hr operations manager

Lambda.Global is an HR recruitment and analytics company conducting this search on behalf of our client.

Our client is a leading international mining company developing a large-scale, long-term mining project in Mongolia. The company operates with a diverse multinational team, invests strongly in the growth of Mongolian professionals, and is committed to responsible mining. Its core values are safety, integrity, teamwork and accountability.

ROLE PURPOSE

The HR Operations Manager is based in the Ulaanbaatar office, with travel to the mine site as needed. Reporting to the HR Director, the role leads Employee Relations, HR Operations and HR Compliance & Governance. The goal is a compliant, efficient and employee-focused workplace across both the Ulaanbaatar office and site operations, for national and expatriate employees.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Employee & Labour Relations

• Lead employee and labour relations activities and foster a positive workplace culture.
• Provide comprehensive HR support across the Ulaanbaatar office and site operations, and support employee engagement activities for national and expatriate employees.
• Advise leaders on organizational design, performance, engagement, retention and employee relations.
• Challenge and support managers to ensure decisions are consistent, fair, commercially sound and aligned with company policies.
• Partner with management on retention, recognition, communication and employee experience initiatives.

HR Operations, Payroll & Compensation

• Oversee payroll processes and drive operational efficiency and automation where appropriate.
• Coordinate the monthly HR-to-payroll process and ensure all employee changes are accurately reflected before payroll cut-off.
• Validate payroll inputs from an HR perspective and investigate discrepancies.
• Support the annual salary review and bonus processes, including manager guidance and approval tracking.
• Monitor compensation decisions for internal consistency, budget alignment and policy compliance.
• Use workforce indicators (headcount, turnover, absenteeism, vacancy rate, workforce cost) to identify risks and recommend action.

HR Compliance, Governance & Strategic Projects

• Identify employment, operational and people risks early, and escalate material matters appropriately.
• Develop, review and continuously improve HR policies, procedures and practices.
• Lead and contribute to HR and cross-functional strategic projects that support business objectives.
• Support and enhance Employee Value Proposition (EVP) initiatives to attract, engage and retain talent.

REQUIREMENTS

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Law, Business or a related field.
• 8+ years of HR experience, including at least 3 years in an HR management role.
• Proven experience overseeing payroll and HR operations.
• Fluent Mongolian and professional English (written and spoken).

Knowledge & Analytical Skills

• Strong working knowledge of Mongolian labour and employment legislation, and the ability to translate regulatory requirements into practical HR processes.
• Ability to understand business strategy, operating models and organizational priorities, and translate them into HR actions.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to move from data and observations to concrete recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to improve, standardize and simplify HR processes.
• Strong influencing, coaching and facilitation skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and stakeholders in a fast-moving environment.
• Strong communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills, with the ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters professionally.

Advantages

• Master's degree in HR, Law, Business or a related field.
• HR experience in the mining industry or a multinational company.
• Working knowledge of French.