HR Operations Manager

KitchenAid is part of the Whirlpool Corporation family, a global leader in home appliances. Since the beginning, KitchenAid has designed kitchen appliances with the maker in mind – all crafted to open a door to new possibilities and help you to get the most out of making. Delivering performance, style and innovation, they take your creations up a level.

This role in summary

The HR Operations Manager for Europe is a pivotal leadership role responsible for the seamless delivery of HR services across our diverse European footprint. This individual will lead a high-performing regional team dedicated to excellence in payroll, benefits administration, and the entire employee lifecycle—from the first day of onboarding to the final day of offboarding. The ideal candidate will balance technical expertise in EU and country-specific labor compliance with a passion for process optimization and people leadership.

Hybrid working with 4 days per week in our Grimbergen office and remote working on Fridays.

Your responsibilities will include

Team Leadership & Strategy

• Lead, mentor, and develop a regional HR Operations team located across multiple European sites, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Define and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs) to ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Serve as the primary point of escalation for complex operational issues within the European region.
• Manage the relationship and contracts for third-party HR vendors (e.g., payroll, benefits, background checks) and external consultants, ensuring service delivery aligns with contractual SLAs and performance metrics.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders (Procurement, Legal, Finance) for vendor contracting, monitoring, and resolving complex service incidents.

Payroll & Benefits Administration

• Oversee the end-to-end payroll process for multiple European countries, ensuring 100% accuracy and compliance with local statutory requirements.
• Partner with external payroll providers and local brokers to manage regional benefits programs, including health insurance, pension schemes, and fringe benefits.
• Conduct regular audits of payroll and benefits data to maintain data integrity and compliance with GDPR.

Employee Lifecycle Management

• Onboarding: Manage the administrative transition of new hires, including contract generation, background checks, and integration into HR systems.
• Maintenance: Oversee all employee data changes, leaves of absence, and contract amendments in alignment with local country legislation.
• Offboarding: Lead the exit process, ensuring all legal requirements, final payments, and equipment returns are handled professionally and timely.

Compliance & Process Improvement

• Stay abreast of changing labor laws and social security regulations across Europe to ensure all policies and contracts remain compliant.
• Standardize HR processes across the region where possible, while respecting critical local legal nuances.
• Support the implementation or optimization of HRIS tools and digital workflows to reduce manual administration.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related
• field.5+ years of HR experience, with at least 3 years in a regional or multi-country HR Operations leadership role within Europe.
• Deep functional knowledge of European payroll practices and benefits landscapes (e.g., UK, Germany, France, or Benelux).
• Proven experience managing remote or distributed teams across different cultures and time zones.
• Fluency in English; proficiency in at least one other European language (e.g., French, German, or Spanish) is highly desirable.

Preferred skills and experiences

• Master’s degree or MBA.
• Experience with global HRIS platforms (e.g., Workday, SAP SuccessFactors) and localized payroll engines.
• Strong project management skills, particularly in harmonizing HR processes post-merger or acquisition.

What we offer

Join our well-structured and consolidated team at KitchenAid, where collaboration and excellence are deeply valued. You'll thrive in an international environment offering global career opportunities. Enjoy a supportive team spirit and positive atmosphere that fosters growth and innovation. Immerse yourself in our vibrant international culture, becoming a true KitchenAid'er who contributes to our collective success