People Relations Senior Advisor

bp; Europoort; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Competitive salary & benefits

Job summary

bp is seeking a People Relations Advisor to advance the Employee and Labour Relations agenda in the Netherlands, with Belgium support. You will collaborate with the Regional People Relations Manager on ER/LR topics, governance with works councils, and organisational change, while building broader international expertise.

You will handle cases, advise HR partners, develop risk assessments, and contribute to continuous improvement of People Relations processes in a matrixed, international

Qualifications

• A degree in Human Resources, Employment Law, Business Administration or equivalent professional experience.
• 4–7 years of relevant experience in Employee Relations, Labour Relations, HR partnering or similar.
• Good working knowledge of Dutch employment law and employee relations.
• Experience with works councils and consultation processes; unions or collective labour relations; organisational change.

Responsibilities

• Support bp's Employee and Labour Relations strategy with a Netherlands focus and Belgium support.
• Coordinate and manage employee relations matters and disciplinary processes.
• Advise HR partners and leaders on ER topics and escalate complex cases.
• Assist works council consultations and negotiations with unions and other bodies.
• Support organisational changes and provide insights from workforce data.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication

Relationship building

Cross-country collaboration

Education

HR / Employment Law degree

Job description

About the role

As People Relations Advisor, you will play an important role in supporting bp's Employee and Labour Relations agenda, with a primary focus on the Netherlands and additional support for Belgium. Working closely with the Regional People Relations Manager, you will be involved in employee relations cases, works council consultations, collective labour relations and organisational change. You will also contribute to European and global People Relations projects, giving you the opportunity to develop both deep local expertise and broader international experience.

Entity

People, Culture & Communications

Job Family Group

HR Group

Job Description

About the role

As People Relations Advisor, you will play an important role in supporting bp's Employee and Labour Relations agenda, with a primary focus on the Netherlands and additional support for Belgium. Working closely with the Regional People Relations Manager, you will be involved in employee relations cases, works council consultations, collective labour relations and organisational change. You will also contribute to European and global People Relations projects, giving you the opportunity to develop both deep local expertise and broader international experience.

This is an opportunity for an experienced HR or Employee Relations professional who wants to build deeper expertise in Employee Relations (ER) and Labour Relations (LR). You will take ownership of a range of activities and cases, while working alongside experienced People Relations colleagues on more complex or higher-risk matters. As your expertise develops, you will take increasing responsibility for complex cases, consultation processes and stakeholder relationships.

Key Responsibilities

Employee & Labour Relations

• Support the execution of bp's Employee and Labour Relations strategy, with a primary focus on the Netherlands and additional support for Belgium.
• Coordinate and manage employee relations matters, including performance and conduct issues, disciplinary processes and other employment-related cases, working closely with our central ER Advisory team in Budapest where appropriate.
• Advise HR Business Partners and business leaders on employee and labour relations topics, taking ownership of matters within your area of expertise and escalating complex or higher-risk cases where appropriate.
• Analyse ER/LR issues and prepare initial risk assessments, options and recommendations for discussion with the People Relations Manager.
• Identify recurring themes and opportunities to improve policies, processes and ways of working.

Works council & collective labour relations

• Coordinate and support Dutch works council consultation processes, ensuring the right stakeholders are involved and consultation requirements and timelines are effectively managed.
• Prepare and support consultations and negotiations with works councils, trade unions and other employee representative bodies, including collective labour agreements, social plans and other collective arrangements.
• Prepare consultation and negotiation materials, including proposals, supporting analysis, Q&A materials and employee communications.
• Work closely with HR, Legal, Reward and business stakeholders to identify and address employee consultation requirements.
• Develop your understanding of the business context and apply this alongside employee relations and legal considerations when supporting consultation and negotiation processes.
• Support the People Relations Manager in building constructive and sustainable relationships with works councils, trade unions and other employee representative bodies.

