Build people strategy. Shape culture. Redefine organizational growth.

We partner with businesses that don’t just hire talent — they grow through it. We’re now leading the search for a Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) on behalf of a fast-scaling SME business anchored in Indonesia, embarking on a bold organizational transformation journey.

This is a pivotal leadership role — Building and Transforming HR strategy from the ground up, embedding scalable people processes, and shaping a culture that unlocks both performance and retention as the business grows.

If you’ve led HR in growth environments, know how to balance business and people strategy with execution, and can partner closely with founders to drive business transformation, this is your next move.

What You’ll Own

People Strategy & Organizational Design

Build and execute HR strategy aligned with business growth priorities.
Partner with founders and leadership to design the future organizational structure.
Ensure workforce planning, role clarity, and succession are embedded early.

Talent Acquisition & Development

Lead employer branding, recruitment, and onboarding to attract high-caliber talent.
Define competency frameworks, performance systems, and career pathways.
Create leadership development and succession pipelines to future-proof growth.

Culture & Employee Experience

Shape company culture — balancing startup agility with scalable policies.
Drive employee engagement, retention, and inclusion across teams.
Ensure people programs reflect both business needs and employee aspirations.

HR Operations & Compliance

Standardize HR policies, compensation frameworks, and benefits at scale.
Ensure compliance with Indonesian labor law and prepare for regional frameworks.
Introduce HR technology and analytics for data-driven people decisions.

Requirements

WHAT YOU BRING

10+ years in HR leadership within SMEs, startups, or fast-growing consumer-driven industries, with direct experience in both building and transforming HR functions.
Proven track record in scaling HR from early-stage foundations to structured, regional-ready organizations — including setting up systems, policies, and governance that enable sustainable growth.
Strategic HR expertise: skilled at designing and executing people strategies aligned to business objectives, funding milestones, and expansion plans.
Organizational design & transformation: experience in redesigning structures, defining role clarity, and leading organizational change programs that prepare companies for the next stage of scale.
Change management leadership: ability to navigate resistance, manage transitions, and embed new ways of working without disrupting business momentum.
Talent engine builder: demonstrated success in creating scalable recruitment processes, leadership pipelines, and development programs that fuel growth.
HR operations mastery: hands-on expertise in payroll, compliance, compensation, and performance systems — with the judgment to balance startup agility and professional structure.
Commercial mindset: able to link people strategy directly to revenue, productivity, and investor expectations, with a track record of influencing leadership decisions.
Trusted advisor and operator: capable of engaging at boardroom level while rolling up sleeves to execute day-to-day HR priorities.
Global/Regional perspective: familiarity with Southeast Asia talent markets, labor laws, and cultural nuances that impact regional expansion.

This is not just an HR role — it’s a mandate to architect the people engine of a business set for growth. If you’re ready to define what great HR in SMEs looks like, we’d like to hear from you. Apply or connect with the team at Substance.

Benefits

At Substance, we’re all about action, not just talk. If your profile aligns with what we need, you’ll hear from us within 1-2 weeks. If not, no fluff—just know we value your interest and will keep you in mind for future roles where your skills can make an impact. We focus on real connections and meaningful matches, so when the right opportunity comes, we’ll be ready to make it happen.

Getsubstance.co Pte. Ltd. | EA License No: 24C2398