QCD in non-integer d = 4 - 2E space-time dimensions enjoys conformal invariance at the special fine-tuned value of the coupling. Counterterms for composite operators in minimal subtraction schemes do not depend on E by construction, and therefore the renormalization group equations for composite operators in physical (integer) dimensions inherit conformal symmetry. This observation can be used to restore the complete evolution kernels that take into account mixing with the operators containing total derivatives from their eigenvalues (anomalous dimensions). Using this approach we calculate the two-loop (NLO) evolution kernels for the leading twist flavor-singlet operators in the position space (light-ray operator) representation. As the main result of phenomenological relevance, in this way we are able to confirm the evolution equations of flavor-singlet generalized hadron parton distributions derived earlier by Belitsky and Muller using a different approach.