will lead HR operations for Submer’s D&B business unit, supporting a fast-scaling, project-driven organization operating across multiple geographies
• This role is responsible for building and running a highly effective, scalable HR operations model that enables workforce deployment, project execution, and operational discipline across the business
• The role will ensure that employee lifecycle processes, payroll, compliance, and workforce data are delivered with accuracy, consistency, and speed
• Acting as the key HR operations partner to D&B leadership, this role will bring structure, visibility, and control to a complex, global workforce environment, including navigating varied regulatory and labor relations landscapes
• Own and lead end-to-end HR operations for the D&B business unit across the UK and international project locations
• Ensure consistent, efficient delivery of all employee lifecycle processes (onboarding, mobility, changes, offboarding)
• Act as the primary HR operations lead for D&B, ensuring alignment with global HR frameworks
• Oversee workforce tracking, allocation, and deployment across projects and geographies
• Ensure accurate visibility of headcount, roles, and project assignments
• Support workforce planning processes by providing operational insight and data accuracy
• Coordinate contract management, including project-based assignments and international mobility
• Own payroll coordination in the UK collaborating at the group level, and oversee inputs for international payroll across project teams
• Ensure compliance with UK employment law and manage cross-border employment requirements
• Partner with Legal on employment contracts, mobility frameworks, and risk mitigation
• Maintain strong governance, controls, and audit-ready documentation across all HR operations
• Act as the point of accountability for HR compliance within the UK, ensuring adherence to employment legislation, regulatory requirements, and internal policies
• Support and manage labour relations matters where applicable, including employee relations cases, consultations
• Provide guidance to the business on labour law considerations and risks across different countries, partnering closely with Legal and external advisors where required
• Ensure consistent and compliant approaches to restructuring, mobility, and workforce changes across jurisdictions
• Own HRIS data integrity ensuring alignment with business units, projects, and cost structures
• Deliver accurate and timely reporting across key metrics: headcount, workforce allocation, cost, attrition
• Partner closely with Finance to align workforce data with payroll, budgeting, and project cost tracking
• Design and implement scalable HR operational processes suited to a Design & Build environment
• Standardize onboarding, mobility, and workforce deployment processes globally
• Identify inefficiencies and drive continuous improvement across HR operations
• Support the rollout and adoption of global HR systems, tools, and operating models
• Partner with D&B leadership to support workforce execution and project delivery needs
• Work closely with Finance on payroll accuracy, cost allocation, and workforce reporting
• Collaborate with Legal on compliance, contracts, and international employment structures
• Support Talent Acquisition with onboarding and integration of new hires into project teams