HR Operations Specialist ANZ

Are you a senior HR Operations professional who thrives on turning complexity into clarity? Do you bring deep regulatory expertise, sharp commercial judgement and a passion for operational excellence? If you're ready to take the lead on shaping HR operations across Australia and New Zealand for a global organisation, this could be the role for you.

About the Role

As HR Operations Specialist ANZ, you will be the senior operational authority for HR across Australia and New Zealand — holding end-to-end accountability for HR operations, governance and regulatory compliance. This is a high-impact, high-visibility role where you will translate Group standards into pragmatic local execution, drive continuous improvement and serve as the trusted escalation point for complex operational and employee lifecycle matters.

You will partner closely with the Head HR ANZ, HR People Partners, Payroll, Centres of Excellence, Shared Services and external providers — playing a pivotal role in ensuring compliant, high-quality and efficient HR service delivery across the region.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and oversee end-to-end HR operations across the full employee lifecycle for ANZ, ensuring seamless and compliant service delivery
• Lead HR governance, controls, audits, regulatory submissions and compliance activities, acting as the senior authority on all operational matters
• Interpret and implement Australian and New Zealand employment legislation and regulatory changes, ensuring the organisation remains ahead of compliance requirements
• Proactively identify operational, compliance and people-related risks and drive effective mitigation strategies
• Provide senior operational guidance on complex employee relations and lifecycle cases, acting as the key escalation point
• Oversee payroll governance including validations, sign-offs and provider management, ensuring accuracy and accountability
• Own benefits governance and vendor management across superannuation, insurance, wellbeing and related programs
• Prepare HR dashboards, leadership papers and reporting, translating data into meaningful insights and actionable recommendations
• Lead HR operational projects and change initiatives, managing stakeholders and delivering outcomes effectively
• Drive continuous improvement, simplification and operational excellence across all HR processes
• Leverage digital and AI-enabled tools to enhance reporting, insights, workflows and service delivery

About the Team

You'll be part of a local team based in Sydney focusing on local partnership and execution, and also part of a broader team spread across APAC and European countries consisting of HR Operations specialists & HR Partners. Together we have applied intellect, execution power, embody the Swiss Re spirit and drive business impact. We strive to improve customer experience by always looking for innovations, process improvements and a standardised experience. 

You will also have the opportunity to work with various generalist HR functions, Centres of Expertise and with colleagues across the world, as we are part of outstanding international HR community.

At Swiss Re, we offer modern working arrangements that allow all employees to adapt to changing work preferences. We provide attractive offices and competitive benefits including 25 days annual leave, 15 days personal leave, flu vaccinations and annual health checks. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity — we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability status.

About You

You are a senior HR Operations professional with deep regulatory and operational expertise, a proactive mindset and strong commercial judgement. You are comfortable acting as a decision authority, escalation point and trusted advisor in a regulated, international environment. You lead with ownership and accountability, remain calm under pressure and are genuinely curious about the future of HR.

We are looking for candidates who meet these requirements:

• Extensive experience in HR Operations, HR Governance, HR Advisory or related senior roles within a complex, matrixed organisation
• Deep hands-on expertise in Australian employment law, payroll and superannuation, with strong working knowledge of New Zealand employment legislation strongly preferred
• Proven ownership of HR compliance frameworks and regulatory implementation, with a track record of managing audits, governance controls and regulatory submissions
• Experience in insurance, financial services or similarly regulated industries, with a strong understanding of the compliance landscape
• Demonstrated experience using digital, analytics or AI-enabled tools in HR operations, reporting or service delivery environments
• Experience in supporting operational change and embedding improved ways of working
• Experience managing third party providers and operational service delivery

These are additional nice to haves:

• Experience working within a global HR function and translating Group-level standards into local execution
• Strong stakeholder management skills with credibility and confidence at senior leadership levels
• Excellent analytical and data interpretation skills with the ability to produce compelling HR dashboards and leadership reporting
• A structured, detail-driven approach with resilience in complex, fast-paced environments
• A curious, future-focused mindset with a willingness to challenge the status quo and drive simplification
• Experience leading HR operational projects and change initiatives end-to-end
• Calm, solution-oriented and decisive under pressure, with a strong sense of integrity and sound judgement