Wellington College China

JOB TITLE

HR Manager

DEPARTMENT

Non-academic

LOCATION

Nantong

LINE MANAGEMENT

Acting Associate Bursar

OBJECTIVES

We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Human Resources Manager to join our team. This position will be responsible for the overall development and implementation of HR strategies to provide strong talent and organizational support for the school’s rapid development. The ideal candidate should be proficient in both English and Chinese, familiar with Chinese and international culture, and possess exceptional HR management experience in an international educational environment. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

STRATEGIC HR LEADERSHIP

• Partner closely with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to translate business objectives into clear, executable HR strategies, annual and long-range plans
• Provide expert counselling and solutions to the executive team on organisational design, talent pipeline, leadership development and change management
• Utilise advanced HR metrics and data analytics to identify trends, provide data-driven insights for strategic decision-making

GLOBAL TALENT ACQUISATION & EMPLOYER BRANDING

• Lead and innovate global talent acquisition strategies, developing global talent mapping and acquisition plans for key leadership positions and scarce teaching specialities
• Build and enhance the school’s global employer branding, leading online and offline employer branding campaigns
• Design and optimise a superior candidate experience from attraction to onboarding, ensuring the successful recruitment and placement of top-tier talent

ORGANISATION DEVELOPMENT AND EFFECTIVENESS

• Lead the training needs analysis, designing and driving interventions (e.g. team effectiveness workshops, employee engagement surveys, culture-building initiatives) to enhance organisational effectiveness
• Establish and lead the school’s leadership development plan, working with CO HR to implement our customised development pathways for high-potential talents and current leaders
• Manage complex organisational change initiatives, ensuring effective communication, risk mitigation and buy-in throughout the process

PERFORMANCE AND COMPENSATION STRATEGY

• Oversee the design and implementation of a performance management system aligned with international best practices, ensuring it drives a high-performance culture and is strongly linked to strategic goals
• Lead the annual compensation review, work with CO HR to conduct in-depth market benchmarking analysis, and design innovative, value-based total rewards packages (including long-term incentives) to retain critical talent

EMPLOYEE RELATIONS & COMPLIANCE EXCELLENCE

• Anticipate and manage complex ER issues, handling sensitive labour disputes and grievances that may involve expatriate staff, minimising legal and reputational risks
• Ensure the school’s HR policies and practices are not only fully compliant with Chinese law but also adhere to the highest ethical and compliance standards of 

BASIC QUALIFICATION

• Bachelor's degree or above
• Native proficiency in Mandarin and professional proficiency in English with the ability to present professionally at the Board level

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 5-8 years of strategic HR management experience. Experience within an international education group, elite bilingual or international school is highly preferred
• A proven track record of successfully designing and implementing strategic HR initiatives in areas such as talent management, leadership development, or organisational change with quantifiable results
• Experience of working with Safeguarding protocols would be an advantage.

IT SKILL

• Microsoft Office and knowledge of relevant software
• A knowledge of modern technology and social media
• Experience of HRIS is preferable

PROFESSIONAL SKILL AND KNOWLEDGE

• High levels of personal and professional integrity
• Ability to exercise discretion and confidentiality
• Customer-oriented and a professional approach to internal and external stakeholders at all times
• Personal warmth to engage positively and gain confidence of pupils, staff and parents
• A passion for excellent and a commitment to the ongoing development and implementation of the school’s vision
• Highly fluent and personable communicator, articulate and persuasive
• Strategic mind-set with a hands-on approach
• Detailed-oriented with excellent time management and editing skills
• Globally minded and a positive "can do" approach
• Outstanding cross-cultural leadership and emotional intelligence