EMEA HR Digital Development & Operations Senior Manager

Canon is hiring an EMEA HR Digital Development & Operations Senior Manager to lead HR digital operations across EMEA and help shape the future of Canon’s HR systems.

Job Description

As Senior Manager HR Digital Development & Operations, you will lead HR digital operations across EMEA while also helping to shape the future of Canon’s HR systems. This role combines hands-on operational leadership with strategic HR digital development.

On the operational side, you will lead a HR Digital & Operations team, act as the pan-EMEA escalation point, and ensure stable, compliant day-to-day delivery of HR digital services to our countries. You will work closely with HR, IT, and Compliance colleagues to resolve issues, guide priorities, and ensure our HR systems are reliable and well governed.

On the strategic side, you will define a multi-year plan for Canon’s HR systems, based on practical experience and what the organisation can deliver. This means assessing what works well today, where systems or processes cause friction, and how improvements should be phased over time to avoid over-complexity or change fatigue. You will help Canon make informed choices about its HR technology landscape, including Oracle HCM, Cornerstone, and related solutions.

This is a high-visibility role with influence across approximately 12,000 employees in EMEA, offering the opportunity to shape how HR operations and digital services evolve in a complex, international environment.

Responsibilities

EMEA HR Digital & Operations Management

• Lead, manage, and develop the HR Digital & EMEA Tier 2 HR Operations team to ensure consistent, compliant delivery of HR operational services to countries.
• Act as the primary EMEA escalation point for HR Digital & Operations topics.

HR Digital Development & Multi-Year Roadmap

• Develop and deliver a clear, realistic multi-year HR digital and HRIS roadmap within the first 6–12 months, grounded in operational experience and organisational capacity.
• Translate business and operational needs into achievable priorities aligned with the HR Mid Term Plan.
• Support evaluation and decision-making related to Oracle HCM, Cornerstone, and third-party HR solutions.

Delivery of Key HR Digital Initiatives

Lead or support the operational delivery of priority initiatives, including:

• Position management
• Evaluation of Cornerstone for learning, performance, and talent
• HR Data Lake business case and reporting strategy
• Master data management improvements
• Onboarding digitisation

Ensure changes are implemented in a controlled, well-governed manner across EMEA.

Operational Standards, Data & KPI Management

• Act as overall process owner for the EMEA starter, mover, leaver process.
• Develop, maintain, and embed standard operating procedures (SOPs) used consistently by countries.
• Monitor HR data accuracy and operational KPIs using dashboards.
• Take corrective action with relevant data owners where standards are not met.
• Collaborate with HR Data Steward and HR BPO to ensure strong data governance and downstream system integrity.

Stakeholder Engagement & Governance

• Build strong partnerships with HR COEs, HR BPO, IT, Internal Control, Compliance, Legal, and Finance.
• Act as key contact for PE Operations escalations, including SOX, internal controls, and IT compliance.
• Participate in relevant IT governance forums to present requirements, track progress, and evaluate business cases.
• Maintain relationships with HRIS vendors and user groups to stay informed on product roadmaps and best practices.

Continuous Improvement & HR Leadership

• Identify opportunities to improve HR processes, digital tools, and ways of working across EMEA.
• Support EMEA-wide HR process standardisation initiatives as they are defined and implemented.
• Act as a role model for Canon’s People Leadership behaviours.
• Contribute to EMEA HR management discussions and HR MTP projects as required.

Qualifications

Skills and knowledge required:

• Relevant university degree.
• Fluent in English (verbal and written).
• In-depth understanding of end-to-end HR processes and how they are supported by HR systems and best practices.
• Strong understanding of HR digital landscapes and the IT infrastructure components that support HR services.
• Experience defining, monitoring, and using operational KPIs and data to drive improvement.
• Confident communicator able to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Proven ability to manage complexity, solve problems, and drive change in a fast-paced, international environment.

Experience required:

• Several years of experience leading HR Digital and HR Operations teams within a complex, international matrix organisation.
• Hands-on experience of Oracle HCM Cloud and/or Cornerstone on demand (or one of the other leading HR suites).
• Significant professional experience in HR and IT environment, including significant project leadership experience in both agile and waterfall execution.
• Demonstrated experience delivering HR process improvements, innovation, and optimisation of HR digital landscapes.

Canon Leadership Principles

• Inspires a shared vision
• Is courageous and has conviction
• Ensures delivery of the outcome
• Understands the customer
• Drives growth and innovation
• Inspires and motivates others
• Collaborates, building trust-based relationships
• Develops self, others and the organisation