Senior Human Resources Advisor

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

Job summary

Career Legal seeks an HR Advisor for their Amsterdam-based People team, supporting the Netherlands and later Benelux. You will advise on the full employee lifecycle, ensuring policy compliance and helping managers handle people responsibilities with confidence.

You will collaborate with the HR Business Partner and the broader team, translating policies into daily operations, and driving talent initiatives across Benelux while staying current with HR trends in the legal sector.

Qualifications

• Proven HR advisory/generalist/recruitment experience, preferably in a law firm.
• Fluent Dutch and English; French is a plus.
• Strong knowledge of Dutch social security law and sickness absence management.
• Meticulous with high-quality output.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a busy environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide proactive HR advice across the full employee lifecycle.
• Support managers in handling people responsibilities with confidence.
• Ensure compliance with policy and legislation.
• Lead emerging talent initiatives in Benelux; coordinate recruitment events.
• Translate HR policies into day-to-day operations.
• Share HR trends with the People team.

Skills

HR advisory

Recruitment

Dutch language

English language

Meticulous

Stakeholder management

Organisational skills

Problem solving

MS Office

Education

HR management degree

Tools

HR systems

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.