Organisational change

• Support organisational changes including reorganisations, harmonisation initiatives, acquisitions and divestments.
• Identify potential employee and labour relations implications and risks arising from organisational change and contribute to appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Support the development of consultation approaches, timelines and documentation for organisational changes.
• Analyse workforce information and provide relevant insights to support People Relations activities and decision‑making.

European & global projects

• Contribute to European and global People Relations projects and initiatives.
• Work with People Relations colleagues across countries to develop and implement consistent approaches, while taking account of local requirements.
• Share knowledge and best practices across the wider People Relations community.
• Contribute a Dutch perspective to regional and global initiatives.

Capability & continuous improvement

• Support the development and implementation of practical policies, tools and guidance for HR and business leaders.
• Contribute to training and knowledge sharing on Employee and Labour Relations topics.
• Help further professionalise employee participation, consultation and People Relations processes.
• Support continuous improvement of People Relations processes and ways of working.
• Ensure relevant internal policies and documentation remain accurate and up to date.

What You Bring

Education & experience

• A degree in Human Resources, Employment Law, Business Administration or a comparable field, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• Approximately 4–7 years of relevant experience in Employee Relations, Labour Relations, HR Partnering or another relevant HR environment.
• Good working knowledge of Dutch employment law and employee relations.
• Experience with one or more of the following:
• works council and consultation processes;
• individual employee relations cases;
• trade unions or collective labour relations;
• organisational change and reorganisations.
• Experience with, or knowledge of, the Dutch Works Councils Act (Wet op de ondernemingsraden/WOR) is an advantage.
• Experience working in an international or matrixed organisation is an advantage.

You do not need to be an expert in all of these areas. We are also interested in candidates with a strong HR or ER foundation who demonstrate good judgement, clear potential and the motivation to develop deeper expertise in Employee and Labour Relations.

Knowledge & Capabilities

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to assess issues, identify risks and develop practical options.
• Ability to build effective relationships with HR, Legal, business leaders and employee representatives.
• Comfortable working across countries and with stakeholders in an international, matrixed organisation.
• Able to take ownership while recognising when a matter requires additional expertise or escalation.
• Strong organisational skills and a structured approach to managing multiple priorities.
• Sound judgement and discretion when handling sensitive and confidential matters.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent command of both Dutch and English.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to develop into a strong Employee and Labour Relations specialist within a large international organisation.
• Hands‑on exposure to employee relations cases, works council consultations, collective labour relations, negotiations and organisational change.
• A role combining meaningful local responsibility with exposure to European and global People Relations projects.
• Increasing ownership and complexity as your expertise develops.
• Close collaboration with experienced People Relations professionals and senior stakeholders.
• Opportunities for continued professional development and career growth within People Relations and HR.
• A competitive salary and attractive benefits package.
• Hybrid working in a dynamic, international environment.

Interested?

Are you an HR or Employee Relations professional ready to deepen your expertise in Employee and Labour Relations? Do you enjoy navigating complex situations, working with a wide range of stakeholders and balancing employee, legal and business considerations?

Travel Requirement

No travel is expected with this role

Relocation Assistance

This role is not eligible for relocation

Remote Type

This position is a hybrid of office/remote working

Skills

Agility core practices, Agility core practices, Analytical Thinking, Coaching, Communication, Creativity and Innovation, Culture and behaviour change, Curiosity, Customer centric thinking, Data Analysis, Data cleansing and transformation, Decision Making, Digital Fluency, Employee and labour relations (Inactive), Employee Engagement, Employee Experience, Facilitation, Global Perspective, Influencing, Job Design, Leadership Assessment, Leading transformation, Managing change, Managing workforce concerns, Microsoft Excel {+ 12 more}

Legal Disclaimer

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics like race, religion, color, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status or disability status. Individuals with an accessibility need may request an adjustment/accommodation related to bp’s recruiting process (e.g., accessing the job application, completing required assessments, participating in telephone screenings or interviews, etc.). If you would like to request an adjustment/accommodation related to the recruitment process, please contact us.

If you are selected for a position and depending upon your role, your employment may be contingent upon adherence to local policy. This may include pre‑placement drug screening, medical review of physical fitness for the role, and background checks.