About the Position

Senior HR Generalist - APAC (f/m/d)

Company: applike group
Location: Singapore
Employment Type: FULL_TIME

About the Role

As the Senior HR Generalist APAC, you are the local HR presence and operational backbone for our regional headquarters in Singapore and growing APAC entities (such as, Japan, South Korea, China). Positioned at the intersection of hands-on HR operations and leadership advisory, you serve as the central HR expert for local employees, leaders, and external authorities.

You combine regional labor law expertise with operational excellence, owning the full employee lifecycle, managing payroll preparation with outsourced providers, and coordinating regional HR data, tools, and external partners. As a trusted partner to local management and the German HR Headquarter, you provide excellent and compliant HR operations, pragmatic HR sparring, execute annual HR cycles, and ensure smooth service delivery across assigned markets as our regional workforce continues growing.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Employee Lifecycle & Contracts: Own the end-to-end employee lifecycle, including contract creation, onboarding to offboarding, and local payroll & benefits administration.
APAC Business Partnering: Provide pragmatic HR sparring on leadership inquiries, employee relations, and team dynamics for regional Leads in Singapore, Japan, South Korea and China.
Performance Management: Steer the local performance management and ensure smooth and compliant procedures in alignment with local requirements and German HQ.
Payroll Preparation Management: Prepare, validate, and submit monthly pre-payroll data to external payroll providers and ensure 100% payout accuracy.
Labor Law & Compliance: Serve as regional SME on Singapore labor law (plus additional support for Japan, South Korea and China), ensuring legal compliance across local policies and audit-readiness.
Coordination of external partners: Manage relationships and coordinate with regional vendors/tool providers and authorities.
Annual HR Cycles: Co-steer our performance feedback and compensation cycles, as well as engagement surveys across APAC in alignment with German HQ.
HQ Alignment: Act as the primary liaison between local APAC leadership and Hamburg HQ to align global guidelines with local market practices.
Process Optimization & AI: Optimize local workflows, leverage HRIS capabilities, and integrate AI tools to increase operational efficiency.

Requirements

Experience: 5+ years of generalist HR activities as an HR Operations expert and/or HRBP, ideally in a fast-paced tech or growth environment in Singapore or the APAC region
APAC Law & Pre-Payroll: Tested expertise in Singapore labor laws (South Korea, Japan & China knowledge is a strong plus) and payroll preparation experience.
Balanced Skillset: Balancing practical startup realities with compliance & integrity standards, as well as hands-on HR administration with manager coaching.
Vendor Management: Track record of coordinating external HR partners and vendors (payroll, immigration, legal, advisory) and managing multi-cultural stakeholders.
Tech & Tool Savviness: Proficiency in modern HRIS platforms and standard digital collaboration tools.
Future-Proof Mindset: Proactive interest in leveraging AI tools and tech integrations to optimize daily workflows.
Working Style: Structured, solution-oriented, and empathetic workstyle.
Languages: Business fluent in English. Mandarin, Japanese and/or Korean language skills are a strong plus.

We Offer

Competitive salary
Relocation support
Comprehensive visa assistance
Hybrid working model
Professional development opportunities

About the Company

Our mission is to create an inspiring work environment for amazing people to achieve extraordinary things. Be part of it!

Skip writing cover letters. Tell us about your most passionate personal project, your desired salary, and your earliest possible start date. We are looking forward to your application!

We welcome applications from people who will contribute to the diversity of our company.

Tips & Tricks to Nail Your Interviews!

Skip cover letters

Since we want to keep everything fast and easy for you, we don’t want you to waste time on a cover letter – we would rather take a look at your CV and if it’s a match, we directly invite you to a first call.

Check your equipment

Test your internet connection, camera, mic, and speakers beforehand. Time for each interview is limited, and we’d like to spend as much of it as possible on getting to know each other. If the interview is online, always have your camera on! It’s way easier to create a meaningful interaction if we also see each other.

Do some research

We will give you all the information about the role & company’s culture, but it’s always nice to see how you perceive us after doing some online detective work. 😉

Prepare an elevator pitch

We will certainly ask you to briefly summarize your work experiences in a short overview. Think of what you’re going to say beforehand so you can fit all of the essential information in 2-3 minutes. Keep the goal of the interview in mind, and make sure everything you say is relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Structure your answers

Be specific, but don’t get caught up in details – following the STAR method can help you: Situation (set the scene and give the necessary details of your example) – Task (describe what your responsibility was in that situation) – Action (explain exactly what steps you took to address it) – Result (share what outcomes your actions achieved).

Let your personality shine

It is a recruiting process, but this doesn’t mean you can’t loosen up and showcase your personality. We are looking for an authentic character and we are open to having some small talk or a funny joke thrown into the mix. This might even show us that you’re a good cultural fit. Remember, next to all our ambition we like to have fun!

Come with your questions

At the end of the interview, we will ask you whether you have any questions for us. Use this time to get answers to all your questions or clear out any curiosities. Always have two or three questions prepared, whether about the position specifically or about career development, upcoming projects, or company culture.

