Hays
Senior HR Manager - Europe

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Your new company
We are partnering with a global organisation to appoint a Senior Manager, Human Resources - Europe. This is a senior HR leadership role with responsibility for driving the people agenda across multiple European markets.
Reporting into a global HR leadership team, you'll lead a team of HR professionals while acting as the key point of expertise for complex employee relations, organisational change and people strategy initiatives. You'll work closely with senior stakeholders across the business, helping to shape culture, drive performance and ensure compliant, commercial HR practices across a diverse international workforce.
This opportunity would suit an experienced HR leader who enjoys operating in a fast-paced, international environment and is comfortable balancing strategic business partnering with hands-on leadership of complex employee matters.
Your new role
As the senior HR leader for Europe, you will act as a trusted advisor to business leaders, providing both strategic direction and operational expertise across a diverse, multi-country workforce. Leading a small team of HR professionals, you will be responsible for driving a high-performing people function that supports business growth, manages risk and delivers an exceptional employee experience. You will work closely with leadership teams, Legal, HR Operations and wider Centres of Excellence to ensure people strategies are aligned with organisational priorities and local market requirements.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Leading, developing and coaching a team of HR professionals, ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality HR support across multiple European locations.
- Acting as the senior escalation point for complex employee relations matters, providing commercially focused guidance on disciplinary issues, grievances, investigations, capability concerns, restructures and workforce change programmes.
- Partnering with senior leaders to shape and implement people strategies that support business performance, organisational effectiveness and long-term growth.
- Supporting organisational design and workforce planning initiatives, helping leaders build structures, capabilities and succession plans that meet future business needs.
- Providing expert guidance on employment legislation, employee risk and HR best practice across a number of European jurisdictions, working closely with Legal and external advisers where required.
- Leading and supporting business transformation initiatives, including restructures, acquisitions, integrations, organisational redesign and culture change programmes.
- Driving employee engagement, retention and performance through the development of effective people practices, leadership capability and employee experience initiatives.
- Analysing workforce data, employee feedback and HR metrics to identify trends, inform decision-making and support continuous improvement across the organisation.
- Collaborating with HR Centres of Excellence to ensure talent, reward, learning and organisational development initiatives are successfully embedded across the European population.
- Ensuring HR policies, procedures and governance frameworks remain compliant, commercially relevant and appropriately adapted for local market requirements.
- Building strong relationships with employee representatives, trade unions and key stakeholders where appropriate, maintaining a positive employee relations climate.
- Championing the use of technology, automation and people analytics to improve HR effectiveness, operational efficiency and workforce insight.
- Acting as a visible and credible member of the wider HR leadership team, contributing to the development and execution of the broader people strategy across the region.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
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Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
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Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
This role offers a genuine blend of strategic leadership and hands-on influence, making it ideal for an experienced HR leader who enjoys operating in a complex international environment and partnering closely with senior stakeholders to deliver meaningful business outcomes.


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What you'll need to succeed
What you'll get in return
- A senior leadership position with significant regional responsibility.
- Localised European employment law exposure and leadership.
- The opportunity to influence business strategy and organisational performance.
- Exposure to international stakeholders and complex business challenges.
- Leadership of an established HR team.
- A collaborative and forward-thinking working environment.
- Competitive salary and benefits package.
What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now.
If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.
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