Senior People Manager

About GRI

GRI is the independent global standard setter for sustainability impact reporting. GRI provides the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting standards and works with businesses, regulators, investors, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to advance transparency, accountability, and sustainable development.

Through a multi-stakeholder process, GRI develops standards that reflect global best practice and public interest. With staff in more than 20 countries, we combine global perspective with local relevance, supporting long-term value creation for organizations and society.

About the role

GRI is an international organization with employees working across multiple countries and employment jurisdictions. As the Senior People Manager, you will lead the delivery of practical, effective and compliant people services that support employees across the organization. You will play a key role in shaping a consistent, engaging employee experience across our global workforce, while ensuring that our people practices reflect the different employment requirements, cultures and ways of working in each location.

A significant proportion of our workforce is based in the Netherlands, making strong knowledge and practical experience of Dutch employment legislation and the Dutch labor market essential. At the same time, you will bring the confidence and curiosity to navigate employment matters across other international jurisdictions, partnering effectively with employer of record services.

Reporting to the CFO and working closely with the organization’s leadership, you will provide trusted, pragmatic advice on employee relations, recruitment, organisational change and people management. You will ensure that our people policies, processes and practices remain compliant, consistent and fit for purpose across our international organization.

You will also lead the People Operations Manager, who is responsible for the day-to-day operational delivery of people services across the employee lifecycle, including payroll, reward, benefits, employee administration, people systems and data.

This is a hands-on international people leadership role. Success requires the ability to move comfortably between supporting managers with complex people matters, navigating different employment environments and ensuring the organization’s essential people operations remain compliant, efficient and people focused.

Responsibilities

Delivery

People leadership

• Lead the people function and provide day-to-day leadership to the People Operations Manager.

• Prioritize people activities to ensure resources are focused on the organization’s most critical operational and strategic needs.

• Balance day-to-day operational requirements with organizational priorities, making pragmatic decisions on where the people function adds the greatest value.

• Work closely with the Management Board and leaders to provide practical people support across the organization.

• Identify opportunities to simplify processes and improve the efficiency of the people function.

Business partnering & manager support

• Partner with managers to provide practical advice on people matters that support organizational objectives.

• Coach managers on employee relations, performance management, organizational change and team effectiveness.

• Support workforce planning and organizational design aligned to business priorities.

Employee relations & policy governance

• Lead complex employee relations matters including disciplinary processes, grievances, investigations, performance management, restructures and organizational change.

• Own the development, review and implementation of people policies, procedures and Ways of Working.

• Ensure employment practices remain legally compliant across GRI’'s operating jurisdictions. Partner with external legal advisers where required.

Talent acquisition

• Lead and execute recruitment across the organization.

• Partner with hiring managers to deliver efficient recruitment and selection processes.

• Support workforce planning and onboarding to ensure a positive employee experience.

Performance & employee development

• Lead the annual performance management process.

• Support managers in setting objectives, providing feedback and managing performance.

• Coordinate mandatory learning and practical development initiatives that build manager capability and support organizational priorities.

Governance, compliance & risk

• Ensure people practices comply with employment legislation, organizational policies and regulatory requirements.

• Oversee the development, implementation and governance of people policies, procedures and employment documentation.

• Ensure organizational compliance with employment-related legal and regulatory obligations across all operating jurisdictions.

• Lead workplace health and safety governance, ensuring compliance with Dutch health and safety legislation and organizational standards.

• Act as the employer representative for workplace health and safety, including oversight of the Prevention Officer function.

• Manage the relationship with the occupational health provider (ARBO), ensuring effective absence management and compliance with statutory reintegration obligations.

• Oversee the organization’s Risk Inventory and Evaluation (RI&E) process and support the implementation of agreed actions.

• Support managers in meeting their workplace compliance, health and safety, and employee wellbeing responsibilities.

• Coordinate people-related audits, compliance reporting and continuous improvement initiative
  

Engagement

• Build strong collaborative relationships across the organization, partnering with leaders, employees and key stakeholders to deliver effective people solutions.

• Communicate clearly, openly and consistently, ensuring transparency and confidence in people policies, processes and organizational decisions.

• Promote a positive, inclusive and values-driven culture through fair, consistent and respectful people practices.

• Lead with integrity, professionalism and discretion when managing sensitive employee and organizational matters.

• Champion continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to simplify processes, enhance the employee experience and strengthen organizational effectiveness.

Requirements

Work experience

• Significant experience in a Senior Human Resources management or people partnering role within an international organization.

• Proven experience leading a broad people function, including employee relations, recruitment, performance management, organizational change and policy development.

• Experience managing a small people function in an international organization.

• Sound knowledge of employment legislation and HR best practices, with experience supporting managers through complex employee relations matters.

• Experience implementing and improving people policies, processes and systems to enhance operational efficiency.

• Experience working within a multi-country environment, including knowledge of Employment of Record (EOR) arrangements and global employment practices.

• Experience managing occupational health, workplace compliance and employee wellbeing programs, including working with occupational health providers (ARBO).

• Experience working with HR information systems and using people data to support informed decision-making.

Knowledge and abilities

• Strong knowledge of Dutch employment legislation and HR best practices, with an understanding of employment practices across international jurisdictions.

• Excellent employee relations, coaching and stakeholder management skills.

• Ability to prioritize and deliver results in a lean, fast-paced environment.

• Pragmatic, solutions-focused and hands-on approach.

• Strong communication, judgement and confidentiality.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Human Resource Information Systems (HRIS).

• High levels of integrity, sound judgement and the ability to maintain confidentiality.

• Strong data reporting and analytical skills, with the ability to combine quantitative metrics (headcount, attrition, time-to-hire, engagement scores) and qualitative insights (employee feedback, interview themes, stakeholder input) into concise, decision-ready reports that inform practical HR recommendations and forward-looking action plans.

What we offer

• Location: Hybrid in the Netherlands; The successful candidate will be expected to work from the Amsterdam office at least twice per week.

• Candidates must have an existing valid right to work in the Netherlands.

• Work hours: Full-time (40hrs/week)

• Contract type: 1 year

• Start date: as soon as possible

• Salary: € 62,286 - € 77,857 

• Generous leave allowance

• Opportunity for learning and development

• Access to the GRI Academy

The application deadline for this position is 21 September 2026 at 12:00 (noon) CEST. Applications received after this date will not be considered. 

We aim to create a recruitment process that champions diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring all candidates have equal opportunities and are evaluated based on their unique skills and experiences. If you need any support or adjustments during the application process, please reach out to us.