Employee Relations Manager Netherlands & Belgium

APM Terminals; Rotterdam; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Maersk is seeking an Employee Relations Manager for the Netherlands & Belgium. You will drive strategic ER/LR initiatives, engage with unions and works councils, and ensure compliant employment practices across NL and BE.

The role blends strategic influence with hands-on operational activity in a multinational setting. You will advise senior leaders, manage complex employee relations matters, and collaborate with colleagues across the region on cross-border initiatives, while ensuring effective

Qualifications

• LL.M. or equivalent in Employment/Labor Law.
• 7–10 years of Employee Relations/Labor Relations experience, including the Netherlands.
• Experience with labor relations and employee representative structures in other European countries is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice on employment law and labor relations to leaders and HR stakeholders.
• Engage with works councils, unions, and for collective bargaining topics in NL and BE.
• Drive organizational change initiatives from ER/LR perspective.
• Lead complex ER cases and investigations, and coordinate with external counsel.
• Identify risks and ensure compliance with Dutch/Belgian law and CAOs.
• Build relationships with works councils, unions, external advisors, and stakeholders.
• Contribute to ER policies and best practices across North Europe Continent.
• Collaborate with regional/global ER colleagues on cross-border projects.

Skills

Employment law

Labor relations

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Communication

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. If you believe you would add value to Maersk but don't meet all the criteria we have included in this advert, we would still love to hear from you. Please explain the value you would bring in your application. 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].

A.P. Moller - Maersk is an integrated container logistics company working to connect and simplify its customer's supply chains. As the global leader in shipping services, the company operates in 130 countries and employs roughly 100,000 people. With simple end-to-end offering of products and digital services, seamless customer engagement and a superior end-to-end delivery network, Maersk enables its customers to trade and grow by transporting goods anywhere - all over the world.

For more information click here. All the way.