Manager - Human Resources

Eli Lilly and Company; Utrecht; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Lilly in the Netherlands seeks an experienced HR Manager to serve as a strategic HR partner for its Dutch operations, driving a high-performance culture and organizational effectiveness. You will guide the local people strategy and support a forthcoming Leiden manufacturing site.

Responsibilities include talent management, organizational design, compensation cycles, and compliance with Dutch labor law, partnering with senior leaders to shape Lilly's future workforce.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, or a related field.
• Minimum 8 years of progressive HR experience, with at least 3 years in a senior HR Business Partner role.
• Solid knowledge of Dutch employment law, Works Council obligations, and HR best practices in the Netherlands.
• Proven track record of partnering with senior business leaders to deliver impactful people strategies.
• Experience in a multinational/matrix organization, ideally in the pharmaceutical or life sciences sector.
• Fluency in Dutch and English (written and spoken) is required.
• Strong interpersonal, coaching, and influencing skills with the ability to build trust at all levels of the organization.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to use HR data to drive insights and recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted advisor and business partner to the affiliate leadership team and key functional heads in the Netherlands.
• Contribute to the work involved in establishing Lilly's new manufacturing site in Leiden, an important future operation for Lilly in the Netherlands.
• Translate business strategy into people priorities; co-create and execute the local HR plan aligned with the Lilly global HR strategy.
• Lead organizational design and change management initiatives to support business transformation and growth.
• Drive talent management processes including succession planning, talent reviews, and capability building.
• Support the annual performance and compensation cycle, ensuring fair and consistent application of Lilly's global frameworks.
• Ensure full compliance with Dutch employment legislation and Lilly's global policies and standards.
• Partner with the Forum in accordance with legal obligations, fostering transparent and constructive dialogue.
• Collaborate with Global HR Operations (GHR) and Centers of Excellence (CoEs) to ensure seamless HR service delivery.
• Manage local compensation & benefits practices, working closely with Lilly's global Total Rewards team.

Skills

Dutch language proficiency

English language proficiency

Strategic partnership

Employee relations

People management

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR/BA/Psychology/related field

Job description

At Lilly, the work is demanding because patients are waiting. We unite caring with discovery to help make life better for people around the world, knowing that every decision, every detail, and every day matters. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, our over 50,000 employees around the globe take on complex challenges to discover and deliver life‑changing medicines, strengthen how health is understood and managed, and support the communities we serve. This is hard, urgent, selfless work—but it’s work worth doing. If you’re driven by purpose and ready to bring your best to work that truly matters for patients, we invite you to join us.

Position Summary

The Human Resources Manager – The Netherlands serves as a strategic HR Business Partner for Lilly's operations in the Netherlands. In this role, you will partner closely with senior business leaders to drive a high-performance culture, enable organizational effectiveness, build an innovative, future‑ready workforce, and ensure Lilly's people agenda is delivered with excellence in the local market. You will serve as the primary HR point of contact, providing expert guidance on the full HR lifecycle while upholding Lilly's values and compliance standards. You will also play an important role in the work involved in establishing Lilly's new manufacturing site in Leiden, helping to lay the people foundations for this future operation. Above all, you will be a driver of vision and ambition — shaping the talent base that enables Lilly to keep growing and leading into the future.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic HR Partnership

• Act as a trusted advisor and business partner to the affiliate leadership team and key functional heads in the Netherlands.
• Contribute to the work involved in establishing Lilly's new manufacturing site in Leiden, an important future operation for Lilly in the Netherlands.
• Translate business strategy into people priorities; co-create and execute the local HR plan aligned with the Lilly global HR strategy.
• Lead organizational design and change management initiatives to support business transformation and growth.
• Drive talent management processes including succession planning, talent reviews, and capability building.
• Support the annual performance and compensation cycle, ensuring fair and consistent application of Lilly's global frameworks.

Employee Relations & Culture

• Foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performance work environment consistent with Lilly's culture and values.
• Provide guidance and resolution support on employee relations matters, ensuring compliance with Dutch labor law and Lilly policies.
• Partner with leaders to enhance employee engagement and support well-being programs locally.
• Be accountable for creating and sustaining Lilly's reputation as an attractive employer that genuinely cares for its employees, while building its standing as a recognized Great Place to Work for future talent.

Talent Acquisition & Development

• Attract and onboard top talent in alignment with local workforce needs.
• Coach managers and leaders on people management best practices and leadership effectiveness.
• Support and guide learning & development initiatives to build individual and organizational capability.

HR Operations & Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with Dutch employment legislation and Lilly's global policies and standards.
• Partner with the Forum in accordance with legal obligations, fostering transparent and constructive dialogue.
• Collaborate with Global HR Operations (GHR) and Centers of Excellence (CoEs) to ensure seamless HR service delivery.
• Manage local compensation & benefits practices, working closely with Lilly's global Total Rewards team.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, or a related field.
• Minimum 8 years of progressive HR experience, with at least 3 years in a senior HR Business Partner role.
• Solid knowledge of Dutch employment law, Works Council obligations, and HR best practices in the Netherlands.
• Proven track record of partnering with senior business leaders to deliver impactful people strategies.
• Experience in a multinational/matrix organization, ideally in the pharmaceutical or life sciences sector.
• Fluency in Dutch and English (written and spoken) is required.
• Strong interpersonal, coaching, and influencing skills with the ability to build trust at all levels of the organization.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to use HR data to drive insights and recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage change in a complex, fast-paced environment.

Lilly is dedicated to helping individuals with disabilities to actively engage in the workforce, ensuring equal opportunities when vying for positions. If you require accommodation to submit a resume for a position at Lilly, please complete the accommodation request form (https://careers.lilly.com/us/en/workplace-accommodation) for further assistance. Please note this is for individuals to request an accommodation as part of the application process and any other correspondence will not receive a response.

Lilly does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.

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