HR Lead - NL

Avantor; Hillegom; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Avantor in the Netherlands is seeking a Country HR Lead to act as the trusted HR partner for managers and employees across the Dutch organization. This role combines hands-on HR work with strategic business partnership and transformation initiatives.

You will manage complex employee relations, ensure compliance with Dutch employment law, and drive the next phase of HR transformation toward self-service and shared services, while working with the Works Council and ServiceNow.

Qualifications

• Solid HR generalist experience in a complex, international matrix organization.
• Hands-on experience with an HR Shared Services model and ServiceNow (or comparable ticketing system).
• Proven experience with Works Council (OR) processes in the Netherlands.
• Experience managing sickness absence cases (ziekteverzuim / Wet verbetering poortwachter).
• Strong knowledge of Dutch employment law and HR compliance.
• Experience supporting HR transformation or transitions to self-service / shared services.
• Experience using HR data and analytics to drive improvements.
• Strong employee relations and case management expertise, with sound judgment and the confidence to act independently.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Native-level Dutch and fluent English, written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary HR partner for managers and employees on complex people matters.
• Independently manage employee relations cases from consultation to resolution - supporting managers and employees with care, fairness and sound judgment, including on performance and, where needed, disciplinary and exit processes.
• Guide managers and employees through more complex sickness absence cases (ziekteverzuim), ensuring full compliance with the Wet verbetering poortwachter.
• Ensure our HR license to operate is maintained at all times, applying knowledge of policies and operating principles to mitigate risks.
• Manage escalations and partner with HR Shared Services to resolve high-risk issues, and implement strategies to prevent them.
• Support a positive, safe and respectful employee environment by addressing concerns promptly and fairly.
• Lead Works Council (OR) consultations, advice and approval requests, and stakeholder communications.
• Actively drive the next phase of our HR transformation: shifting transactional work towards self-service and our Shared Services organization.
• Work hands-on with our ServiceNow ticketing system and champion its adoption across the business.
• Drive simplification, standardization, and continuous improvement in HR service delivery.
• Deliver key HR initiatives locally: performance management, compensation cycles, engagement and DEIB programs.
• Use HR data and insights to identify risks, improve decisions, and enhance employee experience.

Skills

HR generalist experience

employee relations

sickness absence management

stakeholder management

policy & compliance

data & analytics in HR

independent decision making

native Dutch & English

change management

Works Council experience

Tools

ServiceNow

HR Shared Services

Job description

The Opportunity: HR Leader Netherlands Location: Netherlands (hybrid) | Full-time

Be the trusted HR partner who helps shape the future of HR in the Netherlands. It's a great time to join Avantor as we continue executing our Revival strategy - shaping the future of our business through a focus on customer excellence, operational excellence and people excellence. This role plays an important part in that journey. We are looking for an experienced Country HR Lead to be the go‑to HR advisor for managers and employees across our Dutch organization. This is an individual contributor role with real ownership: you will manage complex employee relations matters, safeguard our HR license to operate, lead Works Council engagement and play a key role in the next phase of our HR transformation. One year ago, we launched our HR Self‑Service & Shared Services model. You will actively drive the next phase of this transformation: moving transactional work to self‑service and shared services, so that this role increasingly focuses on strategic business partnership and the most complex people matters. If you enjoy both hands‑on HR work and shaping how HR is delivered, this role offers the best of both worlds.

What you'll do

• Trusted HR advisor & employee relations
  • Act as the primary HR partner for managers and employees on complex people matters.
  • Independently manage employee relations cases from consultation to resolution - supporting managers and employees with care, fairness and sound judgment, including on performance and, where needed, disciplinary and exit processes.
  • Guide managers and employees through more complex sickness absence cases (ziekteverzuim), ensuring full compliance with the Wet verbetering poortwachter.
• HR governance, compliance & risk management
  • Ensure our HR license to operate is maintained at all times, applying knowledge of policies and operating principles to mitigate risks.
  • Manage escalations and partner with HR Shared Services to resolve high‑risk issues, and implement strategies to prevent them.
  • Support a positive, safe and respectful employee environment by addressing concerns promptly and fairly.
  • Ensure compliance with Dutch employment law, HR documentation, GDPR and audit readiness.
• Works Council & employee representation
  • Lead Works Council (OR) consultations, advice and approval requests, and stakeholder communications.
  • Advise business leaders on OR obligations and best practices.
• HR transformation & service delivery
  • Actively drive the next phase of our HR transformation: shifting transactional work towards self‑service and our Shared Services organization.
  • Work hands‑on with our ServiceNow ticketing system and champion its adoption across the business.
  • Drive simplification, standardization, and continuous improvement in HR service delivery.
• HR programs & business support
  • Deliver key HR initiatives locally: performance management, compensation cycles, engagement and DEIB programs.
  • Use HR data and insights to identify risks, improve decisions, and enhance employee experience.

