People Operations - Operations Manager APAC
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This role sits within ABB's Robotics business, a leading global robotics company. We're entering an exciting new chapter as we’ve announced the plan for SoftBank Group to acquire ABB Robotics. SoftBank is a globally recognized technology group and investor/operator focused on AI, robotics, and next-generation computing. By joining us now, you’ll be part of a pioneering team shaping the future of robotics—working alongside world-class experts in a fast-moving, innovation-driven environment.
This Position reports to:
Global Head of People Operations
About the Role
As ABB Robotics transitions into a standalone entity under SoftBank ownership, we are seeking a Regional People Operations Manager for APAC. This is a "Day 1" leadership role. You will initially manage the Transition Service Agreement (TSA) with ABB Group while concurrently designing and implementing the permanent People Operations framework for the region. You will be the bridge between legacy stability and future-state innovation.
Core Responsibilities
1. Strategic Transition & TSA Management
- Oversee the seamless migration of HR services from ABB Group to the new entity.
- Monitor TSA performance, ensuring service levels are met while identifying and mitigating risks during the carve-out.
- Lead the "lift and shift" of employee data and document history into the new ecosystem.
2. Regional Operational Leadership
- Direct the end-to-end Employee Lifecycle (Onboarding, Lifecycle Events, Offboarding) for the APAC region.
- Standardize Document Management and generation processes via Kainos, ensuring compliance with local labor laws (especially high-complexity markets like China and India).
- Support the Time Management strategy and execution across diverse regional jurisdictions.
3. Global Ecosystem & Payroll Collaboration
- Partner with the Global Payroll team to support a managed service model (Internal Partners + External Payroll Provider).
- Ensure data integrity between Workday and payroll engines to guarantee "Zero-Error" pay cycles.
4. Team Development
- Lead and mentor a distributed team of 3 People Ops Specialists (1 in China, 2 in India), fostering a culture of "Service Excellence."
Technical Landscape
You will be the regional advocate for our best-in-class HR tech stack:
- Core HCM: Workday
- Talent Acquisition: Phenom
- Learning: Cornerstone (LMS/LXP)
- Document Management: Kainos
- Engagement: Glint
Candidate Profile
Experience & Expertise:
- 8+ years in HR Operations/Shared Services, with at least 3 years in a regional leadership capacity.
- Carve-out/M&A Experience: Prior experience navigating TSAs or company spin-offs an advantage
- Regional Knowledge: Deep understanding of APAC labor markets, specifically the regulatory landscape in China and APAC (Japan, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam)
- System Fluency: Practical experience with Workday is essential. Familiarity with Kainos or is a significant plus.
Soft Skills:
- Resilience: The ability to remain grounded during the ambiguity of a corporate carve-out.
- Analytical Wit: You don't just report data; you find the "so what" in the numbers to improve the employee experience.
- Bilingual Proficiency: Professional fluency in English and Mandarin is required given the China base and regional scope.
Why Join Us?
This isn't just a "maintenance" role. You are joining a SoftBank-backed robotics leader at the start of its independent journey. You will have the autonomy to build processes from the ground up, backed by the stability of a world-renowned product line.
We value people from different backgrounds. Could this be your story? Apply today or visit www.abb.com to read more about us and learn about the impact of our solutions across the globe.