Labour & Employee Relations Specialist

In this role you will lead complex labour and employee relations across the Netherlands and Belgium, partnering with HR to deliver legally sound, business-aligned outcomes. You’ll help reduce legal and reputational risk during day-to-day ER matters and business transformation, while strengthening social partner relationships. The role supports the Global ER function and operates within Cytiva’s multi-country HR model, enabling responsible change at scale. You’ll be on the front line of ensuring compliant, fair processes in a regulated environment, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and impact.

• Provide expert ER support and lead consultation/negotiation with employee representative bodies
• Manage disciplinary matters, grievances, performance issues, separations, transformation initiatives, and labor law compliance
• Advise People Partners in cross-country consultation with works councils and unions
• Lead ER for reorganisations, restructurings and transformation initiatives
• Lead and support complex workplace investigations and performance management processes
• Guide managers through disciplinary, misconduct and grievance processes with Legal, Compliance and COEs
• Act as escalation point in the HR operating model for high-risk ER matters
• Drive policy improvements, playbooks, templates, training and case insights to strengthen consistency and risk prevention

• Master’s or bachelor’s degree in HR, Business Administration, Law or related field
• Multiple years of progressive experience in Labor & Employee Relations in a matrixed international org
• In-depth knowledge of Dutch and Belgium labor law, works councils, and unions
• Experience supporting reorganisations and transformation programs across multi-country Europe
• Ability to manage multiple countries and stakeholders in a matrix environment
• Experience negotiating with employee representative bodies and drafting consultation documents
• Autonomy, judgement and influence on matters with legal, ER, reputational or business risk
• Willingness to be onsite locally in Medemblik and Hoegaarden for face-to-face meetings
• Local language proficiency for interactions with employee representatives; fluent English

• Autonomy
• Judgement
• Influence
• Labor and Employee Relations expertise
• Negotiation with employee representative bodies
• Drafting consultation documents and company agreements