People & Culture Director

About UsLove, Bonito is a digital-first company on a mission to empower the everyday Asian woman and inspire self-confidence. We are Southeast Asia's leading womenswear brand, headquartered in Singapore, with an omnichannel presence across Hong Kong SAR China, Indonesia, Malaysia and a retail franchise in Cambodia. In addition, we have also expanded into international markets namely the Philippines and the United States of America.Founded in 2010, we are proudly female-founded with more than 65% female representation in leadership roles (#girlpower!). We raised a US$50M Series C round in 2021 and know that we're on the cusp of something great, where we're working towards becoming the most thoughtful brand globally, for the Asian female consumer, especially when it comes to our products, community and experiences.There's a lot more work to be done with all of our exciting plans. So we're looking to team up with people who are wildly passionate about making an impact and be part of a dynamic team, in a workplace with no corporate BS (yes, you read that right!).Why join us?At Love, Bonito, you'll do more than just a job — you'll help build a movement. We're creating an organization that's lean, bold, and full of heart — where every person has the space to make an impact. Here's what you can expect:Purpose with performance: We're building a world-class Asian brand that competes globally. We hold ourselves to high standards and operate with purpose, integrity, grit and excellenceGrowth that's real: We are known to be incredibly dynamic and fast-paced. You'll be expected to learn fast, stretch beyond your comfort zone, and work alongside people who challenge and support you in equal measureCulture at our core: If you're looking for a no-corporate-BS environment, we are the perfect fit for you. We operate with empathy, celebrate individuality, encourage effective collaboration, and believe great work comes from trust, not titlesJoin us as we redefine what it means to build an enduring consumer group — from Asia, for the world.The roleAs we enter our next phase of growth and profitability, we are looking for a Director of People & Culture to shape our workforce, culture and future. We are a very people-centric organization and this isn't a traditional HR role — it's about designing a lean, high performing, and deeply purpose-driven and engaged organization where great people thrive, grow, and do their life's best work.Main responsibilities :Strategic Workforce Design & ProductivityPartner with leadership to shape an efficient organizational structure aligned to profitability and growthDrive workforce productivity through automation, digital tools, and lean team designEstablish clear metrics for payroll efficiency and people ROI year-on-yearTalent, Retention & SuccessionBuild succession plans for critical roles and high-potential talentDevelop career frameworks and internal mobility programs that both retain talent and future-proof leadership pipelinesLead talent acquisition and employer branding to attract top consumer and retail talent in the regionCompensation, Incentives & BenefitsDesign incentive KPI programs that directly drive business performance and culture (profitability, productivity, collaboration)Develop a holistic rewards framework: compensation benchmarking, benefits, ESOS schemes to retain great talent and incentivize the right behaviourRegularly benchmark pay across SEA markets, ensuring competitiveness and efficiencyLearning & DevelopmentBuild impactful L&D programs particularly in product knowledge, data and AI skills, effective communication and leadershipIntroduce scalable, self-driven learning models to upskill both retail and corporate teamsCultivate leadership capabilities to prepare the next generation of leadersCulture & EngagementChampion our culture as a lever of productivity and retentionDesign intentional engagement initiatives across countries (onsite + virtual) that build connection, collaboration, and fun Act as a storyteller and culture amplifier — ensuring our values are lived, not just writtenChange Management & IntegrationBuild employee trust and clarity through transparent communication and employee-centric operations; partner with leadership for quarterly townhallsLead any change management initiatives Prepare the organization for IPO/trade sale readiness through people and culture practicesGlobal Office ManagementOversee office operations and facilities Oversee country HRs to ensure compliance with workplace safety and health standardsManage landlord contracts and office procurementRequirementsQualifications & Experience10-15 years' experience in HR/People leadership roles, with multi-market Asia exposureProven ability to balance strategy and execution in a lean, fast-paced company with both corporate and retail/service workforceTrack record of building high-performing teams while managing payroll efficientlyStrong expertise in compensation, rewards, and incentive designExperienced in culture-building, engagement, and employer brandingSkilled in change management (automation, restructuring, integration of new businesses)Data-driven, comfortable with HR analytics and productivity metricsExecutive presence — able to represent People strategy at board levelBonus: prior exposure to group/house-of-brands environments and M&ABonus: prior exposure to creating ESOS frameworks You should have / beStrategic Partner: Aligns people strategy with business priorities, positioning HR as a growth enabler rather than just a support functionSystems Thinker: Designs, scales, and continuously improves HR processes (e.g. onboarding, performance, compensation cycles) with clarity, structure, and efficiencyOperational Excellence: Ensures compliance, consistency, and reliability across all people operations—payroll, benefits, policies, HR systems, as well as strategic oversight of office facilities, workplace safety, and budgetsInfluential Communicator: Earns trust and credibility with the C-suite, managers, and employees. Able to influence, mediate, and drive alignment across all levelsData-Informed: Uses people metrics and workforce analytics to drive decisions on retention, engagement, workforce planning, and compensation equityBuilder with Growth Mindset: Thrives in ambiguity. Proactively creates structure, playbooks, and scalable tools in a fast-changing environment. Believes in continuous learning and improvementStrong Judgment & Integrity: Navigates sensitive employee situations and conflict with empathy, fairness, and emotional intelligenceRegional & Cultural Fluency: Understands labor laws, norms, and cultural differences across SEA and adapts policies and programs accordingly, ensuring global HR alignment with country HR teamsPeople Developer: Coaches leaders to lead better and builds a strong, capable HR team with clear career paths and development opportunitiesCulture Champion: Brings company values to life through rituals, leadership behaviours, and people programs; safeguards and evolves culture as the business growsSuccess in this Role Looks LikeYear-on-year improvement in payroll productivity and profitabilityRetention of top talent and stronger bench strength across functionsEmployees feel rewarded, engaged, and connected across bordersWorkforce equipped with future-ready skills in digital and AIStrong culture that drives performance, belonging, and prideOrganization IPO/trade sale ready from a People & Culture standpoint