People Operations Manager

We’re on a mission to become the go-to destination for students across Europe to find a trusted home away from home. We make every step of the rental journey simple and seamless, so students can focus on what really matters: studying, exploring, and growing.

With HousingAnywhere, Kamernet, and Studapart under our roof, we’re Europe’s largest student rental platform. You’ll find us in Rotterdam, Paris, and Cergy, always guided by our four core values: Ownership, We are enablers, We are changemakers, and We are connectors.

Your Role

We are looking for a People Operations Manager to become the operational and people-leadership backbone of our HR function, driving the execution of all essential HR processes across our offices in the Netherlands and France. Reporting directly to the HR & Recruitment Director, you will maintain a helicopter view of all HR operations while you manage and mentor the HR sub-team (3HC).

You will work from our Rotterdam HQ (at least 3 days per week in the office) with regular interaction with our French offices.

This is a key leadership role for a seasoned HR professional who thrives on managing a team, enjoys international exposure, and combines strong labor law and operational knowledge with an analytical, process-driven mindset.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & Operational Management
• Management: Directly manage, mentor, and foster the professional growth of 3 team members (1 HR Generalist and 2 Office Managers/HR Admins).
• Workflow & quality control: Coordinate daily workload distribution, set team priorities, and establish clear operational standards.
• Employee relations & Manager Advisory
• Employee relations: Act as the primary escalation point for employee relations matters, Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs), and workplace issues, ensuring alignment with Dutch and French labor legislation.
• Manager coaching: Proactively advise and train business managers on people management best practices, performance cycles, and handling sensitive team situations.
• Employee Lifecycle Supervision
• Helicopter view & process governance: Maintain end-to-end oversight of the complete employee journey—from pre-onboarding logistics (employment agreements, EOR setup, visas, and 30% rulings) through onboarding, performance cycles in Lattice, and offboarding closeouts.
• Hands-on execution & escalations: Act as an operational lead who steps in to advise on HR cases that need attention, when needed.
• HR Analytics, Audits & Operations
• Data & insights: Track and present key metrics including eNPS, turnover trends, and performance completion rates to drive operational decisions.
• Annual audit support: Lead audit data submission regarding HR processes, policies, and practices in collaboration with internal and external auditors.
• Payroll & remuneration: Oversee accurate and compliant monthly payroll runs (NL & FR) with external partners, calculate bonus schemes, and facilitate the Annual Salary Review process.

Your Team

You will join the People department, which is responsible for the employee experience of around 300 team members spread across 3 international locations and remote setups.

The department consists of 9 team members spanning HR, Recruitment, IT, and Office Management. You will report directly to the Director of HR & Recruitment, and you will lead the HR sub-team. This team consists of 1 HR Generalist and 2 Office Managers / HR Admins, who also support HR operations.

Your Profile

• At least 10 years of experience in HR, with proven experience supervising day-to-day team operations, guiding team members, and handling operational escalations. Experience in Dutch HR is a must; experience with French HR is a strong plus.
• Solid hands-on experience with Dutch payroll. Knowledge of French payroll is a plus.
• Experience handling Dutch 30% ruling and visa/work permit procedures is preferred.
• Proficient with Google Workspace (Google Sheet in particular), HRIS platforms (preferably HiBOB), and performance management tools (preferably Lattice).
• Strong ability to extract, interpret, and present HR analytics to guide operational decision-making.
• Excellent process-mapping skills, meticulous attention to detail, and informal leadership ability to organize and assign team workflows effectively.
• Business fluency in English. Proficiency in Dutch and/or French is a strong advantage.
• Collaborative team player with strong intercultural communication skills, high integrity with confidential data, and a continuous growth mindset.

What’s in it for you

• Unlimited paid holidays, minimum-based, not maximum!
• Position based in our Rotterdam office with hybrid working policy (3 office days).
• Flexibility to work remotely for up to 2 months per year!
• 1,000 EUR personal development budget.
• Complete coverage for commuting.
• Personal equipment, including laptop and ergonomic setup.
• Gym membership discount with GoVital or OneFit.
• Dutch classes budget.
• Variable pension scheme.
• Diverse international community (46+ nationalities).
• Pet-friendly office in Rotterdam city centre.
• Team-building events and after-work drinks every Friday.