Regional HR Manager - EMEA

Canonical is a leading provider of open source software and operating systems to the global enterprise and technology markets. Our platform, Ubuntu, is very widely used in breakthrough enterprise initiatives such as public cloud, data science, AI, engineering innovation and IoT. Our customers include the world’s leading public cloud and silicon providers, and industry leaders in many sectors. Canonical is a pioneer of global distributed collaboration with more than 1,200 colleagues in over 75 countries and very few office‑based roles.

Teams meet two to four times yearly in person, in interesting locations around the world, to align on strategy and execution.

The company is founder‑led, profitable and growing.

With 1,200+ colleagues across 75 countries, we require a People function that thinks and acts globally. We’re looking for a regional lead that will report into our Global Head of HR who can help build our company as we go through continued growth plans. It’s an exciting time to join with the opportunity to help shape and create an HR function for the future.

You will lead the APAC team of HR professionals to provide precise, compliant and scalable HR operations to the business, advise and execute on HR issues across the whole employee life‑cycle, and partner with senior leadership in your region. You will have an analytical approach, a keen eye for detail and the ability to interpret data trends and themes.

• Lead and scale Canonical’s regional HR team
• Deliver precise and compliant HR operations in a timely manner and with the highest degree of accuracy
• Interact closely with the broader People team to create tight‑knit processes across all regions
• Be accountable for HR processes such as talent development, succession planning, performance assessments, onboarding, culture and engagement initiatives that drive high‑performing teams
• Work with senior managers across the business on performance management, organisational design, employee engagement, rewards‑ and workforce planning
• Own and coach and advise people managers on the full spectrum of employee relations issues, across multiple countries
• Partner with people managers to support the delivery of appropriate training and development programmes
• Establish a trusted partnership with the business in your region
• Drive diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
• Design new policies and deliver on business‑critical HR related projects globally
• Present at Canonical events to articulate Canonical’s HR practices

• Exceptional academic track record from both high school and university
• HR experience leading initiatives across regions within a technology business
• People management experience
• Experience in business partnering with senior stakeholders
• A good balance between leading and executing, in this role you will need to be hands‑on involved in the daily HR routines too
• Experience in working in a remote‑first organization
• Able to leverage data to make informed decisions
• Knowledge and practical implementation of HR practices and employment law across APAC
• Experience in handling and overseeing complex ER matters across multiple jurisdictions
• Fluent in business English (written and spoken)
• Self‑motivated, organised, accurate, confident, authentic, results‑orientated, open‑minded, enthusiastic and energetic
• Willingness to travel up to 4 times a year for internal events

• Experience with immigration policies and mobility processes
• Professional HR qualification (CIPD/SHRM or other)
• Facilitation skills

• Distributed work environment with twice‑yearly team sprints in person
• Personal learning and development budget of USD 2,000 per year
• Annual compensation review
• Recognition rewards
• Annual holiday leave
• Maternity and paternity leave
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Opportunity to travel to new locations to meet colleagues
• Priority Pass, and travel upgrades for long‑haul company events

Canonical is a pioneering tech firm at the forefront of the global move to open source. As the company that publishes Ubuntu, one of…