HR Director Europe Middle East

Waterleau; Haacht; Hybrid; EUR 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation package

Job summary

Waterleau is seeking an HR Director Europe Middle East (EME) to shape the regional people strategy and align HR with business needs across Europe and the Middle East. You will translate business goals into practical people initiatives and lead a multi-site HR organization.

You will drive organisation design, talent and performance management, compensation, HR policies and governance while steering HR analytics and HRIS initiatives.

Qualifications

• Senior HR leadership experience in an international organisation.
• Experience in a multi-site environment (engineering, industry, construction or technology).
• Strong knowledge of labour law across several countries.
• Proven ability to design and implement organisation design, talent and performance management, and executive compensation.

Responsibilities

• Shape and carry out the long-term regional HR strategy with the Regional Director EME.
• Bring structure to organisation design, talent and performance management, compensation and benefits, HR policies and governance.
• Own the HR dashboard and its results per product line across four areas: safety, engagement, workforce spend and retention.
• Lead employee relations and works council discussions with care and credibility.
• Monitor social legislation changes and translate them into guidelines and policy recommendations.
• Lead the HR function including payroll, administration and QHSE, plus regional HR managers.

Skills

Senior HR leadership

Strategic thinking

Data-driven HR

HR governance

Change management

Employee relations

HR analytics

HRIS

Education

Master’s degree in HR, Organisational Psychology, Business or related field

Tools

HRIS

Job description

Waterleau is a Belgian environmental technology company that is active worldwide. It designs, builds and operates solutions for water treatment, wastewater treatment, and water recovery. Its teams deliver complex, operational projects across several regions, combining engineering, construction and operations under one roof.

The role

As HR Director Europe Middle East (EME), you report directly to the Regional Director EME. You help set Waterleau’s strategic direction for the Europe and Middle East region and turn the business strategy into a clear, practical people agenda. Your task is to make the HR function more professional, sharpen its operating model, and keep it close to the business and the people who do the work.

What you will do

• Shape and carry out the long-term regional HR strategy together with the Regional Director EME.
• Bring structure and direction to organisation design, talent and performance management, compensation and benefits, HR policies, compliance and governance.
• Own the HR dashboard and its results per product line, across four areas: safety and compliance, team engagement (eNPS), fixed cost (workforce spend) and talent management (retention, new-hire success, time-to-fill, internal succession for critical roles).
• Lead employee relations and works council discussions with care and credibility.
• Proactively monitor developments and changes in social legislation, analyzing their impact on the organization, and translating them into clear, practical guidelines and policy recommendations for management and the HR team.
• Lead the HR function: processes, tools, HRIS and the team itself. Your team includes payroll, administration and QHSE, plus regional HR managers in a matrix.

What you bring

• Senior HR leadership experience in an international organisation, ideally in an operational, multi-site environment such as engineering, industry, construction or technology.
• Experience in a family-owned or family-held group is a strong plus.
• A strategic thinker with a pragmatic, structured way of working: you set direction and you make it happen.
• Solid experience in organisation design, talent and performance management, compensation (including executive compensation) and HR governance.
• Experience with employee relations and social dialogue, including works councils, and knowledge of labour law across several countries.
• Experience leading change and organisational transformation while keeping people engaged.
• A data-driven approach to HR, using analytics and HR technology to steer decisions.
• A Master’s degree in HR, Organisational Psychology, Business or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Fluent in Dutch and English. French is a strong plus.
• High ethical standards and sound judgement with confidential matters.

What we offer

• A strategic leadership role with real impact: An opportunity to shape and drive the people agenda across Europe and the Middle East, directly contributing to the region’s business performance, growth and long-term success.
• An international and dynamic environment: Work across diverse countries, cultures and business environments, navigating complexity while building a strong, connected and high-performing organization.
• Collaboration and empowerment: Join an environment where initiative, fresh perspectives and entrepreneurial thinking are valued, with the autonomy to turn ideas into meaningful results.
• A competitive and rewarding compensation package: An attractive remuneration package, including a competitive base salary, performance-based incentives and comprehensive benefits, designed to recognize your contribution and reward long-term success.