Don’t be afraid of rescheduling

Even if you’ve already scheduled an interview, urgent things might pop up in your schedule or you might not feel fit to attend the interview. We are all humans & we treat these situations with empathy. It’s better to reschedule rather than not be 100% prepared to attend the interview. Simply communicate the change with your TA Manager and we will find a solution.

Finding Home Abroad – Relocation Stories

We’re supporting new colleagues from all over the world to move to Hamburg, Germany – see what they have to share about their relocation experience:

Read Relocation Article

“Unlike other companies, justDice/applike was there for me from the beginning. After signing the offer, I got comprehensive support in getting my visa, finding a temporary apartment in Hamburg & covering travel expenses for my whole family. All of this made our relocation significantly easier and more enjoyable.”

Grigory – justDice

relocated from Georgia with spouse

“I moved to Hamburg from New Zealand. It is easily the most beautiful city in Germany, and in my eyes, the whole world. My story is a little different, as I was already living here when I found my role at applike group, but the experience was just as seamless. applike supported me through the full visa change process from day one. The People team made something very complex feel simple, clear, and fully taken care of. You are in good hands!”

Gemma – applike group

relocated Hamburg from New Zealand

“Relocating always comes with plenty of challenges, but applike helped make the entire process very straightforward. From quick visa support to helping secure accommodation, my family (wife and son) and I were able to smoothly move to Hamburg within just two months. Just 2 weeks in, all essential paperwork had already been sorted, and my son was already attending kindergarten, allowing me to fully focus on my new role and getting settled in.”

Yuriy – adjoe

relocated from Israel to Hamburg with spouse and child

“Relocating to Hamburg with my family of four was a significant undertaking, but applike’s comprehensive support made the transition smooth and stress-free. From arranging our family’s transfer to assisting with residence permits, Applike’s thorough planning and financial backing ensured we felt welcomed and settled in our new home from day one.”

Roman – Sunday

relocated from Kazakhstan with spouse and 2 kids

“Relocating to another country is challenging, but applike group made the process significantly smoother by providing comprehensive support: from handling paperwork to offering a relocation allowance.”

Min – justtrack

relocated from Thailand with spouse

“My relocation process was supposed to be quick and easy yet we stumbled across delays from the embassy. So, the People team was extremely helpful, providing us with all necessary support with documentation, appointments, and processes; all in order to speed up the process and make sure we get to Germany as fast and as easily as possible.”

Mia – applike group

relocated from North Macedonia with spouse

“Moving to Hamburg was a breeze thanks to adjoe/applike. They managed every detail, from flights to accommodation, and their thorough support made me feel valued even before starting my new role. The entire experience was smooth and memorable, making my transition to this beautiful city unforgettable.”

Kim – adjoe

relocated from the Philippines

Recruiting FAQs

Frequently asked questions

How long does your recruiting process take?

We aim to make our recruiting process as fast and efficient as possible, but the duration can vary depending on the role you are applying for. Usually we are really fast, though (less than 4 weeks).

Can I apply for more than one role?

Yes, if you see multiple roles open that match your skill set, you can apply for them simultaneously. Our Talent Acquisition team will review your application and contact you about the role that best seems to match your skills.

Can I apply for multiple companies within applike group?

Yes, if you see multiple roles that match your skill set, you can apply for them simultaneously. Our Talent Acquisition team will review your application and contact you about the role that best matches your skills.

I just handed in my application, what are the next steps?

Great! Please allow a few days for our team to review your application. We will contact you with the next steps as soon as possible.

How do I know I’m really being contacted by someone from applike group?

We’ll never ask you for money, fees, or sensitive information (like bank details, tax forms, or credit card numbers) during the hiring process.

If anything feels off, you can always double-check by reaching out to our Talent Acquisition team at [email protected].

Once you’ve signed your contract, our HR team may request personal details, but only from our official email: [email protected].

Do I need to be located in Germany to be able to apply for your jobs?

No, we do provide full visa and relocation support.

Do you help with my relocation?

We do! You can find more information about our relocation support and the successful relocation of our colleagues here on this website.

What if I want to relocate together with my family?

No problem! Our visa and relocation support does also include your partner or kids. (Please be aware that legal marriage is often times a requirement to obtain a partner-visa).

Can I work remotely?

If you prefer 100% remote companies, applike is not the right place for you because we strongly believe in face-to-face collaboration. However, we did implement a hybrid working model where we are in the office at least three days a week (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday) and can work remotely the remaining two days. Additionally, you get three whole weeks per year to work fully remotely if you want.

What does hybrid working and flexible working hours mean?

Our hybrid working approach involves being in the office at least three days a week (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday) and the option to work remotely the remaining two days. Flexible working hours mean that we work Monday-Friday, but do not have fixed working hours. Just make sure to adapt to the rhythm of your team.

Where is your main-office located?

The headquarters of the applike group and all its subsidiaries are located in Hamburg, Germany. We do have offices in the US and APAC.

What is so great about your office?

Well next to the fact that you are able to see and collaborate with your colleagues face-to-face, we have a super modern office that leave no wishes open: from Drinks & Snack, areas to work away from your desk to a fully equipped gym.

Can I really bring my dog to the office?

Yes, you can!

Couldn’t find the perfect job offer?

Nevermind! We are always interested to get in

Senior HR Generalist - APAC (f/m/d)

Job description