Associate Director - People Team, Group

Job Purpose:

We are looking for an experienced and proactive Senior People Manager to manage the HR Shared Services function in Mauritius to ensure delivery of high-quality services to the local business but to the rest of the Group. This role will drive operational excellence, improve employee experience, and be a key business partner to stakeholders. This is an excellent opportunity to drive continuous improvement of HR processes and contribute to the Global People Strategy.

Summary:

Working as part of a Global People Team you will be responsible for managing the team and overseeing all the day-to-day general administration and quality of all people related matters, included but not limited to monthly reporting, managing performance and employee relations. You will also be responsible for developing and expanding the Shared Services People Team to support the broader needs of the Group.

Principal Accountabilities: 

HR Operations

• Liaise with directors and managers in understanding the People needs for continuous engagement.
• Ensure a positive employee relations environment through strong relationships at all levels.
• Be responsible for new hire engagement to gather feedback and ideas.
• Responsible for full employee life cycle, in conjunction with the Group Resourcing Manager where applicable, from pre-onboarding, onboarding, offboarding and transfer administration for all people movements (e.g. new hires, confirmation, promotions, transfers, redesignation, resignations/ terminations etc).
• Ensure operations meet defined service level agreements (SLA’s) in providing a proactive service to the business
• Conduct structured exit interviews to gather feedback on the employee experience, identify potential areas for improvement, and support continuous improvement of HR practices.
• Responsible for work pass administration.
• Responsible for the accuracy of data on the Global People system which affects all the MI Reporting. This also includes ensuring the Global People system is the “go to” place for storing information and reflects the day-to-day operations in Mauritius.
• Ensure structured onboarding to integrate new hires into the Hawksford culture and systems, inline with Group standards.
• Provide timely updates on any new HR policy due to local regulatory changes or global alignments.
• Ensure compliance with Mauritian labor law and internal policies.

HR Management

• Lead and mentor a team of HR shared services professionals.
• Responsible for developing the skillset within the Mauritius People Team in line with the competency framework and the expectation from Group level.
• Partner with local leadership ensuring a proactive service to the business.
• Provide HR insights, including metrics to the leadership team to ensure effective decision-making.
• Monitor and report on HR Shared Services performance metrics (error rates, SLA adherence, processing times, employee satisfaction, etc.)
• Provide insights to Group People Team to inform strategic decisions.
• Contribute to the development and execution of the People roadmap for Mauritius, ensuring alignment with broader corporate goals (e.g., headcount growth, retention targets, cost control).
• Manage employee relations issues in a fair, compliant, and solutions-focused manner.
• Build and maintain a positive, inclusive, and collaborative culture in both offices.
• Lead and support initiatives that foster employee engagement
  

Compensation and Benefits

• Oversee employee benefits, insurance, and pension schemes in line with local standards. Participate in salary benchmarking and annual salary reviews.
• Manage the payroll and benefits administration with external providers
• Manage all the bonus and salary review process and documentation, alongside the Associate Director, ensuring everything is collated within the timeline provided.
• Oversee the various benefits schemes and advise staff on a confidential basis of their cover acting as an intermediary between them and the provider and handling any queries.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field. Master’s degree or HR‑specific certification (e.g. CIPD, SHRM, HRIP) is a plus.
• Minimum 8‑12 years of progressive HR experience, with at least 3‑5 years in leadership / managerial roles in HR Shared Services / HR Operations.
• Proven track record managing shared services operations: HRIS, payroll/benefits, employee lifecycle, HR metrics, process improvement.
• Strong understanding of Mauritian labour laws and HR regulatory framework. Experience across multiple jurisdictions is an advantage.
• Familiarity with HR systems & technologies (HRIS, workflows and automation tools) and data analytics.
• Excellent people management, coaching, problem‑solving, and stakeholder communication skills.
• Change‑oriented mindset; ability to lead transformation and adapt to evolving business needs.
• Experience in financial services environment is essential.

This job description is a guide to the principal, current duties of the job. It does not form part of the contract of employment