Senior People Partner

Job Title

Senior People Partner

Job Description Summary

The Senior People Partner (Associate) will manage strategic relationships within key business areas, partnering with business leaders to drive the business agenda and shape the overall strategy. This role also involves shaping key People projects and initiatives.

The People Partner will oversee organization design, employee relations, performance management, employee engagement, leadership coaching, and workforce planning. With support from the EMEA People Team Centers of Excellence (COEs), the candidate will contribute to the successful execution of compensation and benefits, talent hiring, and development activities part of the yearly HR cycle.

The role requires close collaboration with People Services and HR Consultant teams to ensure compliance with employment law across all HR areas, providing legally accurate and commercially sensible Employee Relations solutions in a timely and effective manner.

Job Description

The Senior People Partner (Associate) plays a key strategic role within the People function, acting as a trusted partner to business leaders across key business areas. In this role, you will build strong relationships with senior stakeholders, helping to shape and drive the business agenda while contributing to the overall business strategy.

You will also play an active role in shaping and delivering key People initiatives and projects that support organizational success.

The role covers a broad range of HR responsibilities, including organization design, employee relations, performance management, employee engagement, leadership coaching, and workforce planning. In close collaboration with the EMEA People Team Centers of Excellence (COEs), you will contribute to the execution of the annual HR cycle, including compensation & benefits, talent acquisition, and development activities.

A strong focus of this role is ensuring alignment between business needs and HR practices. You will work closely with People Services and HR Consultant teams to ensure compliance with employment law and to deliver timely, legally sound, and commercially practical employee relations solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and develop strong relationships with key business stakeholders and senior leaders, acting as a trusted HR advisor
• Partner with business leaders and Heads of departments to drive the business agenda and support the development of business strategy
• Coach leaders on people development, performance, and career progression, identifying development needs for critical roles
• Use people data and workforce insights to identify trends, solve business challenges, and support decision-making
• Continuously improve the employee experience by reviewing and enhancing existing policies and HR processes
• Advise the business on the impact of HR policies, processes, and programs delivered by COEs and People Services
• Act as a key link between the business and the wider People function, leveraging COE expertise to deliver effective HR solutions
• Lead and resolve complex employee relations cases in a timely and effective manner
• Contribute to the design and implementation of compensation and benefits structures, ensuring they are effectively used to drive business performance
• Support workforce planning and organizational design initiatives aligned with business needs

Knowledge & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Human Resources or a related field preferred
• Minimum of 5 years’ progressive HR experience in a fast-paced, global corporate environment
• Strong understanding of Dutch employment law, employment contracts, and negotiation practices
• Experience working effectively in a diverse, international environment; strong understanding of Anglo-Saxon business culture
• Fluent in both English and Dutch (written and spoken)
• Experience within the real estate industry is a plus
• Strong numerical and analytical skills, with experience in complex compensation structures
• Knowledge of talent management, talent acquisition, rewards, benefits, HR operations, and people analytics
• Proven ability to translate business objectives into effective people strategies and initiatives
• Ability to design and implement tailored HR solutions aligned with global frameworks while adapting to local business needs

Why Cushman & Wakefield?

As one of the world’s leading commercial real estate services firms, we transform the way people work, shop, and live.

At Cushman & Wakefield, you become part of:

• A truly global organisation
• A culture that actively supports growth and development from within
• An organisation committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion

We foster a culture of inclusion that embraces the unique strengths, perspectives, and experiences of all our employees. We believe diversity strengthens decision-making and leads to innovation and better outcomes.

About Cushman & Wakefield

Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a global leader in commercial real estate services. As a strategic advisor, the company creates sustainable value for clients by helping them make the best possible real estate decisions and solutions, and by taking responsibility for their execution.

With approximately 52,000 employees in more than 400 offices across 60 countries, Cushman & Wakefield is one of the largest players in the market. In 2023, the company generated $9.5 billion in revenue across core services such as property, facilities and project management, leasing, capital markets, and valuations. The firm is also widely recognised for its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles.

Interested?

Great to hear! We would love to connect with you. Apply today via the button below.

If you have any questions, our recruiter Pien is happy to help via pien.vankuppeveld@cushwake.com.

Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.

Cushman & Wakefield is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, marital status, or any other legally protected characteristic. Cushman & Wakefield is committed to equity in employment, and our goal is to have a diverse, inclusive and barrier-free workplace. If you are a person with a disability and need any other accessible accommodations during the hiring process, you are invited to bring this to the Talent Acquisition Advisor’s attention once they have made contact.

INCO: “Cushman & Wakefield”