Nordics HR Leader: Strategy, Payroll & People Ops

Skechers U.S.A., Inc.; Esbjerg; Hybrid; DKK 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Skechers U.S.A., Inc. is seeking an experienced HR Manager Nordics, based at the Esbjerg Headquarters, to lead the People function across Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland.

You will partner with senior leadership, develop a Nordic HR roadmap, and ensure payroll delivery across all four countries while driving a high-performance culture in both corporate and retail environments. The role requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and deep knowledge of Nordic employment practices.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8–10 years of progressive HR experience in a senior role
• Experience leading HR teams across multiple sites, ideally in retail or consumer-focused environments
• Proven advisory partner to senior leadership
• Experience designing HR strategies with measurable outcomes
• Experience across Nordic countries and knowledge of Nordic employment law
• Payroll operations oversight across Nordic countries
• Experience in a global matrix organization is a plus
• Fluent English, additional Nordic languages beneficial

Responsibilities

• Act as HR representative within the Nordic Management Team, influencing decisions with a people focus.
• Partner with HR Director Nordics & UK to implement Nordic HR strategy aligned with global objectives.
• Translate priorities into a measurable HR roadmap for sustainable growth.
• Provide strategic guidance on organizational effectiveness, workforce planning, and change management.
• Identify capability gaps and implement performance and leadership initiatives.
• Lead and improve the performance management framework across functions and locations.
• Coach leadership teams and develop learning programs.
• Use workforce analytics to identify trends and present recommendations to leadership.
• Own the employee engagement agenda and translate survey results into action plans.
• Champion an inclusive, collaborative culture across corporate and retail environments.
• Ensure compliance with employment law, GDPR, pension obligations, and internal policies across Nordic countries.
• Maintain and update HR policies and contracts to ensure legal compliance.
• Oversee payroll processes and governance across Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland.
• Coordinate with Finance on payroll reporting, budgeting, and cost management.
• Lead HR team including HR Business Partners, Payroll & Administration, and Canteen Management.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Coaching & mentoring

Data-driven decision making

Analytical skills

Multi-country experience

Payroll management

Employee relations

Job description

Skechers U.S.A., Inc. is seeking an experienced HR Manager Nordics, based at the Esbjerg Headquarters, to lead the People function across Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland.

You will partner with senior leadership, develop a Nordic HR roadmap, and ensure payroll delivery across all four countries while driving a high-performance culture in both corporate and retail environments. The role requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and deep knowledge of Nordic employment practices.