HR Operations Team Lead

At Quaker Houghton, we are experts in the development, production and application of industrial process fluids, lubricants and coatings for the manufacturing industry. We have been an integral part in the growth of the world’s largest industrial and manufacturing companies from aerospace and automotive to primary metal and energy. Today, we have a global presence, with our corporate headquarters located in Conshohocken, PA. Quaker Houghton is a global publicly traded company with a unique collaborative culture that supports career growth for its colleagues and offers competitive compensation and benefit programs.

As the HR Operations Lead, EMEA & AMERICAS you will lead a team of HR Operations Specialists passionate about delivering hire to retire employee services: data entry, time & absence systems, hiring activities, administrative support of benefits, policies compliance, employee file management, offboarding processes and support disciplinaries. Partnering across HR and other functional teams, you will actively support transformational initiatives and projects aimed at improving global HR workflows and processes. An exciting opportunity to join a dynamic and international team where your contributions will matter.

What will you do?

• Manage a team of seven HR Operations Specialists in the EMEA and AMERICAS region: align priorities to business strategy, oversee day-to-day work, provide coaching and manage individual performance & development.
• Manage the team’s work plan: coordinate and allocate work, ensure efficiency and quality assurance and manage continuous improvement projects.
• Lead and oversee all HR operational processes in the employee lifecycle, ensuring alignment with compliance and organizational policies, and provide strategic direction to the team.
• Oversee and monitor the timely entry and data integrity of employee data to meet established deadlines for key HR processes (on and offboarding, payroll, benefits, etc.).
• Conduct regular data audits and perform quality checks to ensure accuracy, completion and compliance. Participate in internal and external audits, as required.
• In partnership with HRBPs, recommend, implement and maintain HR policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with internal guidelines and statutory and/or labor union requirements.
• Ensure team is delivering consistent, efficient and accurate processes throughout all phases of the employee lifecycle, including but not limited to: data entry, time & absence systems, hiring activities, administrative support of benefits, policies compliance, employee file management, offboarding processes and support disciplinaries.
• Drive operational excellence throughout the employee lifecycle, proactively improving processes, harmonizing workflows and transforming complexity into streamlined practices.
• Understand the strategy and lead change management initiatives, ensuring smooth transitions and minimal disruptions through enablement and effective communications with Global HR Operations and stakeholder groups.
• Liaise with internal departments to coordinate workflows and ensure successful and timely completion of internal procedures.
• As part of a global team, the role may involve periodic meetings or project work outside local business hours to ensure alignment with international stakeholders.

What are we looking for?

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in human resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Experience: Proven experience as HR/People Operations leader in a multinational environment. Team leadership experience is a must. Working with a globally diverse population. Strong hands-on working experience and understanding of employment law requirements, regulations and data privacy guidelines in multiple countries in the assigned regions.
• IT Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite. Experience with Workday HCM is a must.
• Language: High level of English is a must, additional languages is highly valued.
• Soft skills: Leadership, Project Management, Results-oriented, Analytical & Problem Solver, Innovative, Customer Focus.

Location: Hybrid role based in the Manchester, Coventry, UK or Barcelona, Spain area.

We are a global leader in industrial process and mechanical engineering applications present in 40+ countries. We are continually improving and innovating so the world’s industrial manufacturers can stay ahead in a changing world. Throughout our 100+ locations, our engineers, chemists and industry experts partner with our customers to play a key role in helping them run even more efficiently, even more effectively, whatever comes next.

Our values: Live Safe, Exceed Customer Expectations, Drive Results, Embrace Diversity and Do Great Things Together. Our core values embody who we are as a company, guide our decisions and inspire us. Our commitment to these values, in words and actions, builds a safer, stronger Quaker Houghton. They are the fundamental beliefs that guide our internal conduct and our relationship with the outside world.

Join the team and let’s do great things together!