Senior Manager, Human Resources

Senior Manager, Human Resources

Brussels, Belgium

WHAT MAKES US A GREAT PLACE TO WORK

We are proud to be consistently recognized as one of the world’s best places to work. We are currently the top ranked consulting firm on Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work list and have earned the #1 overall spot a record seven times. Extraordinary teams are at the heart of our business strategy, but these don’t happen by chance. They require intentional focus on bringing together a broad set of backgrounds, cultures, experiences, perspectives, and skills in a supportive and inclusive work environment. We hire people with exceptional talent and create an environment in which every individual can thrive professionally and personally.

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH

You’ll be a core member of our Brussels office leadership ecosystem, partnering closely with Office Leadership, Staffing, Professional Development (PD), Finance, Global HR Business Partners, Centers of Excellence, and HR Shared Services. You’ll also actively participate in the Global HR network, contributing to cross-office collaboration and ensuring local practices align with Bain’s global standards and best practices.

WHERE YOU’LL FIT WITHIN THE TEAM

As Senior Manager, Human Resources, you will play a pivotal leadership role in our Brussels office. You will provide strategic HR guidance while ensuring operational excellence across the full employee lifecycle.

You will serve as the primary HR advisor to office leadership, combining deep employment law expertise with strong business judgment. This role balances strategic partnership with hands-on execution, ensuring our people practices reinforce Bain’s values, support commercial priorities, and remain fully compliant with Belgian employment legislation.

You will directly manage two HR Managers and lead the local HR function with a focus on quality, consistency, and continuous improvement.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

HR Strategy & Business Partnering

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous review of HR policies and strategies for the Brussels office
• Ensure compliance with Belgian employment legislation and alignment with evolving business needs
• Serve as the primary HR contact and strategic advisor to office leadership
• Advise on employee relations, performance management, organizational design, and talent development
• Build strong, trusted relationships with Staffing, PD, global HRBPs, and key stakeholders
• Integrate DEI and culture priorities into all business partnering activities

Employee Relations & Employment Law

• Lead complex employee relations matters including investigations, disciplinaries, grievances, performance warnings, capability processes, and absence management
• Minimize employment law risk through consistent and legally compliant decision-making
• Partner with regional ER and legal teams on sensitive or high-risk cases
• Conduct exit processes and ensure constructive feedback loops to leadership
• Proactively identify and mitigate employee risk

Performance Improvement

• Own and manage the Performance Improvement (PI) process across the Brussels office population
• Act as HR lead for individuals on PI, ensuring fair process, clear communication, and appropriate support
• Liaise with career transition partners where required

Rewards, Compensation & Benefits

• Benchmark and manage compensation structures aligned with market data and Bain standards
• Lead the annual compensation benchmarking cycle and interpret insights for leadership
• Partner with the global compensation team on reward initiatives
• Act as subject matter expert on compensation and benefits communications

HR Systems, Governance & Process Excellence

• Oversee Workday and related HR systems to ensure accuracy and efficiency
• Maintain high standards of HR data governance and GDPR compliance
• Identify and drive process optimization and automation opportunities
• Partner with HR Shared Services and Centres of Excellence to ensure seamless delivery

Team Leadership

• Directly manage and coach two HR Managers
• Develop team capability in employee relations and policy work
• Foster a high-trust, inclusive, high-performance team environment
• Maintain exceptional HR service standards

Continuous Improvement & Global Collaboration

• Drive enhancements across the HR lifecycle to improve employee experience
• Support global HR initiatives and knowledge sharing
• Contribute actively to the Global HR network

Safety & Business Continuity

• Partner with the Office Head and Security Lead on disaster recovery and people tracking
• Advise on travel safety protocols and related training
• Ensure compliance with local and global safety policies

ABOUT YOU

• Minimum 8 years of experience in a senior HR role within a consultancy or professional services environment
• Strong track record of developing and executing strategic HR initiatives with measurable impact
• Deep expertise in Belgian employment law and HR best practices
• Exceptional stakeholder management, influencing, and communication skills
• High levels of professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment
• Proven people leadership experience with the ability to inspire and develop teams
• Collaborative, inclusive mindset and ability to build trusted relationships
• Proactive, solutions-oriented approach with a continuous improvement mindset
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, able to balance strategic and operational priorities

Working Model

This role follows a hybrid model, requiring in-office presence at least three days per week. Standard working hours are Monday to Friday, 9:00am–6:00pm, with flexibility required during peak periods.