HR Operations Specialist

Job Description

Coherent is a global leader in photonics, developing advanced laser, optical and materials technologies that enable semiconductor manufacturing, AI infrastructure, advanced communications and precision industrial applications worldwide.

In Scotland, our teams combine engineering expertise, advanced manufacturing and collaborative innovation to develop, manufacture and support high-performance laser and ultrafast laser systems for demanding industrial and scientific applications worldwide.

As an HR Operations Specialist (German Speaking), you will be one of the first points of contact for employees and managers across EMEA and North America. You will provide accurate, responsive and confidential HR support throughout the employee lifecycle—from answering everyday HR queries to processing employee changes and maintaining accurate records.

Based in Glasgow (3 days onsite) and reporting to the Senior Manager, HR Shared Services, you will join a collaborative global team and help deliver an exceptional employee experience across multiple countries and cultures. This is a hybrid position that will include shift coverage to support our North American operations.

• Receive, record and manage employee and manager queries through our HR case-management system.
• Provide first-line support on HR policies, benefits, processes and general employee questions.
• Take ownership of assigned cases, ensuring they are resolved accurately and within agreed service levels.
• Escalate complex matters to specialist HR teams or Centres of Excellence, providing a clear and complete handover.
• Process employee lifecycle transactions, including employee data changes, contracts and benefits updates.
• Validate information carefully to prevent payroll, benefits or compliance issues.
• Maintain accurate and confidential employee records within our HR systems.
• Handle sensitive employee information with professionalism, discretion and empathy.
• Work closely with Payroll, Benefits, HR Systems and specialist HR teams to deliver seamless end-to-end support.
• Maintain complete, audit-ready documentation in line with GDPR, local privacy requirements and employment legislation.
• Support data-cleansing and migration activities to ensure employee records remain accurate and compliant.
• Follow established procedures while identifying opportunities to simplify processes and improve service delivery.
• Analyse case trends, share insights and contribute to continuous-improvement initiatives.
• Support the development of HR guidance and knowledge resources.
• Help deliver consistent and standardised HR services across EMEA and North America.

You will be someone who enjoys helping others, takes pride in delivering accurate work and can be trusted to handle sensitive information appropriately. You will ideally bring:

• At least two years’ experience in HR operations, shared services, customer service or a related administrative position.
• Experience handling confidential or personal information with integrity and discretion.
• Experience using an HR system such as Success Factors, Workday, Oracle or a similar platform.
• Familiarity with case-management, ticketing or workflow systems.
• Strong customer-service skills and the confidence to resolve queries professionally.
• Excellent attention to detail and a commitment to getting things right first time.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement.
• Resilience and adaptability within a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• The ability to build effective relationships across international and culturally diverse teams.
• Fluent written and spoken in both English and German.

Ensure adherence to the…