Human Resources Director in Paris

• Human Resources Director
• COREcruitment Ltd
• Greater Paris Metropolitan Region (On-site)
• Start: ASAP
• Languages: English and French

I am seeking an experienced and hands-on HR Director to lead the HR function for a fast-paced, multi-site business with a large frontline workforce.

This is a dual-focus role requiring both strategic HR leadership and a strong operational presence across the field organisation.

You will lead an established HR team, drive employee and labour relations, oversee payroll and HR systems, and support the continued development of HR processes and ways of working across the business.

Key Responsibilities

• HR Leadership
• Lead, coach and energise a stable HR team of approximately 15 employees, including senior HR specialists and managers.
• Foster the existing positive team culture while supporting the development of newer team members.
• Act as a trusted partner to senior leadership, regional managers and operational teams.
• Operational & Field Presence
• Maintain a visible, hands-on presence across the field organisation and high-volume frontline environment.
• Support regional managers with employee relations matters, including disciplinary processes and complex people issues.
• Understand the realities of managing a large hourly and kiosk-based workforce, including high-volume recruitment, turnover and engagement challenges.
• Employee & Labour Relations
• Lead the relationship with the two Works Councils / CSEs, covering both headquarters and field/kiosk populations.
• Partner closely with the Employee Relations Manager to ensure consistent, legally sound and constructive employee relations.
• Lead upcoming NAO negotiations, including agreements with major unions, with a key negotiation cycle beginning in January.
• Support the leadership transition ahead of the next CSE election and negotiation cycle.
• Payroll, HRIS & Compliance
• Oversee payroll delivery and support the Payroll Manager in resolving ongoing payroll challenges.
• Manage the relationship with the external payroll provider and drive improvements in payroll accuracy, controls and processes.
• Optimise the use of SAP Success Factors and ensure HR data, reporting and processes support business needs.
• Ensure compliance with French employment law, collective agreements and internal policies.
• Projects & Continuous Improvement
• Establish and strengthen HR processes, policies and ways of working across the organisation.
• Structure and deliver training and development initiatives for managers and frontline teams.
• Lead HR workstreams related to organisational integration, change management and post-merger activities.

Experience & Skills

• Proven experience as an HR Director or senior HR leader managing a large-scale, multi-site workforce.
• Strong background in retail, foodservice, catering, hospitality or another high-volume, frontline environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in managing large hourly employee populations and associated turnover dynamics.
• Solid experience in French labour relations, union engagement, collective bargaining and CSE/Works Council management.
• Experience leading NAO negotiations and working constructively with employee representatives.
• Experience managing senior HR managers and specialists within a larger HR function.
• Strong knowledge of French employment law, payroll oversight and HRIS environments, ideally including SAP Success Factors.
• Experience leading HR transformation, process improvement and organisational integration projects.
• Personal Attributes
• A strategic thinker with a pragmatic, hands-on approach.
• Comfortable operating both at leadership level and directly in the field.
• Highly versatile, resilient and able to manage competing priorities in a fast-moving environment.
• An inclusive and collaborative leader who can integrate smoothly into an established, high-performing team.
• Strong interpersonal, influencing and communication skills.
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