Hybrid Senior HR Manager – Operations, Compliance

at Human8

• Job title: Senior HR Manager – Operations, Compliance
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Senior
• Salary: Not specified
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Rotterdam, Belgium

About the role

• People-focused Operations leader managing HR operations across Belgium, Netherlands, France, and UK regions. Leading a team to ensure compliance and enhance employee experience through innovative processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead our employee administration and payroll processes across the region, making sure they’re accurate, timely, and fully compliant with local tax and labor laws.
• Simplify and standardize People & Culture processes to improve efficiency and align with global best practices.
• Work closely with our external payroll and benefits partners, acting as the bridge between vendors, finance, and P&C teams to resolve issues and raise the bar on service delivery.
• Partner with our Reward, Data, and HRIS Manager to make sure our systems work seamlessly together.
• Keep people data accurate, consistent, and reliable so we can make informed decisions and trust the insights we’re working with.
• Own the end-to-end employee lifecycle for the region, from a warm, structured onboarding to a thoughtful and compliant offboarding experience.
• Support compensation and benefits activities, including salary reviews and bonus cycles, making sure they’re processed accurately and in line with guidelines.
• Maintain and update our People & Culture documentation and policies making sure they’re clear, accessible, and legally sound across all our entities.
• Be the go-to expert for complex employment matters, whether it’s terminations, misconduct, or contract disputes.
• Stay on top of changing labor laws across the region and make sure our operations, policies, and practices evolve accordingly.
• Lead internal audits and risk assessments to catch issues before they become problems.
• Ensure compliance around visas, work permits, employee classification, and remote work.
• Oversee leave of absence management, making sure every case is tracked carefully, employees feel supported, and we stay fully compliant.
• Help prepare our HR operations for future due diligence or private equity scenarios by maintaining documentation and strong compliance practices.
• Manage internal and external audits, regulatory requests, and contribute to ESG and sustainability reporting (including CSRD and EU Taxonomy).

Requirements

• 7–10 years of progressive experience in HR operations, payroll, and compliance, with significant exposure to multi-country or regional roles (especially Belgium, France, Netherlands, UK, Germany, Romania).
• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Law, or a related field is ideal. A bachelor’s degree is required.
• Proven experience in leading, mentoring, and developing a team of HR professionals.
• In-depth knowledge of employment laws, payroll legislation, and HR compliance frameworks in key EMEA countries. Advanced skills in conducting impartial workplace investigations, grievance handling, conflict resolution, and managing sensitive cases (performance, incapacity, misconduct).
• Demonstrated experience leading global payroll processes, managing vendors, and driving improvements in HR service delivery and compliance.
• Proficiency in HR systems and tools; experience with system integration, automation, and data reporting platforms is a plus. Meticulous approach to data integrity and process documentation.
• Clear and empathetic communicator with the ability to balance strategic initiatives with daily operational tasks and urgent, complex cases. A hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves mentality.