China HR Manager

About Wati 

Started as a WhatsApp team inbox in 2020, Wati has evolved into a full revenue orchestration system that goes beyond a single platform. We empower businesses that sell, support, and grow through conversations by observing customer intent in real-time, deciding the next best revenue action, and executing it seamlessly across marketing, sales, and support—all within WhatsApp and connected messaging channels.

Our Platform & AI Capabilities 

Wati is designed for scalability and intelligence. Our AI-native platform simplifies complex customer communication operations through a unified inbox, a robust multi-channel messaging infrastructure, and no-code automation. At the heart of our solution is Astra, our intelligent AI layer, which helps you create AI Agents for all customer interactions and all your messaging platforms. By integrating AI agents into the ecosystem, we enable businesses of all sizes to deliver measurable ROI and build deeper customer relationships.

Our Backing & Partnerships 

Trusted by over 16,000 customers across 190+ countries, Wati is proudly backed by world-class investors including Tiger Global, Sequoia Capital, DST Global, and Shopify. As a Premium-tier Partner of Meta and Google, we maintain the highest standards of platform excellence and integration.

About the Role

As the HR Manager for China, you will be the strategic anchor for our Shenzhen office, ensuring our rapid growth (especially within R&D and GCR squads) is built on a foundation of operational excellence and strict legal compliance. 

You will transition our people operations into a highly self-sufficient model, providing expert guidance on local labor dynamics while maintaining the agility and culture that defines Wati globally.

What You Will Do

Employee Lifecycle & HR Operations

Own and execute end-to-end onboarding and offboarding processes for China-based employees

Coordinate with the Talent team to ensure a smooth new joiner experience

Set up employees on systems (e.g., Rippling), and guide them through policies, leave, and reimbursement processes

Act as the first point of contact for employee queries and resolve them efficiently

Maintain accurate employee records, contracts, and HR documentation

Payroll & Compliance

Manage and execute monthly payroll in China

Ensure timely and accurate payroll inputs, approvals, and processing

Coordinate statutory contributions, tax filings, and compliance requirements with vendors

Apply working knowledge of China labor laws to ensure HR practices remain compliant

Offboarding & Employee Relations

Manage employee exits end-to-end, including documentation and final settlements

Handle employee relations matters in line with China labor laws, including supporting performance management and terminations where needed

Partner with internal stakeholders and external advisors to navigate sensitive or complex labor matters

Ensure all offboarding processes are compliant, well-documented, and handled professionally

Office & Administrative Operations

Coordinate laptops, onboarding kits, and equipment to ensure employees are fully set up from Day 1

Manage petty cash and support expense tracking and reimbursements

Support office-related logistics, including space planning or relocation where needed

Employee Experience & Engagement

Organize company events, team activities, and internal sessions (e.g., Brown Bags)

Capture and share key highlights from internal sessions to drive engagement

Ensure a smooth, responsive, and positive employee experience on the ground

Execution & Process Improvement

Identify gaps in day-to-day workflows and implement practical, efficient improvements

Ensure HR and office operations run smoothly with high attention to detail and minimal oversight

• 6–8 years of HR Operations experience in China, with clear ownership of day-to-day execution
• Strong experience in China labor laws, payroll, and labor compliance (must-have)
• Hands-on and execution-focused, with the ability to independently run HR operations end-to-end
• Proven experience managing onboarding, offboarding, and employee lifecycle processes
• Practical experience handling employee relations matters, including terminations and performance-related cases (must-have)
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities
• Proactive, reliable, and solutions-oriented, with the ability to operate with minimal oversight
• Strong communication skills in Mandarin and English (must-have)

Be part of a diverse, globally distributed, AI-native team

Enjoy a collaborative, transparent, and empowering Agentic culture

Competitive compensation and flexible working arrangements

Work at the forefront of SaaS & AI innovation and make real impact