Human Resources Manager

Workplace Circumstances

• Environment: Educational (schools / universities etc.)
• Languages: English, Khmer
• Location: Phnom Penh

Position Summary

Department Human Resources

Reports To Business Services Manager

Safeguarding & Welfare Commitment Statement

CORE ROLE PURPOSE

The Human Resources (HR) Manager is a key leadership position at Shrewsbury International School Phnom Penh, holding responsibility for the end-to-end HR function. Reporting to the Business Services Manager, the HR Manager transitions the department from an operational supervisor model into a proactive, strategic division that safeguards, supports, and grows the school's diverse team. The post-holder leads a team of local HR specialists, operating with the authority and expertise required in a premium British international school environment. Core areas of focus include leading the HR department, enforcing rigorous UK Safer Recruitment and safeguarding compliance, and designing and managing an exceptional, comprehensive expatriate staff relocation and cultural integration programme for international educators moving to Cambodia.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Strategic HR Leadership & Department Management
• Lead, mentor, and build capacity within the school's HR specialist team, establishing a proactive, service-oriented culture that supports both academic and operational departments.
• Formulate and drive the school's Human Resources action plans in coordination with the Business Services Manager, to support school growth and premium British education standards.
• Conduct continuous reviews, updates, and implementation of school-wide HR policies, employee handbooks, and standard operating procedures, ensuring global standards and local laws are met as appropriate.
• Deliver regular workforce analytics, reporting, and strategic HR recommendations to the Business Services Manager and Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to support institutional decision-making.
• Safeguarding & UK Safer Recruitment Compliance
• Assume total operational accountability for the school's Single Central Register (SCR), ensuring that
• 100% of employees, academic staff, supply staff, and contractors are fully verified and compliant before their contract start date.
• Implement a Safer Recruitment process in line with UK Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidelines and COBIS standards.
• Direct the complex vetting processes for all staff, including international and local police clearance certificates, professional reference verifications, and background checks (such as the UK Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and International Child Protection Certificate (ICPC)).
• Maintain meticulous digital and physical personnel records, ensuring absolute accuracy, confidentiality, and alignment with modern data protection standards.
• Expatriate Staff Relocation, Transition & Integration
• Design and execute a Expatriate Relocation Programme to support new international staff and their families transitioning to Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
• Coordinate pre-arrival logistical support, serving as the main liaison for housing selection guidance, international shipping allowance protocols, and flight bookings.
• Direct the end-to-end legal compliance for expatriate staff, including securing official letters of invitation, Business (E-class) Visas, work permits, employment cards, and local medical certifications in strict coordination with the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training (MoLVT) and Ministry of Interior (MoI).
• Facilitate structured cultural onboarding, including practical local assistance (such as local bank account opening, health insurance registration, phone/internet access.
• Operational HR, Payroll & Cambodian Legal Compliance
• Direct the preparation and verification of monthly payroll, ensuring highly accurate Tax on Salary (ToS) calculations in strict compliance with the General Department of Taxation (GDT) of Cambodia.
• Supervise and submit monthly National Social Security Fund (NSSF) contributions, declarations, and employee healthcare/accident registration.
• Ensure all local and international employment contracts, variation letters, and termination documentations are drafted, issued, and managed in perfect alignment with both school policies and the Cambodian Labour Law.
• Act as the school's primary liaison with local authorities, labour inspectors, tax officials, and legal counsel regarding regulatory HR matters.
• Employee Relations & Performance Management
• Provide guidance and coaching to academic and administrative Line Managers on managing employee relations, resolving cases of absence, and navigating grievance or disciplinary procedures.
• Support the annual performance appraisal process, supporting managers to set clear objectives, identify training needs, and implement development and performance improvement plans.
• Act as a trusted mediator for employee disputes, ensuring a positive, supportive, and inclusive workplace environment that fosters employee engagement and high morale.

Languages

• Khmer - Fluent
• English - Fluent

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in HR Management, Business Administration, or related field

Work History

• Progressive HR experience for 5 years as a minimum
• Leadership or managerial capacity for 2 years as a minimum

General & Technical Skills

• Relevant University Degree (e.g., HR Management, Business Administration, or related field).
• Professional CIPD qualification (Level 5 or 7), SHRM-CP/SCP, or equivalent certified HR credential.
• Proven experience leading, coaching, and developing a team of HR specialists.
• Bilingual fluency in both English and Khmer (fluent spoken and written), with strong legal drafting and translation skills.
• Prior experience working in a premium British international school environment.
• Experience navigating multi-cultural structures and expatriate recruitment/immigration processes.
• Deep operational understanding of the Cambodian Labour Law, tax on salary regulations, and NSSF administration.
• Extensive knowledge of HR information systems (HRIS), electronic database management, and payroll platforms.
• Strong command of professional English and local business correspondence standards.

Soft Skills

• High levels of personal integrity, discretion, and a commitement to maintaining strict confidentiality.
• •Exceptional interpersonal and communications skills, with a collaborative team leadership style.
• Proven ability to organize HR department functions efficiently, work under pressure, and remain calm.
• Outstanding cross-cultural sensitivity and communication skills, with an innate ability to support expatriates from diverse backgrounds.
• Willingness to contribute dynamically beyond the standard job description to support overall school operations