Senior HR Manager: Operations & Compliance (EMEA) in London

We're looking for a people-focused operations leader to shape and scale how we support our teams across the EURA/UK region. In this role, you'll own the design and delivery of HR operations that are efficient, compliant, and importantly - make a real difference in the employee experience! You'll act as a trusted advisor and escalation point for the People & Culture team and People Leaders, helping to navigate complexity with clarity and care. While your focus will be regional, you'll play a key role in ensuring our global HR operations and payroll processes are consistent, accurate, and aligned with local regulations and our internal standards. Leading a dedicated team of HR professionals, you'll invest in their growth and support them in delivering a seamless, positive experience for employees at every stage of their journey. This role blends high-level strategy (think automation, process improvement, and vendor partnerships), with hands-on ownership of compliance, complex employee relations, and risk management. You'll report directly to the Managing Director EURA, and your primary focus will be strengthening our operations in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, France, South Africa, Romania, and the UK.

Responsibilities

• HR Operations Management

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. You will also be acting as a backup where necessary for payroll processing. Simplify and standardize People & Culture processes to improve efficiency and align with global best practices. Spot gaps and turn them into opportunities for improvement. 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. Help shape payroll system improvements that save time and reduce manual effort. 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.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Be the go-to expert for complex employment matters, whether it's terminations, misconduct, or contract disputes. You'll support on cases from start to finish with a steady hand, preparing documentation, managing legal risk, and working with external counsel when needed. 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. Keep employee records accurate, organized, and audit ready. 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).

HR Service Delivery & Employee Relations

• Help shape the future of how we deliver HR services by making things easier, faster, and more human. That includes improving our HR ticketing system and overall user experience. Provide thoughtful, practical guidance to People Leaders and P&C colleagues on operational, compliance, and employee relations topics - always with an eye on what's fair, legal, and aligned with our values. Be a trusted point of contact for employees with complex questions, offering clear, empathetic, and expert support on People & Culture policies and processes. Support performance management across the region, helping employees and managers navigate goal setting, evaluations, and career development, especially in more sensitive situations.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and support a team of four HR professionals across the EURA/UK region. Create an environment where collaboration, growth, and great service can thrive. Hold regular one-on-ones to coach, connect, and keep the team engaged and effective. Invest in your team's growth by identifying skill gaps, arranging training, and helping them build meaningful career paths in a complex, multi-country environment.

Qualifications

• 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). You've worked in international or matrixed organizations and understand the nuances that come with it. 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.