Zimmer GmbH
HR Director - Recon & DTS, Western Europe
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At Zimmer Biomet, we believe in pushing the boundaries of innovation and driving our mission forward. As a global medical technology leader for nearly 100 years, a patient’s mobility is enhanced by a Zimmer Biomet product or technology every 8 seconds.
As a Zimmer Biomet team member, you will share in our commitment to providing mobility and renewed life to people around the world. To support our talent team, we focus on development opportunities, robust employee resource groups (ERGs), a flexible working environment, location-specific competitive total rewards, wellness incentives, and a culture of recognition and performance awards. We are committed to creating an environment where every team member feels included, respected, empowered, and recognised.
What You Can Expect
This is a high-impact HR Director role supporting our largest business unit in EMEA – the Reconstructive & DTS division across Western Europe, representing approximately $1.2 billion in revenue and a team of circa 600 employees spanning multiple countries. You will serve as the senior HR Business Partner to divisional leadership, operating as a trusted strategic adviser while being equally comfortable rolling up your sleeves to deliver hands-on HR solutions where the business needs you most.
Reporting directly to the VP HR EMEA, you will shape and execute the people strategy for a complex, multi-country commercial and operational organisation. This role demands resilience, business acumen, and the ability to flex between strategic thought leadership and detailed execution at pace. The successful candidate will be someone who thrives under pressure, can navigate demanding stakeholder environments, and is motivated by the opportunity to make a significant impact on one of our most critical business units.
How You'll Create Impact
Strategic Leadership
- Partner with senior business leaders to define and drive the HR strategy for the Recon & DTS division across Western Europe, directly linking people priorities to commercial outcomes and growth objectives.
- Act as a strategic thought leader on organisational design, workforce planning, and capability building – ensuring the division has the talent infrastructure to sustain and grow a $1.2 billion business.
- Lead complex change management initiatives, including restructurings, integrations, and cultural transformation programmes across multiple Western European markets.
- Develop and champion talent strategies including succession planning, leadership development, and high-potential identification to build a robust leadership pipeline.
- Provide expert counsel to senior leaders on all people-related matters, including sensitive organisational decisions, executive talent moves, and strategic workforce investment.
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Operational Execution
- Manage day-to-day HR business partnering across multiple Western European countries, ensuring consistent and compliant delivery of HR services, policies, and programmes.
- Address complex employee relations matters, performance management cases, and disciplinary situations across diverse European legal frameworks with sound judgement and appropriate urgency.
- Partner closely with HR Centres of Excellence (Talent Acquisition, Compensation & Benefits, Learning & Development) and shared services to deliver seamless, high-quality HR support.
- Analyse workforce data and HR metrics to identify trends, risks, and opportunities, translating insights into concrete action plans.
- Ensure compliance with local employment legislation, works council requirements, and collective bargaining obligations across all relevant Western European jurisdictions.
- Drive employee engagement initiatives and champion a high-performance culture aligned with Zimmer Biomet’s values and leadership behaviours.
Stakeholder & Relationship Management
- Build and maintain a strong, credible, and trusted advisory relationship with senior divisional leadership – including the ability to influence, challenge, and coach business partners at all levels.
- Navigate complex stakeholder dynamics with poise and professionalism, maintaining effectiveness in a fast-paced, high-demand environment.
- Collaborate across the broader EMEA HR team and global HR function to share best practices, align on enterprise-wide initiatives, and ensure consistency in approach.
- Represent the HR function in business leadership forums, contributing commercially relevant people insights that shape business decisions.
What Makes You Stand Out
- Proven ability to operate at both strategic and operational levels – equally effective presenting to an executive committee as managing complex case work on the ground.
- Exceptional resilience and work ethic; comfortable with sustained periods of high intensity and willing to work the hours required to deliver results in a demanding environment.
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to connect people strategy to business performance and articulate the HR value proposition in business terms.
- Outstanding influencing, coaching, and communication skills with the courage to provide candid, constructive feedback to senior leaders.
- Proven track record of managing through complexity and ambiguity in a multi-country, matrixed organisation.
- Experience partnering with challenging, high-expectations business leaders and the ability to build trust and credibility quickly.
- Deep knowledge of Western European employment law, employee representation frameworks (works councils, unions), and cross-border HR practices.
- Culturally agile with the ability to adapt style and approach across different Western European markets and business cultures.
- Strong analytical mindset with the ability to use data to diagnose issues and support decision-making.
- Collaborative leadership style – able to leverage HR Centres of Excellence and broader HR resources effectively while maintaining ownership and accountability.
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Your Background
- Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources Management, Business Administration, or a related field required. Master’s Degree or MBA strongly preferred.
- Minimum 10 years of progressive HR experience, including significant time in a senior HRBP or HR Director capacity supporting commercial or operational business units.
- Demonstrated experience operating across multiple Western European countries, with a strong understanding of diverse employment legislation, cultural norms, and labour relations practices.
- MedTech, medical device, or broader life sciences industry experience highly preferred.
- Experience supporting organisations of 500+ employees across multiple geographies.
- Track record of successfully leading organisational change, restructuring, and transformation initiatives.
- Multi-language capability is a strong advantage (English fluency required; proficiency in one or more additional Western European languages preferred).
- CIPD, SHRM, or equivalent HR professional certification is a plus.
Travel Expectations
This role requires significant travel across Western Europe, typically ranging from 50% to 75% depending on business cycles and seasonal demands. The successful candidate must be willing and able to travel extensively to support a dispersed, multi-country organisation and to be physically present with the business and leadership teams on a regular basis.
Location
This role can be based in any Western European country where Zimmer Biomet has an established presence. The exact location is flexible and will be determined in consultation with the successful candidate, recognising that travel across the region will be a core element of the role.
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