Senior Associate, People

OverviewA key member of the global People Connect (PC) team, this role will deliver a positive employee experience in all operational HR aspects for 18 EMEA Countries with 600+ employees.ResponsibilitiesManage employee queries regarding policies, processes, and Workday as part of People Connect.Drive employee engagement, employee relations, HR compliance, and partner with internal functions and external service providers.Provide HR support and consultation for employees and managers; answer queries about HRprograms (company policies, employee relations, annual programs) and other HR-related topics.Partner with Centres of Excellence (Talent Acquisition, Legal, Compensation, Benefits, L&D, Global Mobility, HRIS, etc.) to drive positive employee experience outcomes.Foster and maintain strong internal relationships with HR & colleagues globally (incl. HRBPs, TR, L&D, TA, Internal Comms, Legal, etc.).Prepare employment contracts across all India / APJ countries.Manage a seamless candidate experience from offer through to onboarding.Ensure background checks are completed on time with follow-up with the Hub team and closure of insufficiencies.Interface with key internal and external partners (Payroll, Legal, Facilities, IT, etc.) to ensure coordinated onboarding, separation and other key actions.Ensure documentation is filed appropriately and is SOX / ISO compliant.Provide Workday support to employees and managers and any Workday actions.Deliver initiatives to improve the employee experience with HR by identifying and proposing solutions that improve our service delivery model.Conduct exit interviews, provide feedback to management, and analyze data.Provide support to HRBPs on local HR matters for India and APJ.Work with Legal in managing local compliance requirements and reports.Participate in audits as needed.Run weekly outreach sessions for all new joiners, confidently articulating company orientation content and assisting with onboarding queries.Lead and contribute to people projects (globally or India/APJ) that drive improvement and deliver new value for the Ciena people promise.Promote self-service (Tier 0) to employees and managers, freeing up the HR team to focus on higher-value activities.Constantly review and develop Tier 0 content so it is up to date and relevant.Identify new areas for HR improvement such as automation or process improvement.Support the development, set-up, and review of HR policies and documents across process HR paperwork and system updates (e.G., promotions, transfers, leavers, relocations, etc.).Input and update data to Workday system, ensuring it remains current and accurate.Work closely with the payroll team to answer queries and ensure accurate processing each month.Maintain all electronic HR files and correspondence in line with GDPR.May need to perform general administrative duties from time to time.Collaborate with stakeholders: interact daily with employees and colleagues across all areas and levels, from different cultures and countries.Qualities we admirePassion for technology and alignment with Ciena's core values (Agility, Integrity, Innovation, Teamwork, Customer First).Employee relations experience.QualificationsKnowledge and experience of the EMEA region and the employment landscape.Detail-oriented and committed to a high degree of accuracy.Strong logical thinker who applies good judgement to employee situations.Highly ethical and able to deal with confidential issues with tact & discretion.Excellent organizational skills and abilities.Capable of effectively managing multiple demands from a variety of sources, remaining calm under pressure.Strong focus on customer service and meeting the demands of internal and external clients.Must be an effective team player.Passion for the entire people process.Preferably multi-lingual (French, German, Arabic, Dutch or Russian a clear advantage).Workday experience preferable.Join our Talent Community to get relevant job alerts straight to your inbox.At Ciena, we are committed to building and fostering an environment in which our employees feel respected, valued, and heard.Ciena values the diversity of its workforce and respects its employees as individuals.We do not tolerate any form of discrimination.Ciena is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status.If contacted in relation to a job opportunity, please advise Ciena of any accommodation measures you may require.#J-*****-Ljbffr