Chief Human Resources Officer (FMCG)

PeopleSetup; Madrid; Hybrid; EUR 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work 60 days/year

Competitive compensation

International exposure

Job summary

PeopleSetup's Madrid-based client seeks a Chief Human Resources Officer to join the Executive Committee. You will lead People & Culture strategy, partner with the Co-CEOs, and shape talent, organisational development, and culture to fuel growth.

This role offers remote flexibility up to 60 days per year, a competitive package, and the opportunity to scale international operations across FMCG. You will build scalable HR architecture and drive AI-enabled transformation.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in HR leadership roles.
• FMCG experience, ideally in food manufacturing.
• Experience with collective bargaining and employee relations.
• Advanced English (C1).
• Strategic thinking with executive influence.
• Experience scaling startups or international expansion.

Responsibilities

• Define and lead HR strategy aligned with growth and international expansion.
• Develop scalable HR structures, policies and processes.
• Lead talent attraction, development and performance management.
• Oversee compliance with employment law and industrial relations.
• Build HRIS, analytics and AI-enabled processes.

Skills

Strategic HR leadership

Generalist HR

Change management

Employee relations

Talent development

International expansion

Digital & AI mindset

Negotiation

People analytics

Hands-on execution

Education

HR/Business degree

Tools

HRIS

People Analytics

Payroll systems

Job description

Hello , we're PEOPLESETUP, a digital HR consultancy and a true partner to our clients in everything related to people management.

Our client is an exceptional Madrid-based scaleup, a pioneer in organic baby food in Spain. Founded in 2015 by two entrepreneurs determined to offer families natural, organic, additive-free food, it has transformed a category traditionally dominated by multinationals. Today, it is the best-selling Spanish brand in its category and a leader in organic baby food, with impressive online growth.

Its mission is simple: healthier food, natural ingredients and more sustainable packaging. This commitment made it the first company in Spain's organic baby food sector to achieve B Corp certification, recognising high standards of social and environmental responsibility.

Consumers (and their parents ) have embraced the brand. With sustained annual sales growth of over 50%, backing from specialist investment funds and its own production facility, the company is ready for its next chapter: scaling up and expanding internationally.

To help make that happen, our client is looking for a CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER to join its Executive Committee, reporting directly to the Co-CEOs. You'll lead the overall People & Culture strategy and operations, making talent, organisational development and culture key drivers of business growth.

The company is built by passionate people who live its values. They want this to be your best career move. Here's what you can expect:

Every person matters. Build, contribute and leave your mark on a brand with global ambitions.

Fair reward for great work. Competitive fixed and variable compensation in a scaleup environment.

Technology works for people. Flexibility to work remotely for 60 days a year.

Learning is the key to success. Grow professionally in a unique project.

You’ll never walk alone. Join a talented, experienced team in a collaborative, flat organisation.

WHAT WILL YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES BE?

Reporting directly to the Co-CEOs and serving on the Executive Committee , you will act as a strategic business partner , play an active role in company decisions and ensure that the organisation, its leaders and its capabilities develop at the pace required by its growth.

You will build a strong, efficient and scalable People function , combining strategic vision with a practical, hands-on mindset . You'll drive digital transformation and the adoption of artificial intelligence and automation to optimize processes, develop talent and foster a culture of leadership and high performance aligned with the company's values and purpose.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Define and lead People & Culture strategy aligned with growth and international expansion.
• Shape strategic business decisions and design scalable structures, anticipating talent and leadership needs.
• Professionalise HR through effective policies, processes and tools, with clear people KPIs and data-driven decisions.

Culture, Leadership & Internal Communication

• Strengthen culture and company values as the organisation scales.
• Develop leaders and a high-performance culture, supporting managers and encouraging accountability.
• Lead internal communication and employee engagement, using active listening and improvement plans.
• Drive organisational change without losing agility and entrepreneurial spirit.

Employee Relations & Compliance

• Lead employee relations, including at the production site, and build constructive dialogue with employee representatives (RLT).
• Manage collective bargaining, negotiations and potential labour disputes, working with management and advisers.
• Ensure compliance with employment law, identifying risks and implementing effective controls.

Talent, Development & Performance

• Lead talent attraction, recruitment and retention, strengthening the employer brand.
• Introduce performance management, objectives, feedback and development plans.
• Develop talent and succession plans, and define competitive, equitable and sustainable compensation policies.

International Expansion & Scalability

• Support international growth, helping establish new teams and organisational structures.
• Create consistent international HR policies, adapted to local legal and cultural requirements while preserving a shared identity.

People Leadership & Operational Excellence

• Lead and develop the People team, increasing its impact on the business.
• Oversee HR administration, including payroll, employment contracts, employee matters and providers.
• Manage the HR budget and improve efficiency through better processes, digital tools, automation and AI.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR IN YOU?

We're looking for an exceptional professional who is committed, eager to make a difference and excited to be part of something unique. Everything else may be negotiable. We don't mind your personal style or how you dress , but these things do matter:

Experience & Expertise

• At least 10 years in HR, including 4–5 years leading a generalist HR function as HR Director, Head of HR or equivalent.
• FMCG experience, ideally in food, across manufacturing, commercial operations and international distribution.
• Direct industrial employee relations experience, including collective bargaining and engagement with employee representatives (RLT).
• Strong employment law and compliance knowledge: contracts, collective agreements, equality, occupational health and safety, and HR administration.
• Experience of rapid growth, organisational transformation and international expansion, building scalable structures and HR practices.
• End-to-end HR expertise, covering talent, development, performance, compensation, employee relations and culture.
• Experience implementing HR policies, processes and technology, with an eye for efficiency and business results.
• Advanced English (C1).
• Strategic thinking and business acumen, with influence and credibility at Executive Committee level.
• Transformational leadership, able to develop teams, drive change and build trust.
• Strong negotiation and employee relations skills, anticipating and resolving conflicts constructively.
• Digital and AI mindset, spotting opportunities to automate and improve HR.
• Hands‑on, results-driven approach, turning strategy into measurable action.
• Clear communication, sound judgement and effective prioritisation, balancing strategic and operational needs and working across the business.

Personal Qualities & Cultural Fit

• Independent judgement and professional maturity, ready to challenge established practices constructively.
• Empathetic, approachable and demanding leadership, combining trust with accountability.
• Entrepreneurial, builder's mindset, equally comfortable with big-picture strategy and practical problem-solving.
• Resilience, curiosity and continuous improvement.
• Genuine alignment with B Corp values, sustainability, social impact and responsible business.

Additional Experience We'd Value

• Executive Committee membership and experience in growing startups or scaleups.
• International expansion and new routes to market (R2M).
• HRIS, People Analytics and HR digitalisation.

WHAT DOES THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS LOOK LIKE?

We believe onboarding starts the moment you apply. Every stage has been designed to help us get to know each other and give you a great candidate experience.

We value individuality and equal opportunities. Decisions are based on experience and capabilities, regardless of age, race, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, nationality or disability. Your talent is welcome here.

We don't use algorithms to make hiring decisions or chatbots at any stage of the process.