Specialist - Human Resources

McKinsey & Company; Oslo; On-site; NOK 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

McKinsey & Company in Oslo seeks a Human Resources Specialist to own local HR delivery across the employee lifecycle. You will coordinate payroll inputs, advise managers on people matters, and partner with Nordic HR to ensure compliant, confidential handling of sensitive information.

This broad role combines operations, generalist support, and business partnering, requiring a proactive, service‑oriented mindset and strong collaboration with office leadership.

Qualifications

• University degree, preferably in HR.
• 5+ years in an international organisation with broader HR responsibilities.
• Knowledge of Norwegian employment law and local HR practices.
• Hands-on HR systems, employee records, and payroll inputs; strong data accuracy.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and independent prioritization.
• Ability to advise managers, build relationships, and communicate clearly.
• Service-oriented, discreet, confidential, collaborative, and process-minded.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day HR operations and processes across the employee lifecycle.
• Provide specialist advice on employee relations and performance matters.
• Coordinate payroll inputs and liaise with payroll colleagues to resolve queries.
• Partner with managers and Nordic HR to ensure compliance with Norwegian law and firm policies.
• Lead or contribute to Nordic HR projects and process improvements.

Skills

HR operations

Employee relations

Payroll knowledge

Norwegian law

Data accuracy

Communication

Project collaboration

Education

HR degree

Tools

HR systems

MS Office

Job description

Who You'll Work With

You are someone who thrives in a high-performance environment, bringing a growth mindset and entrepreneurial spirit to tackle meaningful challenges that have a real impact.

Who You'll Work With

You are someone who thrives in a high-performance environment, bringing a growth mindset and entrepreneurial spirit to tackle meaningful challenges that have a real impact.
In return for your drive, determination, and curiosity, we’ll provide the resources, mentorship, and opportunities to help you quickly broaden your expertise, grow into a well-rounded professional, and contribute to work that truly makes a difference.
When you join us, you will have:

• Continuous learning: Our learning and apprenticeship culture, backed by structured programs, is all about helping you grow while creating an environment where feedback is clear, actionable, and focused on your development. The real magic happens when you take the input from others to heart and embrace the fast-paced learning experience, owning your journey.
• A voice that matters: From day one, we value your ideas and contributions. You’ll make a tangible impact by offering innovative ideas and practical solutions, all while upholding our unwavering commitment to ethics and integrity. We not only encourage diverse perspectives, but they are critical in driving us toward the best possible outcomes.
• Global community: With colleagues across 65+ countries and over 100 different nationalities, our firm’s diversity fuels creativity and helps us come up with the best solutions. Plus, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from exceptional colleagues with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Exceptional benefits: On top of a competitive salary (based on your location, experience, and skills), we provide a comprehensive benefits package to enable holistic well-being for you and your family.

Your Impact

You will join our Oslo office as a Human Resources Specialist, covering parental leave for 18 months from January.
As the only locally based HR colleague in Norway, you will be the day-to-day HR point of contact for our Oslo office, supporting colleagues and managers across the full employee lifecycle.
You will report to the Nordic Human Resources Manager, based in Stockholm, and be part of our Nordic HR team, working closely with colleagues in similar roles across the Nordic offices. You will take ownership of local HR delivery while drawing on the team's shared expertise and collaborating with other firm functions as needed.
This is a broad, hands-on role combining HR operations, generalist support, specialist advice and HR business partnering. You will be as comfortable keeping records accurate and coordinating payroll inputs as you are advising managers, handling sensitive matters and contributing to HR projects.
You will manage day-to-day HR administration across the employee lifecycle, ensuring timely follow-through and a consistent colleague experience during onboarding, offboarding, role changes, and leave processes. You will maintain accurate, up-to-date systems and data, employee records, and documentation with a strong focus on data quality, confidentiality, and audit readiness. Additionally, you will handle payroll coordination by providing accurate, timely information regarding employee changes and collaborating with payroll colleagues to resolve any queries.
As a trusted and approachable first point of contact for colleague support, you will provide clear guidance on HR policies, benefits, and employment-related questions, following all issues through to resolution. You will also engage in business partnering with managers and office leadership, offering practical advice and sound judgment on employee relations, performance management, and other people matters. In collaboration with the Nordic Human Resources Manager and relevant experts, you will support compliance and judgment regarding Norwegian employment legislation and firm policies, keeping local practices up to date and handling complex or sensitive matters. Finally, you will contribute to projects and collaboration by leading local and Nordic HR projects, process improvements, and colleague engagement initiatives, while actively sharing knowledge and best practices across the team.

Your Qualifications and Skills

• University degree, preferably in HR
• 5+ years' experience in an international organisation, with progressively broader responsibilities across HR operations, employee relations and manager support
• Sound knowledge of Norwegian employment legislation and local HR practices, with the judgment to recognise when specialist or legal support is needed
• Hands-on experience with HR systems, employee records and payroll inputs; confident use of Microsoft Office and strong data accuracy and analytical skills
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills, attention to detail and the ability to prioritise and follow through independently
• Ability to build trusted relationships, advise managers and communicate clearly, including on complex or sensitive matters
• A service-oriented, inclusive approach, with discretion, professionalism and a commitment to confidentiality
• A collaborative mindset, willingness to share expertise, and experience contributing to projects or improving HR processes