HR Business Partner Vice President

Is the next step in your career at SMBC Group EMEA?

We're looking for an experimented HR Business Partner for our Human Resources Department to join our team in Paris.

This role offers the opportunity to act as a trusted HR advisor to managers and employees while working closely with the Head of HR France across the full employee lifecycle. With a strong focus on Employee Relations and French employment law, you will manage individual employee matters, support collective labour relations, and contribute to key people processes including performance management, talent reviews and compensation, within an international and matrix-managed environment.

About this role

The Human Resources Department supports the business across the full employee lifecycle, from recruitment and mobility through to performance, talent, reward, employee relations and organisational change. This role partners directly with managers and employees, providing pragmatic and legally sound HR advice while supporting the Head of HR France on sensitive Employee Relations, CSE and employment law matters.

In this role you will be responsible for:

• Acting as a trusted HR partner to managers and employees, providing day-to-day advice across the employee lifecycle and people management matters
• Managing individual Employee Relations cases, including disciplinary matters, grievances, individual exits, dismissals and mutually agreed terminations, in line with French employment law
• Supporting the Head of HR France on CSE / employee representative matters, collective consultations and broader labour relations topics
• Delivering key annual people processes, including performance management, talent reviews, succession planning and compensation cycles
• Supporting organisational change, workforce planning, internal mobility, expatriation and other international HR matters
• Providing HR advice on restructurings and organisational changes while maintaining appropriate governance and employment risk management
• Contributing to HR projects, reporting, people analytics and continuous improvement initiatives while collaborating with HR colleagues across Paris and EMEA

The anticipated salary range for this role is €68,000 - €75,000, with the final offer determined based on the candidate’s skills, experience, role scope, location, and relevant market factors. In addition to base salary, the role may be eligible for a discretionary incentive award and a competitive benefits package.

For you to succeed in this role

• A minimum of 8 years of relevant experience in HR Business Partnering, Employee Relations, Employment Law or a closely related HR role
• Strong practical knowledge of French employment law, particularly individual employment matters, disciplinary processes, dismissals, mutually agreed terminations and employee relations
• Experience working directly with employee representatives / CSE and supporting collective labour relations matters; previous experience negotiating collective agreements is not essential
• Experience delivering broader HR processes, including performance management, talent reviews, compensation cycles, organisational change and employee lifecycle activities
• Degree or equivalent qualification in Employment Law, Human Resources or a related discipline, combined with fluency in English

What will you bring to the role?

• Strong autonomy and professional judgement, with the ability to take ownership of complex cases
• A genuine interest in building close relationships with employees and managers and remaining accessible across the organisation
• Capacity to navigate sensitive matters with confidentiality while remaining solutions-oriented
• Humility and openness to feedback, with the ability to challenge your own thinking and learn continuously
• A collaborative mindset and strong team spirit, with the willingness to support colleagues and work effectively within a multicultural and matrix-managed organisation

Desirable

• Previous experience in a regulated, international or complex corporate environment; banking experience is advantageous but not essential
• Professional experience in a legal or employment law environment combined with a strong motivation to develop within Human Resources
• Experience supporting international mobility, expatriation or cross-border HR matters
• Exposure to HR transformation, process improvement, people analytics or organisational development initiatives

Customer Focus

Driving Change

Driving Results

Embraces Diversity

Enterprise Leadership

Judgement and Decision Making

Risk Management

Strategic and Visionary

Trust and Integrity