Job Description

Location: Netherlands (Remote, Hybrid or Office-based)

Contract Duration: 12 months

Working Hours: Full-time

Start Date: January 2027 / As soon as possible

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Senior Employee Relations Consultant to support our HR Employee Relations function in the Netherlands on a 12-month contract.

This role will play a key part in managing an increased volume of complex employee relations matters, particularly those arising from organisational transformation and business change initiatives.

The successful candidate will bring extensive knowledge of Dutch employment legislation, employee relations practices and complex case management. They will act as a trusted adviser to leaders and HR stakeholders, providing practical guidance, managing sensitive employee matters and helping ensure fair, consistent and legally compliant outcomes.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Employee Relations professional to contribute to significant organisational change initiatives within an international business environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Employee Relations Advisory: Provide expert guidance and support to managers and leaders on a broad range of employee relations matters, ensuring compliance with Dutch employment laws and regulations.
• Performance Management: Coach leaders on effective performance improvement processes, providing guidance on managing ongoing performance concerns and implementing appropriate local procedures.
• Investigations: Lead and manage complex employee relations investigations, including potential policy violations, workplace conflicts and behavioural concerns.
• Organisational Change and Restructuring: Advise on complex employee terminations, redundancies and collective processes, including consultation with Works Councils in relation to role eliminations.
• Employment Law and Risk Management: Apply specialist knowledge of Dutch employment legislation, internal policies and best practices to assess risks and recommend practical solutions.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Partner with HR Business Partners, Legal teams, global Employee Relations colleagues and other relevant stakeholders to resolve complex employee matters.
• Employee and Manager Education: Develop and deliver training, guidelines and best-practice resources to help managers and employees understand and appropriately manage employee relations issues.
• Sickness Absence Management: Provide guidance on complex sickness absence cases, ensuring appropriate management and compliance with local requirements.
• Case Management and Reporting: Maintain accurate employee relations case management records, identify trends and recommend proactive interventions and training opportunities.
• Transformation Support: Support local HR initiatives, country-specific compliance projects and wider organisational transformation activities.

Required Experience and Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in Employee Relations and/or Employment Law, with specialist knowledge and experience of the Netherlands.
• Strong understanding of Dutch employment legislation, labour regulations and local employee relations practices.
• Extensive experience managing complex employee relations cases, including investigations, performance management, workplace conflicts and behavioural issues.
• Experience advising on organisational restructuring, redundancies, terminations and collective consultation processes.
• Knowledge and experience supporting complex sickness absence cases.
• Demonstrated ability to coach and develop managers in handling performance and employee relations matters.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess legal and business risks and provide practical recommendations.
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence senior leaders and collaborate across multiple functions.
• Strong communication, negotiation and influencing skills.
• Fluency in English is required; additional languages are an advantage.

Key Skills and Competencies

• Advanced Employee Relations expertise.
• Strong knowledge of Dutch employment law.
• Complex case management and investigation experience.
• Organisational transformation and restructuring support.
• Performance management coaching.
• Risk assessment and sound judgement.
• Stakeholder engagement and influencing.
• Training development and delivery.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, international environment.
• High levels of discretion, resilience and professionalism.

Working Arrangements

• Based in the Netherlands.
• Remote, hybrid or office-based working arrangements are available.
• Full-time commitment of approximately 40 hours per week, with consideration for candidates seeking a four-day working week.
• Occasional travel to the Amsterdam office may be required.
• The assignment is expected to last 12 months.

Assignment Overview

This is a 12-month consultancy assignment supporting the HR Employee Relations function in the Netherlands. The position has been created to provide additional specialist capacity and in-country expertise in response to an increased volume of complex employee relations matters and transformation-related activities.

Your Application

If this sounds like an exciting opportunity, we encourage you to submit your application below!

To ensure your application can be processed efficiently, please make sure your CV includes the following information:

• Employment history: Clearly state the start and end month and year for each position held. We only need employment history for the last 5 years.
• Employment gaps: If there are any gaps in your employment history, please indicate them as "Gap" and include the reason, along with the corresponding start and end month and year.
• Education: Include your highest level of education, as well as the years of study or completion.

Please note that providing this information is essential for us to process your application.