HR Manager Retail Benelux- Dutch, French & English

Are you looking for a company that values people and a caring work environment? How about one that believes empowered people bring brilliant results? If you are a people person with background in HR then you may have just found your new job.

Our client, a global leader in the retail industry, is looking for an HR Manager to join their team in Amsterdam

The HR Manager Retail Benelux will be responsible for supporting the implementation and execution of HR initiatives in the Benelux countries, providing support on key people processes and enabling managers to make better people decisions.

Job Profile for HR Manager Retail Benelux
Responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

Business Partnering Activities

• Act as a business partner for the assigned population and provide advice, support on Human Resources matters around the employee life cycle, ensuring the impact of business decisions on people and the organization are always reflected and considered
• Coach and guide line management in the provision of credible and commercial solutions for people related organisational matters
• Support key hiring’s in the Benelux market as well as ensuring all colleagues are inducted and onboarded professionally and to a high standard
• Appropriately influence decisions in order to upskill management population and safeguard the organisation
• Identify trends and training needs in employee relations for the business and can propose or deliver training solutions to upskill business managers
• Drive a practice where line managers take full ownership of their people related issues and can assist in getting the organisation to adopt best practice in all areas of employee management
• Provide an overview of key talents within the organizations, ensure managers are enabled to manage their performance and career,  provide advice and support as necessary and ensuring excellent talent and succession planning Personally intervene to support management on key talents when needed

Employee Relations

• Be responsible for management of all company’s employee relations matters. Act as
  a gatekeeper of the case management system and drive consistency and risk management for the organisation
• Provide escalated employer ER / HR policy advice to all first line managers (FLMs) and for all Retail employees and is entirely responsible for the overall ER aspect of the HR Inbox and enquires
• Drive all updates and amendments in (best) practices, policies and procedures in line with legislation changes and business requirements to ensure legal compliance and safeguarding business
• Accountable for collective working relations (Trade Union’s relations) in the 3 different countries
• Be responsible of the individual (disciplinary procedures) and collective litigations (including coordination with the lawyers) in the 3 different countries
• Escalate all appropriate legal cases to Head of HR France-Benelux as appropriate where considerable business risk has been identified
• Be a key escalation point for high risk employee relations matters to ensure credible and commercial solutions are actioned in appropriate manner and protect the business as appropriate
• Oversee training and upskilling of management in areas of people management and employee relations

HR Operational efficiency

• Coordinate and give guidance to the resources dedicated to support Benelux Retail employees
• Secure the integration of new processes, programs, tools services and guarantee compliance with local legislation and labour law
• Ensure successful implementation of the annual BAU (Business As Usual) processes e.g. Performance Dialogue, Annual Merit Review, STIP, TRSP, etc. in close cooperation with the Global Business Services (GBS) Hub/spokes team in particular, but not only, related to the global processes such as AMR, STIP, Performance Review, Mid-Year Review, Goal Setting etc. as applicable
• Liaise closely with the Global Business Services (GBS) Hub/spokes team to ensure all administrative legal/contractual/compliance issues are completed for Retail employees in the Benelux
• Ensure the delivery of HR/People processes in the organisation are constantly improved and consolidated
• Ensure that health and safety regulations are applied and that all employees are trained according to security policies and procedures. Set crisis management guidelines and ensure their implementation
• Secure availability and top-notch quality of data and HR metrics. Provide statistics and data material related to salaries studies, sickness rates, absences, personal productivity and profitability
• Ensure all HR activities of the Employee Life Cycle are aligned with business objectives, legal framework and in line with the global HR strategy
• Drive independently the HR agenda in the Benelux countries and be solely responsible for the onsite HR support locally to the Benelux countries.
• Drive a best-in-class HR service in line with business needs requirements, support and advise line management and employees
• Provide credible and commercial people solutions to the Benelux organization.
• Secure top notch implementation of HR Initiatives into the organization
• Guarantee that all HR processes are effective, efficient and compliant in a complex cross-border setting
• Be responsible for supporting Head of HR France-Benelux to ensure compliance in relation to all labour laws/data protection legislation/right to work legislation in the Benelux countries

Candidate Profile for HR Manager Retail Benelux

• Must be Fluent in Dutch, French and English, both written and spoken
• Bachelor degree in relevant field of study
• 5-10 years’ experience in HR, with progressive increase in responsibility
• 4-5 years of experience in a similar role within a progressive HR Department is highly desired
• Have excellent working/practical knowledge of Dutch, Belgium and Luxembourg employment law
• Matrix-organization savvy
• Proficient coach and mentor
• Have excellent project and change management skills
• Feel comfortable in liaising with senior managers on all HR issues
• Have previous experience of supporting HR department in managing terminations/dismissals (including settlement agreements, proficient in redundancies process)
• Experience in Retail is an absolute must  
• Have strong business acumen and customer orientation
• Capability to ensure that mutual goals and performance target are met within the appropriate timeframe
• Demonstrate ability to staff and develop high performing teams. Ability to identify, develop and promote talents
• Able to convince, persuade and influence others to make decisions and take action
• Be a strong collaborator who can build, develop and maintain credible business relationships at all levels of the business
• Plan and organize in a way that tasks and activities are delivered on time, considering potential bottle-necks. Understand when to involve decision makers to accelerate decisions
• Be able and willing to travel frequently throughout the Benelux region and Paris