Overview

A dynamic and strategic HR Business Partner to provide HR support to People Leaders and employees across Europe. In this pivotal role, you will partner with leadership of all levels to drive impactful people strategies that align with our business objectives. You will be a trusted advisor, leveraging your expertise to foster a high-performance culture and contribute directly to growth and success. Reporting to the HR Director - Europe, this role provides strategic HRBP generalist support to People Leaders and employees within dedicated client groups in Europe. In partnership with our HR Centers of Excellence teams, you will cover functional HR areas including leadership development, talent management, strategy, employee engagement, compensation, reward, organisational development, and change projects. This position plays a key role in developing a high-performance culture with engaged teams in a positive working environment.

Note: We do not accept speculative CVs. Any CV received will be treated as a gift and eligible for an agency fee. PSL agencies should only send CVs if authorised by the Talent Acquisition team.

Responsibilities

• Operate as a strategic HR Business Partner, build strong and credible relationships with key stakeholders, and act as a trusted advisor to dedicated client groups in Europe.
• Work with autonomy to partner with the business and HR leadership to develop and implement HR strategies and people imperatives to support business needs including driving people performance, revenue, organisational effectiveness, and growth.
• Serve as a subject matter expert to the business on HR process design, implementation, employment law, talent management, talent development, and execution of HR needs supporting the business and People Leaders with HR queries or issues.
• Support organisational design and restructuring initiatives in dedicated client groups across multiple jurisdictions to optimise structure, roles and responsibilities.
• Be a subject matter expert for HR best practices and impart knowledge to global HR colleagues, People Leaders, and employees where applicable and appropriate to do so.
• Partner with leaders of all levels to provide advice and coaching on employment-related matters to enable effective management of issues including performance issues and terminations of employment.
• Act as a liaison between the business and HR Centers of Excellence (COEs) and business units, ensuring alignment of HR programs, policies, and initiatives with business needs and objectives.
• Demonstrate strong project management skills, including planning, organizing, stakeholder management, and executing HR initiatives with attention to detail and effective time management; contribute to and/or lead ad-hoc HR projects.
• Provide strategic guidance and support on change management initiatives, ensuring effective communication and stakeholder engagement throughout the change process.
• Contribute to the development of efficient, scalable HR processes, modified to support corporate design and local needs.
• Stay abreast of industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in HR including AI, driving innovation, efficiencies, automation, and excellence in HR practices and processes.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of employment law and ensure HR policies reflect current status; ensure managers understand their obligations. Be the local HRBP contact for one or more European countries to support HR compliance at WEX.
• Support efforts to manage positive labor relations in Europe including collective bargaining, negotiations, social dialogue, employment rights, trade unions, disputes, fines, and country-specific agreements or exceptions to standard practice as outcomes.
• Provide support and guidance to employees in a confidential manner when required.

Talent and Culture, Qualifications

• Facilitate the annual HR lifecycle for dedicated client groups including the annual performance review process, compensation planning, talent management programs, and talent development processes.
• Partner with People Leaders on strategic workforce planning, forecast talent needs, and identify succession and development opportunities.
• Partner with People Leaders to implement learning and development strategies and initiatives including internal training and building capability across all levels.
• Identify skills gaps and collaborate with the Talent team to implement leadership and management development programs.
• Use HR analytics to provide insights on workforce trends, opportunities for improvement, engagement, and performance to influence decision-making. Translate insights into actionable recommendations that support organisational goals and drive business success.
• Support People Leaders to continuously enhance employee engagement including the annual survey and effective action-planning in Europe.
• Partner with the global Employee Relations team to provide expert advice on complex HR cases and proactively implement preventive measures ensuring a risk-based approach to employee relations and compliance.
• Essential: CIPD qualified (or studying towards qualification).
• Strong HR generalist experience in a relevant organisation (e.g., start-up, fin-tech, agile, undergoing significant change, international footprint).
• Senior HRBP experience.
• Sound understanding and application of employment law, both locally in the UK and in one or more European jurisdictions (specifically Italy, France, Netherlands, Germany, or Belgium).
• Demonstrated ability to translate business needs into HR solutions.
• International experience working with one or more European markets that WEX operates in.
• Experience with HR Project Management.
• Strong influencer; proven consulting and coaching skills.
• Strong people skills; able to relate to individuals from diverse backgrounds and levels; capable of working across cultures.
• Effective decision maker and problem solver with a growth mindset.
• Effective communicator and strong stakeholder management capabilities with the ability to build trusting relationships.
• Ability to travel to European offices, sometimes at short notice.
• Preferred: Language skills - Italian, German, Dutch, or French.
• M&A experience (pre- and post-activity/change management).
• Numerate with intermediate Excel skills; strong analytical abilities to manipulate and present data.
• Resilient in the face of setbacks and change; robust in approach and flexible.
• Works at pace with energy, enthusiasm, and a positive attitude.
• Flexible and customer-focused in a fast-changing environment.
• Effective time management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple complex questions and adversarial situations.
• Demonstrated attention to quality and a strategic orientation to work.
• Demonstrated partnering, collaboration, and negotiation skills.
• Highly proficient user of Google Suite and Microsoft Office.
• Experience of using Workday as an HRIS.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary £50,000-£60,000 (dependent on experience)
• Annual company bonus
• 40-hour week - Monday to Friday
• Hybrid working - from either our Manchester or London Bridge office
• Industry leading pension scheme
• Private Medical
• 25 days holiday plus Bank Holidays - with the opportunity to purchase additional holidays
• Life assurance
• Income protection
• Gym Flex membership
• Discounts & perks platform
• Employee wellbeing