Senior HR Services Specialist

Heerema Marine Contractors, a Leiden-based employer in the offshore and marine contracting space, is looking for a Senior HR Services Specialist to strengthen the support delivered to employees and managers. The role is full-time and onsite in Leiden, and it’s a fit for someone who enjoys tackling complex HR questions while building the self-service and knowledge base that prevent those questions from arising in the first place.

In this position, you’ll blend hands-on HR expertise with a mindset focused on improving processes. The goal is to make HR services easier to use, more consistent and ready for the future, by analyzing common questions and bottlenecks and turning those insights into practical improvements. You’ll work closely with HR Business Partners, Centers of Expertise and HRIS to translate operational observations into changes that ease everyday work for others.

If you like translating tricky HR topics into clear, actionable guidance and you’re drawn to opportunities where technology and human support intersect, this could be a great match. It’s a role for someone who wants to shape how HR helps people day to day while building stronger self-service options for the organization.

Where you’ll be making a difference day to day

You’ll serve as a subject-matter expert for HR processes and lifecycle administration, guiding employees and managers through a wide range of topics and handling more complex cases when needed. By spotting patterns in questions and process bottlenecks, you’ll help design more efficient, consistent and future-proof HR services.

Working alongside HR business partners, centers of expertise and HRIS specialists, you’ll turn practical observations into changes that streamline day-to-day work and improve the employee experience. You’ll also contribute to automation and AI-enabled improvements within HR Services while coaching colleagues through onboarding and ongoing development, reinforcing a culture of learning and growth.

What you’ll need to bring

The company is looking for a candidate with solid HR operations experience and a track record of making processes better. You should be comfortable analysing data, identifying root causes and turning insights into practical improvements that employees and managers can easily apply.

• A HBO or university level education
• At least four years of experience in HR operations, HR services or a similar HR environment
• A proven ability to spot opportunities for process improvements and to implement them
• An affinity for HR systems, digital tools, self-service content and AI concepts
• A proactive mindset, a strong focus on customers and solid analytical skills
• Fluent in Dutch and English

Nice-to-have extras

Beyond the basics, the role will be smoother for someone who brings a couple of additional traits or experiences. You’re comfortable working independently, communicate clearly, and can translate complex HR topics into practical steps that both employees and managers can follow. A natural curiosity and a drive to keep learning will help you pick up new tools and methods as HR services evolve.

• Experience coaching colleagues through onboarding and ongoing development
• Comfort with continual self-service improvements and knowledge management
• Ambition to contribute to automation initiatives within HR Services

What you’ll get in return

The role comes with a strong compensation and benefits package, including a bonus system. You’ll have free access to the in-house gym with fitness classes, opportunities to socialize with colleagues beyond your team through regular Friday get-togethers, and 30 days off to recharge. The office in Leiden is modern and easy to reach, and the job is onsite in Leiden.

Tips to stand out in your application

Lead your resume with a concrete example of an HR operations project where you identified a recurring question or bottleneck and delivered a practical improvement that could be adopted by others. If you have more than four years in HR operations, open with a short summary of your most impactful initiative and the measurable improvements you achieved.

In your application, show how you’ve proven the must-have skills by describing a real-world case where you identified a root cause, improved a process and created clearer self-service content or guidance for employees and managers. Include details about the HR systems you used and how you measured success.

Prepare for interviews by being ready to discuss your approach to handling complex HR questions, your collaboration with HR business partners and HRIS teams, and a practical example of turning an HR topic into an easy, hands-on solution. For the interview itself, you’ll likely have two sessions plus an online assessment; for Fleet, the first round will be via Teams, while for other roles the preference is in Leiden, with Teams possible for video.

As a smart question to ask, consider inquiring about which specific self-service improvements are planned next and how success will be measured in those efforts. You could also ask how the company currently balances automation with personal support in HR Services and what role AI is expected to play in the near term.