Strategic HR Manager– Western Europe Operations, Zaandijk

HR Manager Western Europe

Our story goes back more than 150 years, to the chilly southern coast of Scandinavia. From our early success in Sweden and Denmark, we’ve grown into the world’s leading specialist producer of plant-based oils, employing more than 4,000 people across the globe. We work with our customers to make the products you love even better. The oils we produce go into making your chocolate extra-creamy or putting the crunch into your croissant. And it’s not just food — we work across industries to make products that are higher quality, healthier and better for the planet.HR Manager Western Europe

Our story goes back more than 150 years, to the chilly southern coast of Scandinavia. From our early success in Sweden and Denmark, we’ve grown into the world’s leading specialist producer of plant-based oils, employing more than 4,000 people across the globe. We work with our customers to make the products you love even better. The oils we produce go into making your chocolate extra-creamy or putting the crunch into your croissant. And it’s not just food — we work across industries to make products that are higher quality, healthier and better for the planet.

Everything we do is about

Making Better Happen™.

AAK LOCATION

This position is based on site Zaandijk with minimum one weekly visit to Rotterdam

About The Role

As HR Manager, you serve as a strategic partner and trusted advisor to site leadership, ensuring that HR strategies, policies, and initiatives are fully aligned with business objectives and operational priorities. You take ownership of and coordinate day-to-day HR activities while delivering best-practice solutions across the full employee lifecycle, including workforce planning, performance management, employee relations, and organizational development. By combining strong business insight with deep HR expertise, you support leaders in making informed decisions, navigating complex people matters, and driving sustainable performance. You play a key role in leading and supporting organizational change, fostering employee engagement, and strengthening a high-performance culture built on accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. With well-developed decision-making, critical thinking, and communication skills, you ensure that HR policies and processes are applied consistently and effectively, while remaining agile and adaptable in a dynamic environment. Passionate about making a difference, you embrace challenges as opportunities, take ownership of outcomes, build trusted relationships across the organization, and continuously strive to create meaningful impact and long-term value for the business.

Responsibilities

Act as the HR Manager responsible for the AAK production sites in the Netherlands and Belgium, along with overall responsibility for the Western Europe region driving the people agenda in close partnership with site leadership. Provide expert advice and guidance to site management and managers on HR policies and practices, including compensation, absence management, performance management, recruitment, employee relations, and employment law, ensuring compliance and consistency.Lead and deliver HR projects and initiatives, ensuring timely execution, strong stakeholder alignment, and measurable business impact. Lead and support leaders and teams through organizational change processes, including workforce planning, change communication, stakeholder engagement, and individual employee support.Own and drive the annual talent review process, partnering with stakeholders to identify key talent, assess capabilities, and build strong succession and development plans. Own and drive the annual performance management cycle, ensuring high engagement and timely completion of performance reviews, development dialogues, and salary review processes.Partner closely with Hiring Managers and Talent Acquisition to oversee local recruitment activities, ensuring effective sourcing, selection, and onboarding of qualified candidates. Ensure accuracy and integrity of HR data to enable reliable analytics, reporting, and informed decision-making. Drive and promote employee well-being initiatives, including occupational health programs, mental and physical health activities, and employee assistance programsOwn and drive all Work Councils and Union matters with the Site management Manage the HR team overseeing Western Europe (HRBP, L&D, payroll and HR admin) Acting as HR contact person for the European Operations team

About You

At least 8 years of experience within HR, including a minimum of 5 years in a strategic HR role, demonstrating strong business partnering capabilities. Demonstrates advanced knowledge of the HR field, gained through a combination of education and practical application. Experience working with Works Councils and Unions.Fluency in Dutch and English, with Dutch as a mandatory requirement. Experience in an HR role within an industrial and/or production environment. Demonstrates strong decision-making and critical thinking skills, using structured approaches and sound judgment to analyse complex situations and deliver balanced, business-focused solutions.Communicates clearly and effectively, adapting style to different audiences, actively listening, and fostering open, constructive dialogue. Possesses solid knowledge of employment law and employee relations practices, managing sensitive matters professionally while ensuring compliance and fairness.Applies a strong understanding of HR policies, standards, and procedures, ensuring consistent and compliant implementation across the organization. Drives and continuously improves HR operational processes, systems, and initiatives to ensure efficient and effective day-to-day delivery. Effectively leads and supports organizational change, aligning people, processes, and culture with evolving business needs.Utilizes performance management tools and practices to strengthen individual capability, team effectiveness, and overall organizational performance. Contributes to operational, tactical, and long-term workforce planning, aligning HR initiatives with short-, mid-, and long-term business goals. Applies strong staffing and recruitment expertise to attract, select, develop, and retain high-quality talent to support sustainable business success.Full-time availability (40 hours)

In return AAK offers

Join a pioneering company in specialty oils and fats, driving innovation and sustainability. In AAK you can work across 25+ countries, gaining international exposure and collaborating with a diverse team. AAK invests in your development with training, mentorship, and clear career paths. You will contribute to a greener world with AAK's sustainability-focused approach.Join a diverse and inclusive workplace that values every individual's perspective and talents.

Contact and information

For further information about the position, please contact Conor Kelly, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist by email:

About AAK

Everything AAK does is about Making Better Happen™. We specialize in plant-based oils that are the value-adding ingredients in many of the products people love to consume. We make these products better tasting, healthier, and more sustainable. At the heart of AAK’s offer is Customer Co-Development, combining our desire to understand what better means for each customer, with the unique flexibility of our production assets, and deep knowledge of many products and industries, including Chocolate and confectionery, Bakery, Dairy, Plant-based Foods, Special Nutrition, Foodservice and Personal Care. Our 4,000 employees support our close collaboration with customers through 25 regional sales offices, 15 dedicated Customer Innovation Centers, and the support of more than 20 production facilities. Listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and with our headquarters in Malmö, Sweden, AAK has been Making Better Happen™ for more than 150 years.

AAK prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, religion, veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under state or federal law in any aspect of the access to, admission, or treatment of students in its programs and activities, or employment and application for employment.

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