Head of People

Karsten; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Karsten International seeks a strategic, hands-on Head of People to shape our people strategy and culture. You will lead the People & Facilities team and partner with the CEO, COO and Management Team in Amsterdam, NL and across the Netherlands and China.

You will translate business ambitions into scalable people practices, oversee talent management, leadership development, and workforce planning, and drive organisational health and performance across the group.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in HR Management or Business Administration.
• 10+ years of HR experience with at least 3 years in a senior, strategic leadership.
• Proven track record in leading teams in scale-ups or international companies.
• Deep knowledge of Dutch employment law and HR compliance.

Responsibilities

• Developing a multi-year People strategy aligned with company growth plans and MT priorities.
• Advising and coaching senior leaders on organisational design, workforce planning, leadership effectiveness and people risk.
• Defining and embedding leadership behaviours and cultural values across the Netherlands and China.
• Building approaches to performance management, succession planning, talent identification and learning and development.
• Measuring organisational health, acting on employee feedback and reporting people KPIs to the MT.
• Leading the People workstream in organisational change and equipping managers to guide their teams through it.
• Leading and developing the team across Talent Acquisition, HR Business Partnering, HR Operations and Facilities.
• Overseeing compliant HR operations, policies, systems and external partners across the Dutch and Chinese entities.
• Managing the People & Facilities budget and aligning workforce plans with business planning cycles

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Change management

People strategy

Data-driven mindset

Stakeholder management

C-level advisory

Bilingual Dutch/English

Education

Master's degree in HR Management or Business Administration

Job description

We are looking for a strategic and hands-on Head of People to shape the people strategy and culture of Karsten International while leading our People & Facilities team. As a member of the Management Team (MT), you will act as a trusted partner to the CEO, COO and fellow MT members.

You will translate business ambitions into people practices that attract, develop and retain talent across the company. Working across the Netherlands and China, you will provide clear direction on leadership effectiveness, organisational health, workforce planning and workplace experience.

This is a leadership role for someone who combines strategic thinking with operational excellence and enjoys building a strong, scalable People function.

• On-site
• Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
• HR

Your responsibilities:

• Developing a multi-year People strategy aligned with company growth plans and MT priorities.
• Advising and coaching senior leaders on organisational design, workforce planning, leadership effectiveness and people risk.
• Defining and embedding leadership behaviours and cultural values across the Netherlands and China.
• Building approaches to performance management, succession planning, talent identification and learning and development.
• Measuring organisational health, acting on employee feedback and reporting people KPIs to the MT.
• Leading the People workstream in organisational change and equipping managers to guide their teams through it.
• Leading and developing the team across Talent Acquisition, HR Business Partnering, HR Operations and Facilities.
• Overseeing compliant HR operations, policies, systems and external partners across the Dutch and Chinese entities.
• Managing the People & Facilities budget and aligning workforce plans with business planning cycles

Job requirements

What we are looking for:

• A Master's degree in HR Management or Business Administration.
• At least 10 years of progressive HR experience, including 3 years in a senior, strategic leadership role.
• Proven experience leading a team, ideally in a scale-up or mid-sized international company.
• A track record in change management, culture transformation or organisational development.
• Experience advising and coaching C-level executives and senior leaders.
• Deep knowledge of Dutch employment law, HR compliance and works council dynamics.
• Strong commercial judgement, a data-driven mindset and the ability to turn strategy into practical plans.
• Excellent communication skills in Dutch and English, with the ability to connect, challenge and influence at all levels.
• Familiarity with Chinese employment practices is a plus.

Who are we?

Karsten International develops a wide range of products for daily use, from the latest gadgets to sustainable beauty products. In addition to working hard and delivering quality, enjoyment and collegiality are our top priorities. The team consists of driven product developers, sales experts, logistics talents, online marketing specialists and graphic designers. You will be given every opportunity to contribute to this.

What we offer

• A key position on the Management Team, with direct influence on our people strategy and future direction.
• The opportunity to shape our next phase of international growth and strengthen our leadership and culture.
• The freedom and trust to challenge existing ways of working, introduce new ideas and turn strategy into meaningful results.
• A fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with short decision-making lines and close collaboration with the CEO, COO and stakeholders.
• A compensation package aligned with the seniority and impact of the role.
• An easily accessible office in Amsterdam, with fresh daily lunches, well-being support, sports activities and regular company events.

What you can expect from us

At Karsten International you will join a supportive, ambitious team where we work hard, stay sharp, and enjoy what we do. We are growing fast, so there's plenty of room to share ideas, take ownership, and really make an impact. We communicate openly, help each other out, and keep things direct but respectful.