Interim Sr Employee Relations & HR Manager | Global Chemical Company
About the position
The Interim / Temporary Sr HR Manager is a well-experienced HR leader responsible for Employee Relations and Transformation initiatives agenda in the Netherlands and will support and report to the Regional Sr HR Manager, with a strong focus on employee relations, Dutch labour law, and works council governance within a chemical and industrial environment.
The role requires a deep understanding of HR implications in redundancy processes, terminations, reskilling activities, and negotiations with key internal and external stakeholders, including safety-critical roles, shift-based work, regulated working conditions, strict compliance frameworks and best HR practices.
This role balances legal robustness, operational continuity, and a human-centred leadership approach.
Responsibilities
• Own all employee relations matters, including performance management, disciplinary cases, absenteeism, and exits in a safety-critical environment.
• Act as a strategic liaison with the Works Council (OR) and employee representatives.
• Ensure full compliance with Dutch labour law, internal policies, and applicable collective agreements.
• Lead reorganisations, restructurings, employee transfer processes and harmonisation activities.
• Handle sensitive cases involving safety, conduct, fitness for work, and compliance with care and diligence.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the Regional Sr HR Manager and leadership team on people and organisational topics regarding Transformation and Cost-Saving strategies.
• Translate global HR policies into a compliant Dutch HR strategy suited to chemical distribution and logistics industry practices, as well as global and local company policies.
• Execute workforce planning activities across operational, corporate, technical, and commercial functions.
• Support organisational change linked to site operations, process optimisation, and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee HR policies, employment contracts, and internal regulations aligned with chemical-industry standards.
• Ensure consistent, high-quality HR service delivery across sites.
• Provide emotional and strategic support when executing the Trasnformation initiatives.
• Ensure GDPR-compliant handling of employee and health-related data.
• Identify and mitigate people-related risks connected to chemical operations, safety obligations, and absenteeism.
• Partner with Operations and EHS on safety culture, training obligations, incident follow-up, and compliance requirements.
• Coach Line Managers in cost-saving activities and coordinate operational tasks to ensure smooth execution of planned cost-saving projects.
• Strengthen leadership capability in managing regulated, safety-sensitive teams.
• Drive engagement, performance, and retention activities.
• Embed a strong safety, compliance, and accountability culture.
• Act as a change leader in a matrixed, international chemical organisation.
Requirements
• Master’s degree in HR, Labour Law, Business Administration, or similar.
• Deep, practical expertise in Dutch labour law and employee relations.
• Experience supporting reorganisations, site changes, or operational transformations.
• Preferably 10+ years of senior HR experience, including leadership roles.
• Fluent in Dutch and English.
Nice-to-haves
• Proven track record working with Works Councils (OR).
• Strong understanding of safety-critical and regulated work environments.
• Exposure to international HR governance and matrix organisations.
Apply tot his job
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The Interim / Temporary Sr HR Manager is a well-experienced HR leader responsible for Employee Relations and Transformation initiatives agenda in the Netherlands and will support and report to the Regional Sr HR Manager, with a strong focus on employee relations, Dutch labour law, and works council governance within a chemical and industrial environment.
The role requires a deep understanding of HR implications in redundancy processes, terminations, reskilling activities, and negotiations with key internal and external stakeholders, including safety-critical roles, shift-based work, regulated working conditions, strict compliance frameworks and best HR practices.
This role balances legal robustness, operational continuity, and a human-centred leadership approach.
Responsibilities
• Own all employee relations matters, including performance management, disciplinary cases, absenteeism, and exits in a safety-critical environment.
• Act as a strategic liaison with the Works Council (OR) and employee representatives.
• Ensure full compliance with Dutch labour law, internal policies, and applicable collective agreements.
• Lead reorganisations, restructurings, employee transfer processes and harmonisation activities.
• Handle sensitive cases involving safety, conduct, fitness for work, and compliance with care and diligence.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the Regional Sr HR Manager and leadership team on people and organisational topics regarding Transformation and Cost-Saving strategies.
• Translate global HR policies into a compliant Dutch HR strategy suited to chemical distribution and logistics industry practices, as well as global and local company policies.
• Execute workforce planning activities across operational, corporate, technical, and commercial functions.
• Support organisational change linked to site operations, process optimisation, and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee HR policies, employment contracts, and internal regulations aligned with chemical-industry standards.
• Ensure consistent, high-quality HR service delivery across sites.
• Provide emotional and strategic support when executing the Trasnformation initiatives.
• Ensure GDPR-compliant handling of employee and health-related data.
• Identify and mitigate people-related risks connected to chemical operations, safety obligations, and absenteeism.
• Partner with Operations and EHS on safety culture, training obligations, incident follow-up, and compliance requirements.
• Coach Line Managers in cost-saving activities and coordinate operational tasks to ensure smooth execution of planned cost-saving projects.
• Strengthen leadership capability in managing regulated, safety-sensitive teams.
• Drive engagement, performance, and retention activities.
• Embed a strong safety, compliance, and accountability culture.
• Act as a change leader in a matrixed, international chemical organisation.
Requirements
• Master’s degree in HR, Labour Law, Business Administration, or similar.
• Deep, practical expertise in Dutch labour law and employee relations.
• Experience supporting reorganisations, site changes, or operational transformations.
• Preferably 10+ years of senior HR experience, including leadership roles.
• Fluent in Dutch and English.
Nice-to-haves
• Proven track record working with Works Councils (OR).
• Strong understanding of safety-critical and regulated work environments.
• Exposure to international HR governance and matrix organisations.
Apply tot his job
Apply To this Job