HR Business Partner - Europe

Allow us to introduce ourselves.

At dss+, we are not just your average operations consulting firm; we are implementers and change makers. Our passion lies in engaging organisations to craft resilient and sustainable business, guiding them through transformational changes in safety, risk and resilience and through their energy transition. We take the complex world of risk and sustainability and translate it into actionable roadmaps that work with our clients business. We implement, working side-by-side with our clients to deliver real, tangible results.

dss⁺ services fall into three core areas—operational risk management, operational excellence and sustainability—each bolstered by learning, development and culture change solutions and digital technologies. Teams around the globe work with clients in metals and mining, chemicals, oil and gas, power and utilities, agriculture, food and beverage, industrial and manufacturing, and private equity.

We pride ourselves in combining industry experts and on the ground experience with strong people-centric change management capabilities. This creates the perfect blend to support our clients from intent to impact, enabling them to protect what they care for, transform their organisation, and sustain the changes required to make their vision a reality, in a practical actionable way.

The HR Business Partner plays an essential role in establishing and driving HR programs/talent initiatives forward, while ensuring alignment with the strategic business objectives. Must possess business acumen and a clear understanding of company challenges to help address the organization and talent needs. This requires working across strategic, tactical and operational aspects, whilst navigating ambiguity and influencing effectively across all levels of a company.

What can we offer?

Working for dss+ gives you the chance to directly impact employee engagement and facilitation of end-to-end HR operational tasks and activities. Reporting to the Regional HR Leader in EMEA, this role enables you to drive continuous improvement of our HR Operational activities and employee engagement landscape. This is an opportunity to directly impact the success of HR systems and procedures for ongoing efficiency and effectiveness, in addition to contributing to an engaging work environment.

What role will you play?

This role is responsible for cultivating and elevating the impact of the employee experience, creating a connection with the employee career journey and enabling a culture, with the employee at the centre, while ensuring compliance with local labor laws. Additionally, continuing to drive efficiency and effectiveness across all HR generalist disciplines in Europe, while operating remotely from home with occasional travel. You will be hands on, providing end-to-end employee lifecycle / operational support including but not limited to the following engagement initiatives:

• Serve as a trusted partner to the organization, business leaders and HR team, to develop and implement effective HR policies and practices that will support the strategic growth of the business, whilst maintaining a focus on facilitating a positive employee experience across all touchpoints.

• Live and breathe the dss+ Core Values and Mission Critical Behaviours and encourage others to do the same. More information about our core values can be found here: dss+ Code of Conduct.

• Offer thought leadership regarding organizational and people-related strategy and execution.

• Provide timely information and/or education for all levels of the company on HR issues.

• Educate, coach and partner with managers on performance management and employee development goals.

• Provide HR expertise in the areas of feedback, employee relations, development and coaching, compensation, and organizational development.

• Participate in the continual development of HR programs including but not limited to recruitment, retention, compensation, benefits, and Learning & Development.

• Collaborate with the HR team to champion and accelerate a culture of excellence in which people feel engaged and inspired to deliver top business results.

• Provide input to people strategies and design approaches for diagnosing and enhancing organizational effectiveness and employee satisfaction.

• Educate team members on compensation practices, including compensation, performance feedback, performance calibration, and career transitions.

• Ongoing continuous improvement of employee experience, engagement and end-to-end lifecycle

You will be responsible for:

Strategic HR Partnership: 

• Work with senior leadership teams to align HR strategies with business objectives and support the achievement of business goals across European countries.

Talent Management & Development: 

• Lead initiatives to identify, develop, and retain top talent across Europe. Support leadership development programs and succession planning.

Employee Relations:

• Manage complex employee relations issues in a multi-country context, ensuring that company policies and local labor laws are followed.
• Act as a trusted advisor to managers and employees.
• Ownership and facilitation of activities supporting the employee lifecycle including onboarding and offboarding processes.
• Response and administration of employee related queries including governance around HR Policies and procedures.
• Define & adhere to process maps across all HR activities / pillars for consistency across all HR procedures and administrative requirements.

Organizational Development: 

• Provide guidance on organizational design, team dynamics, and change management processes. Support business transformation initiatives.

Performance Management: 

• Implement and drive the performance management process, ensuring consistent application across the region. Work with managers to set clear performance expectations and development goals.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Monthly Payroll administration across Europe markets including via our internal team of HR coordinators and third party payroll service provider.
• Support the development and implementation of compensation and benefits programs that are competitive, compliant, and aligned with the business strategy. Lead benchmarking efforts and participate in compensation reviews.

Compliance & Risk Management: 

• Ensure adherence to local employment laws, regulations, and corporate policies in all European countries. Mitigate HR-related risks and ensure the company operates within a compliant framework.

HR Metrics & Analytics:

• Leverage data to assess HR effectiveness and provide insights to the business.
• Develop KPIs related to talent acquisition, retention, and overall HR performance.
• Coordinate and administrate quarterly accruals including vacation and variable compensation.

Change Management: 

• Drive change initiatives in alignment with global and regional business transformations. Ensure smooth execution of HR change processes, fostering a positive employee experience.

Cultural Alignment: 

• Promote a unified company culture while respecting local customs and labor practices. Encourage diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives across all teams

Who are you today?

You are passionate about employee engagement and administration of HR coordination in a dynamic, consulting context. You have demonstrated experience in a professional services or similar organisation with a successful track record as a true collaborator and implementer. You’re comfortable with ambiguity, being able to deliver tangible outcomes and interacting with stakeholders across the organisation landscape.

Key Qualifications:

Experience: Minimum 8-10 years of HR experience, with at least 5 years in a business partner role, ideally supporting multiple European countries.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field. Master’s degree or HR certification (e.g., CIPD, SHRM) is a plus.

Languages: Fluency in English is required. Additional European languages (e.g., German, French, Spanish, Italian) are highly desirable.

Expertise: Strong knowledge of European labor laws, employment practices, and HR compliance in various countries. Experience with talent management, organizational development, and employee relations in a cross-border environment.

Skills:

• Strategic thinking with a deep understanding of HR's role in achieving business goals.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.

• Ability to manage complex HR issues, including conflict resolution, performance management, and cultural sensitivity.

• Analytical mindset with the ability to leverage HR data to drive decisions.

• Proven ability to lead HR initiatives in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.

In return, dss⁺ assures that you will have the opportunity to thrive in a fast-paced, rapidly growing consulting environment. You can build capabilities while delivering exceptional services, and really have an impact. That’s something to be proud of!

Let's see where our shared vision leads.

We have a strong growth trajectory and a global footprint, which means unprecedented opportunity for the people on our teams to advance their career.

As a Global Company, our professionals have the possibility to contribute to grow with the company. Every employee can influence and impact our company, and we value innovators and entrepreneurs.

Beyond that, be yourself. At dss+, we embrace and celebrate diversity. Above all, we are an inclusive culture in which everyone contributes and has the chance to develop their talents further.