People & Culture Lead - Interim

7people; Rotterdam; Hybrid; EUR 91,000 - 129,000; Full time

Job summary

7people is seeking an experienced People & Culture Lead to shape and direct the P&C function from Rotterdam. You’ll work with the Co-CEO and leadership, guiding a junior P&C colleague and driving key people initiatives with real impact.

Key focus areas include performance development, employee relations, and shaping culture and engagement. This is a freelance, on-site role requiring English fluency and Dutch employment law knowledge.

Qualifications

• Minimum several years leading a P&C or HR function in a growing org.
• Ability to advise senior leadership and manage at least one team member.
• Strong background in performance management and employee relations.
• Experience shaping culture, engagement or organizational practices.
• Familiar with HR systems and employee survey tools (Culture Amp is a plus).
• Fluent in English (written and spoken) with solid understanding of Dutch employment law.

Responsibilities

• Set priorities for the P&C function with leadership.
• Coach and advise managers on performance and development.
• Manage and support a junior P&C team member.
• Oversee performance and development cycles, including goal setting and calibration.
• Handle complex employee-relations matters with sound judgement.
• Drive projects in 2027: values, engagement surveys, retention, culture and rewards, L&D streamlining.
• Maintain overview of P&C tooling (HRIS, Culture Amp).
• Collaborate with external advisers for specialist input.

Skills

People & Culture leadership

Performance management

Employee relations

Culture shaping

HR systems

Tools

HRIS

Culture Amp

Job description

A growing international sustainability consultancy is looking for an experienced People & Culture Lead to help shape their P&C function. The team is ambitious, the work is meaningful, and theres real scope to make an impact. You'll work closely with the Co-CEO and leadership, with a junior P&C team member handling the day-to-day operations. Your job is to provide direction, challenge and support, not to run every process yourself.

8 days a month. Real responsibility. A consultancy that actually cares about its people.

What you’ll do

• Set priorities for the P&C function together with leadership
• Coach and advise managers on performance and development
• Manage and support a junior P&C team member
• Oversee the full performance and development cycle, including goal setting and calibration
• Handle complex employee relations matters with sound judgement and an eye for risk
• Drive key projects in 2027: rolling out values and behaviours, running engagement surveys, strengthening retention, connecting culture and rewards, and streamlining L&D
• Maintain an overview of P&C tooling, including the HRIS and Culture Amp
• Work with external advisers when specialist legal input is needed

Who we’re looking for

• Several years of experience leading a P&C or HR function in a growing organisation
• Comfortable advising senior leadership and managing at least one team member
• Strong background in performance management and employee relations
• Experience shaping culture, engagement or organisational practices
• Confident working with HR systems and employee survey tools; Culture Amp experience is a plus
• Fluent in English, written and spoken + solid understanding of Dutch employment law
• Able to work independently within a limited number of days per month while staying closely connected to the organisation

Details

• Location: Rotterdam (approx. 6 of the 8 days on site; Tuesdays are fixed).
• Start: January (long-term)
• Hours: 8 days per month (approx. 2 days per week)
• Contract: Freelance
• Pay: €80 per hour