Senior HR Advisor

Career Legal; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Career Legal is seeking an HR Advisor to join the People team in Amsterdam, focusing initially on the Netherlands with scope to grow across the Benelux region. You will provide proactive HR advice across the full employee lifecycle, partnering with the HR Business Partner and managers to create a standout employee experience while ensuring policy and legal compliance.

In this busy environment, you will support employee relations, policy translation, and talent initiatives, including recruitment

Qualifications

• Solid track record in HR advisory, generalist or recruitment, preferably within a law firm.
• Strong command of Dutch and English; knowledge of French is a plus.
• Thorough understanding of Dutch social security law and sickness absence management.
• Natural drive to spot ways to streamline processes and improve how things are done.
• Meticulous approach with a focus on accurate, high-quality output.
• Ability to juggle competing priorities and a diverse workload in a busy setting.
• Positive, hands-on attitude and practical, solution-oriented problem solving.
• Comfort with technology, including HR systems and MS Office (Word, Excel).
• A degree in HR Management is advantageous.
• Knowledge of the Benelux graduate recruitment and higher education landscape is a bonus.

Responsibilities

• Act as the first point of contact for People-related questions, guiding employees and managers through policies, procedures and lifecycle processes.
• Translate HR policies and practices into day-to-day operations.
• Partner with line managers on employee relations, including performance management, absence management and end of fixed-term contracts, offering practical support and coaching.
• Lead emerging talent initiatives across Benelux: manage the budget, build relationships with universities and student associations, coordinate recruitment events and strengthen the employer's brand.
• Stay updated with HR best practice and developments in the legal sector and share insights with the business and the People team.
• Bring an outside-in perspective by following wider HR trends and sharing them with colleagues.

Skills

HR advisory

Generalist

Recruitment

Dutch & English

Dutch social security law

Process improvement

Attention to detail

Prioritization

Tech literacy

HR management degree

Education

Degree in HR Management or related discipline

Tools

HR systems

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

My client, a top international law firm, are looking for a HR Advisor to join their People team in Amsterdam. This team is made up of a People Administrator, a People Operations Manager and an HR Business Partner.

The role will start with a focus on the Netherlands, with the scope expected to grow over time to cover the wider Benelux region. The offices in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Brussels and Luxembourg bring together more than 140 professionals, including 34 Partners.

The role

You will provide proactive, high-quality HR advice and support across the full employee lifecycle. Working closely with the HR Business Partner and the wider People function, you will help create an exceptional employee experience, ensure compliance with policy and legislation, and support managers in handling their people responsibilities with confidence.

Key responsibilities

• Act as the first point of contact for People-related questions, guiding employees and managers through policies, procedures and lifecycle processes.
• Make sure HR policies and practices are translated effectively into day-to-day operations.
• Partner with line managers on employee relations, including performance management, absence management and the end of fixed-term contracts, offering practical support and coaching.
• Lead emerging talent initiatives across Benelux region: manage the budget, build relationships with universities and student associations, coordinate recruitment events and strengthen the employer's brand.
• Keep up to date with HR best practice and developments in the legal sector and share insights and recommendations with the business and the People team.
• Bring an outside-in perspective by following wider HR trends and sharing them with colleagues.

Skills and Experience

• A solid track record in HR advisory, generalist or recruitment work, preferably within a law firm.
• Strong command of both Dutch and English; knowledge of French is a plus.
• Thorough understanding of Dutch social security law and sickness absence management.
• A natural drive to spot ways to streamline processes and improve how things are done.
• A meticulous approach, with a focus on accurate, high-quality output.
• The ability to juggle competing priorities and a diverse workload in a busy setting.
• A positive, hands-on attitude and a practical, solution-oriented way of tackling problems.
• Comfort with technology, including HR systems and Microsoft Office, especially Word and Excel.
• A degree in HR Management or a related discipline is an advantage.
• Knowledge of the Benelux graduate recruitment and higher education landscape is a bonus.