Senior HR Business Partner - Europe

About the Bonhams Network

Founded in 1793, Bonhams is a global network of auction houses, with the largest number of international salerooms, offering the widest range of collecting categories and selling at all price points. Bonhams is recognised for its bespoke service, and a dedication to local market relationships, enhanced by a global platform. With 14 salerooms, Bonhams presents over 1,000 sales annually, across more than 60 specialist categories, including fine art, collectables, luxury, wine & spirits, and collector cars.  In 2022, Bonhams added four international auction houses to its network: Bukowskis, Stockholm; Bruun Rasmussen, Copenhagen; Cornette de Saint Cyr, Paris and Brussels; and Skinner, Massachusetts. The success of Bonhams’ global strategy is a result of recognising the shift in growing intercontinental buying and increased digital engagement.

About the Role

The Senior HR Business Partner – Europe will act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and managers across all European locations, providing strategic HR guidance and operational support. Based in Paris, this role will lead the People agenda across the region, aligning HR priorities with business objectives while ensuring compliance with local employment legislation.

Working closely with the Head of People UK & EMEA and supported by the central HR administration team in London, the Senior HR Business Partner will play a critical role in shaping talent strategy, driving organisational effectiveness, and fostering a high-performance culture across Bonhams’ European client group.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities 

Strategic Partnership

• Partner with European business leaders to design and deliver people strategies that support business growth and transformation.


• Influence and challenge senior stakeholders on organisational design, workforce planning, and succession planning.


• Act as a cultural ambassador, ensuring consistency with Bonhams’ values while recognising local nuances.

Employee Relations & Compliance

• Provide expert advice on complex employee relations cases, working in partnership with local legal advisors as needed.


• Ensure adherence to employment law and regulatory requirements across all European jurisdictions.


• Ensure adherence to company policy and procedures advising mangers and client group.

• Contribute to the review, design and implementation of HR processes, procedures and policies as required and in line with current legislation and best practice in Europe.

• Monitor changes in legislation and advise leaders on implications for Bonhams’ operations.

Talent, Performance & Development

• Drive the annual performance review, talent mapping, and succession planning processes across Europe.


• Partner with managers to identify development needs and support targeted learning interventions.


• Support diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in collaboration with the wider People team.

Organisation & Change

• Support business change projects, including restructures, integration of new acquisitions, and process improvements.


• Guide leaders through change management, ensuring clear communication and effective engagement.

Collaboration & Leadership

• Work closely with the London-based People team to deliver consistent HR practices across EMEA.


• Provide coaching and mentoring to managers to strengthen leadership capability.

Process

• Provide strategic oversight of recruitment and onboarding across all European locations, ensuring a consistent, high-quality experience aligned with Bonhams’ talent strategy.


• Oversee HR data management across European jurisdictions, ensuring accuracy, integrity, and compliance with GDPR and local data protection requirements.


• Govern HR operational processes across the employee lifecycle (starters, movers, leavers, benefits, mobility/visa), ensuring efficiency, compliance, and seamless delivery in partnership with the HR Support team in London.


• Review and validate European payroll submissions, providing assurance on accuracy and compliance prior to final approval.


• Continuously assess and enhance HR processes in the region, identifying opportunities for improvement and alignment with global best practice.

Key Skills and Experience

Technical Skills

• Significant experience as a senior HR Business Partner in an international, matrixed organisation.


• Strong knowledge of French employment law; familiarity with other European jurisdictions highly desirable.


• Proven track record in complex employee relations and organisational change.


• Fluent in English and French; additional European languages advantageous.

Soft Skills

• Client-facing presence: able to build credibility quickly with senior leaders and employees at all levels.


• Entrepreneurial mindset: proactive in designing and implementing initiatives tailored to the needs of the European client group.


• Collaborative communicator: skilled at influencing, negotiating, and engaging across diverse cultures.


• Commercially astute: able to balance business objectives with people priorities.


• Resilient and resourceful: comfortable working independently with regional accountability while part of a global HR team.


• High emotional intelligence: empathetic, approachable, and able to coach managers through sensitive issues.

What We Offer

Some of our benefits include:

• Travel Allowance


• Learning and Training Funding Programme


• Welfare and Retirement Plans
  

If you wish to apply, please submit your CV and cover letter by the 5th March 2026 at midnight.

We thank you for your interest in this position but please note that we will only contact candidates chosen for further consideration.

Bonhams is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As part of our commitment to fight for equality, we work to ensure a fair and consistent interview process. We celebrate diversity and we are committed to an inclusive work environment.