About this role
Location: Daikin Europe NV – Ostend, Belgium Part of an international HR organization supporting business operations in Belgium and collaborating closely with EMEA HR teams. Role Purpose: We are looking for a new colleague to join our DENV HR Service Center as a subject matter expert in Belgian employment law and HR compliance. As the local employment law expert, you provide practical legal guidance and ensure compliance across the employee lifecycle, from hiring to retirement. You combine legal expertise with a strong process improvement mindset and work closely with HR colleagues, managers, payroll specialists, and corporate functions to deliver efficient, compliant, and business-oriented HR services. In this role, you act as a key advisor on employment law matters, support HR transformation initiatives, contribute to the continuous improvement of HR processes, and ensure that local employment practices remain aligned with legal requirements and business needs. As part of a wider HR community, you will help drive operational excellence, risk management, and compliance within the Belgian organization while contributing to broader HR projects and initiatives. Key Responsibilities: This role focuses on the following areas as a priority: Employment Law Advisory Provide expert advice and practical legal guidance to HR colleagues and management on Belgian employment law matters. Support the business on topics including employment contracts, working time arrangements, remuneration, social security, payroll-related matters, employee benefits, mobility, suspension of employment, disciplinary matters, and termination of employment relationships. Assist HR teams and managers in resolving day-to-day employment law questions and employee-related cases. Translate legal requirements into practical and business-oriented solutions. Legal Compliance & Governance Monitor developments in Belgian employment, labour and social security legislation and assess their impact on HR policies, processes, and practices. Ensure timely and compliant implementation of legislative changes within the organization. Review and update employment-related policies, templates, procedures, and guidelines. Support compliance activities related to GDPR, information security, internal controls, contract management, and corporate governance requirements. Act as liaison between HR and internal corporate functions on legal and compliance-related matters. HR Process Ownership & Continuous Improvement Contribute to the design, optimization, and standardization of HR processes to ensure legal compliance and operational efficiency. Support digitalization initiatives and implementation of employee self-service solutions and other HR technologies. Identify process improvement opportunities and participate in local and international HR projects. Collaborate with HR Operations, HRIS, Payroll, Compensation & Benefits, and HR Business Partners to ensure efficient end-to-end HR service delivery. Employee Relations & Social Dialogue Support the preparation and implementation of company regulations, employment policies, and collective labour agreements. Provide legal support during consultations with employee representatives and social partners. Assist in the management of employee relations matters and help mitigate employment-related risks. Ensure legal consistency and alignment across employee relations practices. Knowledge Sharing & Stakeholder Management Act as the internal subject matter expert for Belgian employment law. Share expertise and provide guidance and training to HR colleagues and managers. Build strong relationships with stakeholders across HR, management, payroll, finance, and legal functions. Contribute actively to the development of a knowledge-driven and business-oriented HR organization. Required Profile: Education & Skills Master's degree in Law. Strong knowledge of Belgian employment law, labour law, and social security legislation. Knowledge of payroll-related legislation and HR compliance processes is considered a strong asset. Affinity with HR technologies, process optimization, and digital HR solutions. Experience Proven experience (3 to 5 years) in employment law, labour law, or HR legal advisory. Experience supporting HR operations and business stakeholders in a corporate environment. Experience with HR projects, process improvement, or change initiatives is considered an advantage. Competencies Knowledge of Dutch is required. Excellent command of English, both written and spoken. Knowledge of additional languages is considered an asset. Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities. Pragmatic and solutions-oriented approach. Ability to balance legal compliance with business objectives. Proactive, hands-on, and results-oriented mindset. Strong planning and organizational skills. Team player with the ability to build effective networks across the organization. Self-starter, autonomous, and able to manage multiple priorities What We Offer: Opportunity to work in a dynamic and international environment. Exposure to a broad range of employment law, HR compliance, and organizational projects. A collaborative culture focused on continuous improvement, innovation, and personal development. Competitive salary package and attractive extra-legal benefits. Flexible working arrangements with a combination of office and home working. The opportunity to contribute directly to the development of future-proof HR services and practices. Daikin Europe is a subsidiary of Daikin Industries Ltd. and the leading provider of heating, cooling, ventilation, air purification, and refrigeration technology. The company designs, manufactures and brings to market a broad portfolio of equipment, as well as tailor-made solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes in Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). To date, Daikin EMEA has over 14 200 employees across more than 57 consolidated subsidiaries. It has 15 major manufacturing facilities based in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Spain, Poland, Turkey, Austria, and the UK. Our aim is to drive sustainable and effective solutions, sparking a good climate for the generations to come. And all this can only be achieved because of our People. Good climate starts with people Our employees are the beating heart of our company. At Daikin, you get to work in a positive environment backed by trust, creativity and continuous improvement. Together, we create our top-quality solutions by empowering talented teams. You will get plenty of opportunities to learn and grow. We are deeply committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace culture that reflects the communities we serve. Good climate starts with people.