People Matters Manager, South East Asia

Job description

The People Matters Manager, South East Asia offers an outstanding chance to oversee People Matters services in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. You will lead, guide, and provide expert insight on complex employment relations issues while mentoring a team of People Matters Consultants. This position focuses on high-risk and strategically important employment relations challenges that demand specialist knowledge, familiarity with local laws, and strong commercial insight.

As part of Aon's retained People Matters organisation, you will navigate workplace challenges, manage people risk, and support leaders in making informed decisions across the employee lifecycle. This role reports to the People Matters Lead – South East Asia and works closely with various collaborators to manage risk, ensure consistency, and deliver legally defensible outcomes. Join us in building a world-class employee relations function!

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership and Employee Relations Governance Lead, mentor, and develop a team of three People Matters Consultants across Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Ensure workload allocation, capability development, case governance, and quality standards across the team. Act as the senior point of contact for complex, sensitive, and high-risk employee relations matters involving blocking issues. Provide technical mentorship and decision support on complex case management, investigations, and employment risk.

Ensure steady adherence to People Matters frameworks, investigation standards, documentation requirements, and governance processes. Assist the People Matters Leader, South East Asia in developing a high-performing employee relations function. Complex Performance Management Provide strategic advice and case leadership for complex employee performance matters. Support leaders through formal performance management processes, including Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs), capability assessments, and performance-related employment decisions.

Review and approve recommendations on performance management outcomes where employment risk is elevated. Collaborate with People Partners and Legal & Compliance on issues related to possible termination of employment, settlement talks, or regulatory matters. Allegations and Investigations Lead and coordinate serious workplace investigations, ensuring alignment with global standards, local legal requirements, and EthicsPoint governance protocols.

Review investigation findings, risk assessments, and recommended outcomes before presentation to decision-makers. Partner with Legal & Compliance, People Security, and other collaborators on high-risk investigations and regulatory matters. Ensure appropriate reporting of blocking issues to Regional People Risk Committees and senior leadership. Organisational Change and Reorganisation Lead the people-related components of organizational change, workforce restructures, position eliminations, redeployment activities, and business transformation initiatives.

Partner with People Partners, business leaders, and Legal & Compliance to complete legally compliant and commercially effective change programs. Offer recommendations on the implementation of employment relations procedural requirements for transitions across the region. Ensure organisational change initiatives are carried out consistently while adhering to local legal requirements. Employment Litigation and Risk Management Support the management of employment-related litigation, claims, labour authority matters, external complaints, and regulatory investigations.

Collaborate with Employment Law and Legal & Compliance teams to assist legal strategy, evidence gathering, witness preparation, and resolution activities. Assess people-related risks and provide recommendations to minimize legal, regulatory, reputational, and financial exposure. Monitor emerging employment risks and identify trends requiring proactive interventions. Policy Interpretation and Advisory Provide expert interpretation of people policies, procedures, and employment obligations where matters require judgment beyond standard mentorship.

Ensure uniform and lawful implementation of People Organisation policies across various regions. Support policy development, implementation, and localisation initiatives in partnership with regional collaborators. Act as a trusted advisor to People Partners and business leaders on complex people matters. Case Management and Operational Excellence Maintain oversight of high-risk and advanced cases across the region. Ensure accurate case documentation, quality assurance, and compliance with EthicsPoint and case management standards.

Monitor case trends, root causes, and emerging themes to inform proactive risk mitigation strategies. Contribute to regional governance forums, risk committees, and leadership discussions. Support the continuous development of the People Matters operating model and maintain effective collaboration with GCC teams for work transitioned outside the retained organisation. Key Collaborator Relationships People Matters Leader, Southeast Asia APAC Human Resources Lead People Partners Legal & Compliance Employment Law Country Leadership Teams Business Leaders and Managers People Operations and GCC Teams People Security Compliance and Risk Functions

Skills and Experience

Experience Employee Relations experience within a complex multinational organisation. Demonstrated experience leading employee relations teams and developing employee relations capability. Experience managing complex investigations and workplace conduct matters. Strong experience supporting organisational change, restructures, redundancies, and workforce transformation programs. Experience supporting employment litigation, regulatory matters, and legal risk.

Proven experience partnering with senior leaders on sensitive and high-impact people decisions. Experience operating across multiple countries and differing employment law environments. Technical Expertise Solid understanding of employment relations principles and practices throughout South East Asia. Advanced investigation, interviewing, and report-writing capability. Solid grasp of organisational change and workforce restructuring procedures.

Experience in employment risk assessment and consequence management. Leadership Proficiencies Excellent judgment and decision-making capability. Outstanding collaborator management and influencing skills. Ability to navigate ambiguity and complex people issues. Commercially pragmatic and risk-aware. Strong mentoring and team development skills. Ability to prioritise multiple tasks in a fast-paced regional environment. Success Measures Efficient handling of high-risk and complex employee relations issues.

Quality, consistency, and timeliness of investigation outcomes. Reduction in employment-related risk exposure. High standards of case governance and documentation. Strong collaborator happiness and partnership. Advancement and capacity building of People Matters Consultants. Consistent implementation of People Matters frameworks and investigation standards across South East Asia. How we support our colleagues In addition to our comprehensive benefits package, we encourage an inclusive workforce.

Plus, our agile environment allows you to manage your wellbeing and work/life balance, ensuring you can be your best self at Aon. Furthermore, all colleagues enjoy two “Global Wellbeing Days” each year, encouraging you to take time to focus on yourself. We offer a variety of working style solutions for our colleagues as well. Our continuous learning culture inspires and equips you to learn, share and grow, helping you achieve your fullest potential.

As a result, at Aon, you are more connected, more relevant, and more valued. Aon values an innovative and inclusive workplace where all colleagues feel empowered to be their authentic selves. Aon is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. Aon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran, marital, domestic partner status, or other legally protected status.

We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and fostering an inclusive workplace. If you require accommodations during the application or interview process, please let us know. You can request accommodations by emailing us at [email protected] or your recruiter. We will work with you to meet your needs and ensure a fair and equitable experience. 2587192