HR Lead - Europe & Middle East

Zoetis Spain SL; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Global exposure

Executive leadership

Job summary

Zoetis is seeking an agile, experienced HR leader to serve as HR Lead, Europe & Middle East (EME) and HR Business Partner to the Commercial Regional President, EME. This role sets regional HR strategy and leads talent, operations, and transformation across markets while partnering with global HR teams.

Travel is frequent; the role requires navigating diverse labor laws and cultures, delivering world-class HR execution, and shaping the HR operating model for the next chapter at Zoetis.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree is a plus.
• 12+ years of progressive HR leadership across multiple markets in the region.
• Experience building and deploying People Programs that drive measurable change.
• Strong business acumen and ability to translate strategy into human capital plans.

Responsibilities

• Shape and execute people strategy, workforce plans, org design, and change across markets.
• Lead full-cycle recruitment and succession planning with global partners.
• Oversee HR Operations, payroll, benefits, data quality, and governance.
• Drive HR transformation, analytics, and evidence-based decision making.
• Collaborate with global HR leads to localize initiatives with cultural relevance.

Skills

HR leadership

Change management

Strategic partnering

People analytics

Executive communication

Cross-cultural

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree a plus

Tools

HRIS systems

Payroll systems

Job description

Location: Dublin, Ireland or Leatherhead, UK

Zoetis is seeking an agile, experienced HR leader to serve as HR Lead, Europe & Middle East (EME) and HR Business Partner to the Commercial Regional President, EME. You will set and execute the regional HR and people agenda across commercial markets, balancing global consistency with local relevance, while strengthening talent pipelines, colleague experience, and HR operational excellence across diverse labor laws, cultures, and business models. This role offers a unique and high impact opportunity to work in a dynamic business environment as trusted thought partner to senior leaders while driving world‑class HR execution and transforming our HR operating model into the next chapter. The role collaborates closely with global and functional HR leaders (e.g. Global Manufacturing & Supply [GMS]), Finance, Legal, Tech & Digital) and brings enterprise‑wide people strategies to life with local relevance and strong change adoption. The HR Lead for EME will be member of the International HR and EME Commercial Leadership team. They will report to the HR Lead for International Commercial Operations and will be a leader and a role model of outstanding leadership behaviors and Zoetis values.

Strategic HR, Business partnership & org effectiveness

• Shape and execute people strategy, workforce plans, org design, and change to deliver business and HR priorities.
• Translate business requirements and challenges into clear, executable HR initiatives.
• Lead org design and change across markets/functions; partner with leaders to implement scalable structures and agile ways of working.
• Ensure HR programs actively promote an equitable, inclusive workplace; champion culture, well‑being, and colleague experience.
• Partner with global and international HR teams to localize and implement strategic initiatives with consistency and cultural relevance.

Talent Acquisition, Succession and Development

• Build and execute workforce and succession plans; lead succession and talent review cycles.
• Oversee full‑cycle recruitment in partnership with the global Talent Acquisition COE.
• Implement talent management programs and strengthen leadership capability using enterprise tools to ensure strong pipelines.
• Guide workforce planning, succession management, and talent reviews for the region.

HR Operations & Service Delivery Model Transformation

• Oversee HR Operations in markets, incl. payroll, benefit administration, record keeping, time and continuously optimizing processes, systems, efficiency and data accuracy.
• In partnership with the Head of Colleague Experience for EME and others, serve as a key leader in the transformation of the HR function that will bring new roles and new ways of working that standardize and redesign HR Operations, payroll/benefits governance, and colleague data quality.
• Shifting from a generalist model to a new operating model will also require capability building and upskilling for the HR team.
• In partnership with our Global People Analytics team, leverage analytics to develop and support evidence‑based decisions (workforce planning, engagement, retention, culture & inclusion outcomes); monitor HR metrics and provide insights to leadership.
• Monitor compliance with labor laws, industry standards, and company policies across markets; serve as escalation point for complex topics.
• Oversee benefit administration and partner with Global Benefit COE and local HR Business Partners that benefit programs are competitive and support talent retention and employee wellbeing.
• Oversee complex employee relations and consultation.

Leadership, Change & Engagement

• Lead, coach, and develop a high‑performing, agile HRBP community across the region.
• Provide strategic input and leadership for organization change and HR transformation, including direction, resourcing, and communications.
• Act as a change champion by applying a structured approach that enables successful transitions and adoption.
• Engage and collaborate with the global HR team, including Colleague Experience, Operations, and Centers of Excellence teams.
• Align performance management and reward strategies to build a culture of high performance and innovation.
• Drive employee engagement initiatives that elevate and sustain colleague engagement.

Additional Responsibilities

• Collaborate and negotiate effectively with works councils and unions.
• Support Business Development on transactions, due diligence, and integration as needed.
• Lead and support broader programs and projects as necessary.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; relevant Master’s a plus.
• 12+ years of progressive HR leadership across a number of countries in the region and demonstrated ability supporting Senior Business Partners in global, matrixed organizations.
• Proven experience of HR team management alongside growing and developing team members.
• Strong knowledge of core HR disciplines (HR programs and administration, compensation, benefits, employee relations, compliance) and history of building & deploying People Programs that drive measurable, value adding, positive change.
• Strong business acumen and the ability to translate business strategy into human capital strategies.
• Strong communication and influence skills (written, verbal, facilitation); executive presence and resilience.
• Demonstrated change leadership in complex, cross‑functional, cross‑cultural environments; comfortable with ambiguity and able to challenge the status quo constructively.
• Ability to build credible and influential business partnerships throughout the region by demonstrating an understanding of business fundamentals and decision‑making processes.
• Demonstrate a “One Zoetis” mindset; willingness to “roll up your sleeves” and drive practical, hands‑on solutions.
• Data‑driven mindset; ability to use HR metrics/analytics to inform decisions.
• Fluency in multiple European languages preferred.

Travel & Flexible Work: Frequent international travel across the region to Zoetis locations. Flexible work approach: teams spend at least 50% of time in the office, with flexibility based on business, team, and personal needs.

Full time Regular Colleague

Any unsolicited resumes sent to Zoetis from a third party, such as an Agency recruiter, including unsolicited resumes sent to a Zoetis mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Zoetis employees, or to Zoetis resume database will be considered Zoetis property. Zoetis will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. Zoetis will consider any candidate for whom an Agency has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Agency free of any charges or fees. This includes any Agency that is an approved/engaged vendor but does not have the appropriate approvals to be engaged on a search.

Notice: Zoetis Recruiters will contact candidates via email from an address ending in @zoetis.com and may also initially connect with candidates through LinkedIn, including LinkedIn InMail.

Join Zoetis – and build your career with a global animal health company dedicated to supporting its customers and their businesses.

Why Zoetis

Zoetis has more than 60 years of experience in delivering innovative, high-quality products and services that benefit our customers.

Zoetis work environment

At Zoetis, we take pride in a collaborative spirit and high-performing environment where every colleague is given room to learn and grow.

Your opportunities at Zoetis

We invest in our people and offer diverse and exciting opportunities to make a difference in a growing global industry while shaping the future of animal health.

Results that matter

Our colleagues make an impact by working hand-in-hand with those who raise and care for animals to better understand and address the unique real‑world challenges they face.