Employee Relations Manager Netherlands & Belgium

Maersk; Rotterdam; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Maersk in the Netherlands and Belgium seeks an Employee Relations Manager to drive ER/LR strategies and operational excellence, engaging with unions and works councils.

The role blends high-level strategic influence with hands-on involvement, ensuring compliance with employment legislation and collective agreements across borders. You will advise leaders, support restructuring, manage complex cases, and collaborate with regional colleagues to strengthen Labour relations across North Europe.

Qualifications

• Degree in Law with specialization in Employment or Labor Law.
• 7–10 years in Employee Relations or Labor Relations.
• Experience in multinational settings and EU labor relations is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Advise leaders on employment law, labor relations and ER matters.
• Lead works council consultations and union engagements.
• Support restructurings and workforce transformation projects.
• Manage complex ER cases and involve external counsel when needed.
• Identify and mitigate risks; ensure compliance with Dutch/Belgian law.
• Build relationships with works councils, unions and legal advisors.
• Contribute to ER policies and cross-border initiatives.
• Collaborate with regional and global Employee Relations colleagues.

Skills

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

Relationship building

Education

LL.M. in Employment/Labor Law

Job description

Employee Relations Manager Netherlands & Belgium

You've seen us everywhere, from a road trip, passing over one of our trucks, to the biggest ports on the planet where we touch land to continue our journey All The Way to your front door. Now it's your chance to get to know us from within: a workplace full of warmth, friendship and support.

We invite you to join our wonderful team and be part of our purpose: Improving life for all by integrating the world.

Join us and play an important role on our team lifting global trade every day!

We offer

As an Employee Relations Manager, you will play a critical role in driving both strategic initiatives and operational excellence for the Netherlands and Belgium, ensuring seamless execution of employee and labor relations (ER/LR) strategies, particularly in your engagement with unions and workers' councils.

This position offers a unique blend of high-level strategic influence and hands‑on operational involvement, requiring adaptability and a passion for navigating both arenas effectively.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice to business leaders, People Partners, and HR stakeholders on complex employment law, labor relations, and employee relations matters.

• Partner with management on works council consultations, union engagements, collective bargaining topics, and other labor relations activities in the Netherlands and Belgium.

• Support organizational change initiatives, restructurings, policy implementation, and workforce transformation projects from an employee and labor relations perspective.

• Lead or manage complex employee relations cases, investigations, disputes, and litigation matters, engaging external counsel where appropriate.

• Identify and mitigate employment and labor relations risks, ensuring compliance with Dutch and Belgian employment legislation and collective agreements.

• Develop and maintain constructive relationships with works councils, unions, external legal advisors, and key internal stakeholders.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of Employee Relations policies, frameworks, and best practices across the North Europe Continent Area.

• Collaborate with regional and global Employee Relations colleagues on cross-border initiatives and strategic projects.

What we are looking for:

• Degree in Law (LL.M.) or equivalent legal qualification with a specialization in Employment or Labor Law.

• Minimum 7-10 years of relevant Employee Relations, Labor Relations, Employment Law, or Industrial Relations experience, including substantial experience in the Netherlands.

• Experience supporting labor relations and employee representative structures in other European countries, such as Belgium, Germany or Poland, is considered an advantage.

• Experience working within a multinational organization and navigating complex matrix environments.

• Proven ability to manage complex stakeholder landscapes and support sensitive negotiations and employee relations matters.

• Strong commercial judgment, balancing legal, people, and business considerations.

• Excellent communication, influencing, and relationship-building skills, including engagement with senior leaders and employee representatives.

As part of our pre-employment screening, we ask you to provide a VOG.

Maersk is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we embrace different styles of thinking. Maersk is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants without regard to race, colour, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy or parental leave, veteran status, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with all legal requirements.

We are happy to support your need for any adjustments during the application and hiring process. If you need special assistance or an accommodation to use our website, apply for a position, or to perform a job, please contact us by emailing [e-mail].