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 perks 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 workplace. 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
About Swiss Re
Swiss Re is one of the world's leading providers of reinsurance, insurance and other forms of insurance-based risk transfer, working to make the world more resilient. We anticipate and manage a wide variety of risks, from natural catastrophes and climate change to cybercrime. Combining experience with creative thinking and cutting-edge expertise, we create new opportunities and solutions for our clients. This is possible thanks to the collaboration of more than 15,000 employees across the world.
Our success depends on our ability to build an inclusive culture encouraging fresh perspectives and innovative thinking. We embrace a workplace where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive and develop professionally regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, skillset, thought or other characteristics. In our inclusive and flexible environment everyone can bring their authentic selves to work and their passion for sustainability.
If you are an experienced professional returning to the workforce after a career break, we encourage you to apply for open positions that match your skills and experience.
We may use AI-powered tools to support the review and evaluation of applications for this position. These tools provide additional insights to our recruitment teams, but all hiring decisions are carefully reviewed and made by people. To learn more about how we use AI in recruitment and how we handle your personal data, please review our Data Privacy Statement before applying.
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📌 Hr Operations Specialist Anz (Sydney)
🏢 Swiss Re
📍 Sydney