JOB LOCATION: Hamburg / Barcelona / Rotterdam / UK
PURPOSE:
The Regional HR Head - Europe is a pivotal leadership role responsible for architecting and executing the people strategy across a highly diverse and complex region. This role demands a leader who can balance strategic foresight with operational excellence, drive transformation, and embed a culture of agility, innovation, and inclusion. The incumbent will serve as a key member of the regional executive committee and act as a conduit between global strategy, regional imperatives and local execution.
RESPONSIBILITIES (include but not limited to):
Strategic HR Management
- Develop and implement the HR strategy for Europe aligned with global and regional business objectives.
- Partner with business heads across European countries to support key initiatives like commercial growth, network optimization, digital transformation, customer-centric initiatives, etc.
- Lead strategic HR interventions including workforce planning, capability building, leadership development, organisational design, succession planning, rewards, etc.
- Drive cultural transformation initiatives across Europe to enable agility, innovation, collaboration, sales and operational excellence, etc.
- Facilitate cross-country HR synergies, people policy harmonization, and capability building across regional HR teams.
- Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership on people issues, regional talent risks, organisational effectiveness, and long-term workforce planning.
Talent Acquisition & Employer Branding
- Develop and implement a forward-looking talent acquisition strategy aligned with business growth, transformation, and workforce planning.
- Partner with business leaders and HRBPs to forecast talent needs and build proactive sourcing plans.
- Build strategic partnerships with global search firms and talent intelligence platforms.
- Lead employer branding initiatives to position the organization as an employer of choice across regional markets. o Leverage AI, automation, and data analytics to enhance sourcing, screening, and selection processes.
- Implement and govern ATS platforms, recruitment dashboards, and predictive hiring models.
- Ensure compliance with global labour laws, data privacy regulations, and internal hiring policies.
- Establish governance frameworks for vendor management, background verification, and onboarding.
Talent Management and Development
- Partner with Global HR and Business leadership to design and implement leadership and functional training programs across the region with a focus on promoting continuous learning and digital upskilling across all levels, including executive coaching, mentoring, and experiential learning.
- Drive succession planning for key leadership and critical roles using data-driven talent reviews and readiness assessment.
- Facilitate executive coaching, mentoring, and career pathing programs by designing and delivering impactful communication strategies for talent programs and initiatives.
- Integrate learning ecosystems including LMS, microlearning platforms, and external partnerships to deliver scalable learning solutions.
- Serve as a strategic advisor to business leaders on talent planning, succession, and workforce development by facilitating cross-functional talent reviews and development planning sessions.
- Build strong partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, including vendors, academic institutions, and industry bodies.
HR Operations & Service Delivery
- Manage and oversee the regional HR operations, across country HR teams, to ensure consistent delivery of HR services across the region.
- Architect and continuously refine the HR service delivery through SLA management, process reengineering, and automation in partnership with Global COE teams.
- Align HR service delivery in the region with organizational priorities, cost structures, and operational models.
- Ensure local HR and labour law compliances are adhered in an efficient manner across all countries in the region.
- Provide functional direction and problem-solving support to all countries on matters related to people and HR.
HR Governance, Risk & Compliance
- Oversee HR compliance across Europe region ensuring alignment with labour laws, data privacy regulations, and ethical standards.
- Lead regional risk management protocols for HR-related risks in operational, financial and reputational risks including market conduct, fraud, political risks, health & safety, reputational threats, etc.
- Serve as executive sponsor for regional ethics and conduct programs, whistleblower frameworks, and grievance mechanisms.
Performance Management
- Partner with business leaders to cascade organizational objectives into team and individual KPIs using structured methodologies.
- Drive a performance culture by embedding feedback mechanisms, coaching practices, and recognition programs across all levels.
- Analyze performance trends across departments to identify systemic issues, skill gaps, and high-potential talent for succession planning.
- Manage end-to-end performance appraisal cycles, including goal setting, mid-year reviews, and annual evaluations.
- Ensure calibration of performance ratings through structured moderation sessions with leadership teams.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:
- 15+ years of HR experience, with at least 5 years in the freight forwarding, logistics, or supply chain industry.
- Proven success in leading multi-country HR operations across Europe, including experience managing complex, matrixed organisational structures.
- Deep understanding of geopolitical, cultural, and regulatory dynamics across Europe.
- Experience in managing transformation, scaling operations, and navigating ambiguity in high growth and volatile markets.
- MBA or Master’s in HR, Business Administration, or related field.
CORE LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES:
- Strategic Agility: Ability to anticipate future trends and translate them into actionable HR strategies.
- Systems Thinking: Understands interdependencies across business units, geographies, and functions.
- Influence & Stakeholder Management: Builds trust and alignment across diverse stakeholder groups.
- Cultural Intelligence: Navigates cultural complexities with empathy, respect, and adaptability.
- Execution Excellence: Delivers results through disciplined planning, governance, and accountability.
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