Lead HR Services

Heerema Marine Contractors is looking for a Lead HR Services to help transform its HR support into a proactive, technology-driven function. The role is based onsite in Leiden, Netherlands, and fits someone who can blend people leadership with a sharp eye for process improvement and automation, including AI-enabled ideas. Heerema has a long track record in offshore engineering and marine operations, and this position sits at the heart of shaping how HR serves the business.

The company wants a leader who can balance strategic thinking with practical execution, moving HR Services from reactive support toward proactive service delivery. If you enjoy building teams, driving change, and connecting people strategies to technology, this could be a compelling next step for you.

Ideal candidates are HR leaders who combine hands-on delivery with a mindset for digital transformation and continuous improvement, and who see opportunities to simplify processes while improving the employee experience.

The daily rhythm of leading HR services

You’ll shoulder responsibility for the HR Services and Training Planning teams, steering them toward a clear service-delivery agenda and ensuring reliable everyday operations. The role calls for a steady hand in managing workloads, SLAs and service quality while you push for smarter ways of working through better processes and tools.

You’ll partner with HR Business Partners, Centers of Expertise, HRIS and IT to turn everyday data into sustainable improvements. Your work will translate operational insights into concrete changes that make HR Services more proactive and aligned with the broader HR strategy.

Accessibility to new technologies will matter, as you explore and implement AI-enabled solutions and lead HR transformation projects from concept to implementation. Collaboration across functions is essential to deliver lasting change that sticks beyond individual initiatives.

What you’ll bring to the role

Here’s what helps you succeed in this job.

• A higher professional education (HBO) or a university degree
• At least eight years of experience in HR, with a focus on HR Operations or HR Services
• Experience leading teams and driving organizational change
• A proven record of improving processes, digitizing workflows and leading HR transformations
• Familiarity with HR technology and self-service solutions; knowledge of SAP SuccessFactors is a plus
• Experience delivering transformation projects that involve automation or AI
• Fluency in Dutch and English

Perks and practical details

The role comes with a competitive pay and benefits package that includes a bonus component. You’ll also get access to an in-house gym with fitness classes, opportunities to socialize with colleagues on Friday afternoons, and 30 days of vacation to recharge. Heerema also offers a modern, easily reachable office in Leiden.

• Competitive compensation and a benefits package, including a bonus
• Free access to the in-house gym with fitness classes
• Friday afternoon social activities to connect with teammates
• 30 days off per year
• A modern, accessible office in Leiden

Advice for applicants

Lead your resume with the portion of your background that shows you’ve run HR services and led transformation, especially where you paired process changes with digital tools or AI ideas. Put the most relevant experience at the top, and use concrete figures or outcomes to illustrate the impact you had on service levels, efficiency, or employee experience.

When you describe your must-have skills, point to specific leadership roles, how you built and steered teams, and the change programs you’ve delivered. Include examples where you collaborated with HRIS and IT to implement new solutions, and mention any SAP SuccessFactors experience if you’ve got it.

Be ready to discuss a project where you moved HR Services from reactive to proactive, detailing the steps you took, the stakeholders you involved, and the measurable improvements you achieved. You should be able to explain how you translated operational insights into a sustainable upgrade in service delivery.

Ask a practical question about the future of HR services at Heerema, for example how the team plans to scale AI-enabled processes and how success will be measured across service quality, employee experience and efficiency.