Human Resources Business Partner South-West Europe

About us 

At Certis Belchim, we work every day to further develop and broaden the landscape of crop protection and Plant Health. Our ambition is to provide integrated programmes that combine biorational and chemical solutions, thereby supporting growers and supply chain partners in addressing the challenges of sustainable plant health and crop production, as well as the increasingly stringent requirements within the value chain. Thanks to our Japanese shareholders and strategic suppliers, we have access to cutting edge technologies and innovative expertise in the field of Plant Health and crop protection. This unique combination of international innovation strength and local market knowledge enables us to develop distinctive, future proof solutions. 

Our European headquarters are located in Londerzeel (Belgium) and Utrecht (The Netherlands). From more than 23 countries worldwide, over 800 dedicated colleagues work together towards a shared goal: contributing to healthy crops, sustainable agriculture and a resilient food supply chain. Within Certis Belchim, there is an open and informal working atmosphere, with colleagues who are passionate about their profession and the impact they make within Plant Health. We offer a working environment in which professionals are given the space to take initiative, develop themselves and accelerate their careers. Through a pragmatic approach and strong collaboration, we jointly create a positive impact on our sector and beyond. 

About your team

Our team of 12 HR professionals plays a key role in supporting business growth and organisational success across multiple countries. Combining strategic HR partnering with hands-on execution, we deliver impactful people solutions, drive change, and support leaders in achieving their goals.

If you are looking for a role where you can influence, challenge, and make a real difference, you will fit right in.

About your job

As HR Business Partner South-West Europe, you will be working from France as trusted advisor for the French Local organisation and our Development & Regulatory Global Department. Southern European countries such as Italy, Spain and Portugal may be included in the future. 

You will be driving the people agenda in line with business priorities and supporting managers and employees locally and globally to ensure we have the right people, capabilities and culture to achieve our strategic objectives. Acting as a trusted advisor, you will play a key role in workforce planning, talent and capability development, employee engagement and organisational change. 

Within your scope, you will be supported by highly capable local HR Officers. Their strong foundation enables you to focus on strategic business partnering, organisational effectiveness, management support, talent development and culture transformation rather than day-to-day operational HR activities.

In addition to your regional HR Business Partner responsibilities, you will also take ownership of one or more Global HR Pillars where can either lead or contribute to many projects. Working closely with the wider HR community, you will help shape, develop and implement global HR frameworks, practices and initiatives that contribute to a consistent employee experience and support our overall people strategy.

Relevant topics within your scope are:

• HR strategy deployment: You will take the global HR strategy and translate it into concrete actions, ensuring alignment with business priorities, local requirements, and cultural realities.
• Employee relations and social dialogue: You will play a leading role in managing relationships with employee representative bodies, including the CSE (Comité Social et Économique) in France. You will drive constructive dialogue, manage complex employee relations matters, support consultation processes, and help rebuild trust between employees, management, and the organisation.
• Culture and engagement transformation: You will lead initiatives aimed at strengthening collaboration, increasing engagement, and creating a common organisational culture. Working closely with leaders and employees, you will support teams through change and help foster an environment based on transparency, accountability, inclusion, and mutual respect.
• Strategic business partnering: Acting as a trusted advisor, you will work closely with senior leaders and managers, guiding, supporting, and constructively challenging them on organisational effectiveness, talent management, compensation, employee relations, and leadership effectiveness.
• HR organisational design: You will lead organisational and workforce planning initiatives, helping create structures, capabilities, and teams that support future growth and business performance.
• Learning & Development leadership: You will champion Learning & Development as a strategic pillar, driving leadership development, capability building, skills development, and a culture of continuous learning to support business growth and future workforce needs.
• HR development: You will further shape talent development, performance management, succession planning, and talent review processes to ensure a highly engaged and high-performing workforce.
• Project leadership: you will take the lead on regional and global HR projects, including change management, organisational transformation, employee experience initiatives, and process improvement programmes.
• Compliance & risk management: You will ensure compliance with employment legislation, collective agreements, and company policies, while promoting a fair, safe, and inclusive workplace.
• Stakeholder collaboration: You will build strong relationships with the French leadership team (Codir) and the Development & Regulatory management team, international HR colleagues, employee representatives, and external partners to ensure effective and consistent people solutions.

About you

You are a highly-driven HR professional with strong experience partnering senior leaders and managers in an international environment. You combine strategic thinking with a hands-on approach and are comfortable navigating complex employee relations matters, organisational change, and business transformation. With a solid understanding of French employment law and HR practices, you provide pragmatic advice that balances business objectives, employee needs, and legal requirements. You build credibility quickly, challenge constructively when needed, and are a trusted advisor to managers and leadership teams.

You enjoy working across cultures and functions, bringing people together to drive business performance and organisational success.

What you bring

• Master's degree (Bac+5) in Human Resources, Business Administration, Labour Law, or a related field.
• 8-10+ years of HR experience in an international environment, including several years as a senior HR Business Partner.
• Strong Employee Relations experience, including managing complex employee cases, disciplinary processes, performance management, conflict resolution, and employee consultations.
• Solid knowledge of French labour law and experience advising managers on people-related, legal, and organisational matters.
• Proven ability to partner and challenge senior leaders, translating business needs into effective people solutions.
• Experience leading organisational change, restructurings, workforce planning, and transformation initiatives.
• Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the confidence to operate at all levels of the organisation.
• Pragmatic, hands-on, and solution-oriented, balancing commercial needs with employee and legal considerations.
• Native French speaker and fluent in English, both written and spoken.
• Based in France and within commuting distance of Montigny-le-Bretonneux (Île-de-France, 78)
• Flexibility to travel to our second French office in Lisieux (Calvados, 14). and our Head Offices.

Working with us means

Join a collaborative, pragmatic and forward-thinking international organisation where people are at the heart of our success. Here, you can grow professionally, work alongside experts from around the world, and play an active role in shaping innovative solutions for a more sustainable future in Plant Health. 

• Enjoy the benefits of hybrid working while staying connected to your colleagues at our Montigny-le-Bretonneux office . For this office-based position, we offer flexibility to work from home up to 40% of the time.
• A varied and rewarding role within a dynamic, international environment where remote working is fully supported. We actively encourage connection and collaboration across teams, and business travel is reimbursed. 
• A salary between € 80.000,00 and € 90.000,00 is provided, complemented by a 15% performance-related annual bonus that recognises your contribution from the start.   
• The satisfaction of knowing that your contributions are highly valued and recognised by colleagues across the organisation. 
• A culture built on our values Collaboration, Creativity, Passion, Integrity, and Ambition is experienced daily in the way colleagues work together and support each other.   
• Access to our Learning Academy, together with regular feedback and development conversations to support your career progression. 
• A strong commitment to work-life balance, supported by flexible working hours. 
• An understanding that success is not only about results, but also about the people who make those results possible. 
• Genuine collaboration and support from colleagues across the entire organisation. 
• The opportunity to join an established company with a strong reputation in its industry, while contributing to our journey towards a more sustainable future in Plant Health. 

Inspired?

For more information about this role, please contact Rebecca van Emden, via email [email protected]. If you are interested, you can apply easily via our job portal and we look forward to receiving your short motivation and CV. 

Filling in on freelance basis is not desired and acquisition is not appreciated.