Senior Manager Of People

About Us

Guidepost Global Education (GGE) is a leading provider of world-class education, dedicated to nurturing the potential of every child. We operate the world’s largest Montessori network, under the brands Guidepost Montessori and Nest Pre-school, with more than 100 schools across the United States and Asia.

We are committed to building teams that are passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and families, fostering an environment where our educators and staff can thrive and grow.

Position Overview

We are seeking a strategic and hands-on Senior Manager Of People to lead an HR team providing dedicated support to our Hong Kong business.

This role is a key member of our regional People Operations (Asia) team. While the preliminary focus is on Hong Kong, the position has a path at the regional level to support our business in Singapore and new markets in the APEC area.

This pivotal role demands a full-spectrum HR generalist who will serve as a trusted advisor to school leaders, execute core HR functions, and champion initiatives that significantly enhance the employee experience for our dedicated educators and staff.

The ideal candidate will be a proactive partner, eager to drive people initiatives that support our educational mission and foster a high-performance, nurturing culture.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Business Partnership

• Act as a strategic advisor to school leaders and business managers in Hong Kong on all people-related matters, including talent acquisition and management, performance coaching, and change management.
• Develop a deep understanding of the business and educational goals to provide insightful, data-driven HR solutions that support our schools.
• Translate business strategy into actionable HR plans and priorities.

Full-Spectrum HR Operations

• Manage the end-to-end employee lifecycle for Hong Kong employees, including onboarding, probation, confirmation, transfers, promotions, and offboarding.
• Oversee and ensure the accurate and timely processing of payroll, benefits administration, and leave management in coordination with external vendors or the regional People Operations team.
• Maintain impeccable employee records and ensure all HR practices are in full compliance with local Hong Kong employment laws and regulations.
• Serve as the first point of contact for all employee queries regarding policies, procedures, and benefits.

Employee Experience & Engagement

• Proactively identify opportunities to enhance the overall employee experience and drive engagement initiatives for our school teams.
• Manage employee relations with a fair, consistent, and supportive approach, fostering a positive and inclusive work environment.
• Conduct regular check-ins and pulse surveys to gauge employee sentiment and recommend actionable improvements.

Talent Acquisition & Development

• Partner with hiring managers and the talent acquisition team to support the full recruitment cycle for Hong Kong roles, from teachers to operational staff, ensuring a smooth and positive candidate experience.
• Support performance management cycles, guiding leaders on goal setting, constructive feedback, and development planning for educators.
• Identify training needs within the business and coordinate or deliver development programs.

Cross-Functional & Regional Collaboration

• Work closely as an integrated member of the regional People Operations (Asia) team to align on global initiatives, share best practices, and ensure consistency in HR delivery across Guidepost.
• Collaborate effectively with other support functions (Finance, IT, Operations) to provide seamless support to the schools.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in a generalist HR role, with proven experience as an HR Business Partner or similar.
• Must have experience supporting a diverse client group, ideally within education, retail, hospitality, or other multi-site operations.
• Exceptional command of English, both verbal and written, is essential.
• Proficiency in Chinese (Mandarin) is highly preferred to effectively communicate with regional stakeholders and team members.
• In-depth knowledge of Hong Kong employment legislation and HR best practices will be a huge plus, but not a must.
• Must be comfortable working remotely and possess a proven ability to build strong relationships in a hybrid environment.
• Willing and able to travel occasionally (approximately 4 times per year) as required.

Key Competencies

• Strong Customer Service Mindset: A genuine passion for supporting and serving employees and school leaders.
• Business Acumen: Ability to understand business and educational priorities to provide practical HR support.
• Collaborative Spirit (Cross-Team Collaboration): Excellent interpersonal skills with a proven ability to build strong, trusting relationships at all levels of the organization, both in-person and virtually.
• Eagerness for Regional Exposure: A proactive and curious mindset, keen to engage on regional projects and understand broader APAC HR dynamics.
• High Integrity and Discretion: Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with professionalism.
• Proactive, Agile & Self-Sufficient: A self-starter who can operate effectively and independently in a remote setting, managing multiple priorities for various school locations.

What We Offer

• A pivotal role with significant impact on our schools and the employee experience of our educators.
• Opportunities for professional growth and regional exposure within a global education leader.
• A collaborative and mission-driven work environment.
• Flexible remote work arrangement with occasional travel.
• Competitive compensation package.