What you'll bring

• Solid HR generalist experience in a complex, international matrix organization.
• Hands‑on experience working with an HR Shared Services model and ServiceNow (or comparable ticketing system).
• Proven experience with Works Council (OR) processes in the Netherlands.
• Experience managing sickness absence cases (ziekteverzuim / Wet verbetering poortwachter).
• Strong knowledge of Dutch employment law and HR compliance.
• Experience supporting HR transformation or transitions to self‑service / shared services.
• Experience using HR data and analytics to drive improvements.
• Strong employee relations and case management expertise, with sound judgment and the confidence to act independently.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Native‑level Dutch and fluent English, written and spoken.

What we offer

• A visible HR role with a high degree of autonomy and ownership.
• A hybrid working environment with flexibility in where and how you work.
• The opportunity to actively contribute to the continued development of our HR organization.
• Collaboration within an international company focused on growth, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Extensive opportunities for professional development, learning, and career growth.
• A competitive benefits package, including a pension scheme, holiday allowance, and additional employee benefits.
• A culture built on collaboration, respect, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
• The opportunity to make a tangible impact on the employee experience and business success within the Netherlands and to work across Europe on various programs and initiatives.

Practical details

Full‑time, hybrid role, with at least 3 days per week in the office and a balanced presence across our locations in Amsterdam Sloterdijk, Hillegom Boxmeer, plus occasional visits to customer sites.

Individual contributor role, reporting to the HR Cluster Lead Belgium & Netherlands (based in Belgium).

Why join us?

This is a highly visible role where you will own impactful HR work today — and actively shape what HR looks like tomorrow. You'll work in a collaborative international environment with real influence on how we grow. If you're an experienced HR professional who enjoys partnering with leaders, solving complex people challenges, and driving meaningful change.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position. Avantor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Why Avantor? Dare to go further in your career. Join our global team of 14,000+ associates whose passion for discovery and determination to overcome challenges relentlessly advances life‑changing science. The work we do changes people's lives for the better. It brings new patient treatments and therapies to market, giving a cancer survivor the chance to walk his daughter down the aisle. It enables medical devices that help a little boy hear his mom's voice for the first time. Outcomes such as these create unlimited opportunities for you to contribute your talents, learn new skills and grow your career at Avantor. We are committed to helping you on this journey through our diverse, equitable and inclusive culture which includes learning experiences to support your career growth and success. At Avantor, dare to go further and see how the impact of your contributions set science in motion to create a better world.

EEO Statement: We are an Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employer and VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/province, or local law. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at [e-mail] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case‑by‑case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.

Privacy Policy: We will use the personal information that you have submitted to us in order to consider your application for the relevant role. Your privacy is important to us. Please click here for our Privacy Policy which explains the purposes for which we will use your personal information and the ways in which we will handle and retain your information. It also explains the rights you have in relation to your information, and how to contact us with any queries or requests.

3rd Party Non‑Solicitation Policy: By submitting candidates without having been formally assigned on and contracted for a specific job requisition by Avantor, or by failing to comply with the Avantor recruitment process, you forfeit any fee on the submitted candidates, regardless of your usual terms and conditions. Avantor works with a preferred supplier list and will take the initiative to engage with recruitment agencies based on its needs and will not be accepting any form of solicitation.

Avantor®, a Fortune 500 company, is a leading global provider of mission‑critical products and services to customers in the biopharma, healthcare, education & government, and advanced technologies & applied materials industries. Our portfolio is used in virtually every stage of the most important research, development and production activities in the industries we serve. One of our greatest strengths comes from having a global infrastructure that is strategically located to support the needs of our customers. Our global footprint enables us to serve more than 225,000 customer locations and gives us extensive access to research laboratories and scientists in more than 180 countries. We set science in motion to create a better world.