HR Partner - Operations (fixed term)

Every day, we get opportunities to make a positive impact – on our colleagues, partners, customers and society. Together, we’re pioneering the solutions of the future and unlocking the full potential of precious resources. Trusted to act on initiative, we challenge conventional thinking to develop world-leading technologies that inspire progress in vital areas, including energy, food, water and shipping.

As we push forward, the innovative, open spirit that fuels our 140-year-old start-up culture and rapid growth also drives our personal growth. So, as we shape a more resourceful, less wasteful world, we build our careers too.

Alfa Laval is on a transformative HR journey, developing a local HR Service Center in Kraków to streamline processes, deliver efficient HR operations and provide best-in-class employee support, with a strong focus on self-service and automation.

Our HR team in Kraków is well established and has ambitious plans for further development. We are looking for a new team member to join us for a 12-month fixed-term assignment. If you are eager to make a difference in HR operations, this could be the right opportunity for you.

About the Role

As an HR Partner, you will provide operational HR support primarily for Alfa Laval employees and managers in Poland, with a particular focus on Polish HR administration and employment law.

You will manage a broad range of Employee Lifecycle activities and help ensure that HR processes are delivered accurately, consistently and in line with applicable Polish labour law. Depending on business needs, you may also support selected processes for smaller countries within the region.

The role combines HR administration, employee and manager support, HR systems, case management and continuous process improvement. You will be part of the local HR team and report to the Regional HR Shared Service Center Manager in Kraków.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about service excellence, eager to learn and share knowledge, and open to supporting different countries and HR processes.

Key Responsibilities

Employee and manager support

• Provide operational HR support primarily to employees, managers and HR colleagues in Poland.
• Support selected HR activities for smaller countries in the region, depending on business needs.
• Respond to and resolve HR queries received from employees, managers and HR colleagues.
• Handle queries directly, by phone or through the HR case management system.
• Use ServiceNow to register, manage, track and close HR service requests.
• Investigate requests and escalate them to the appropriate HR area team when required.
• Promote a service-oriented culture focused on quality, responsiveness and excellent employee experience.

Employee Lifecycle activities

• Organise, manage and execute new-hire onboarding activities.
• Support, coordinate and deliver Time & Absence, Benefits, Pension and Separation processes.
• Execute transactional Employee Lifecycle activities in Workday and the relevant vendor payroll system.
• Prepare and process employee documentation, including employment contracts, contract annexes and employment certificates.
• Maintain complete and accurate employee personal files in both paper and electronic form.
• Ensure that HR processes and documentation for Poland comply with applicable Polish labour and employment law.
• Support the accurate application of local HR requirements when assisting smaller countries.

HR systems, data and reporting

• Maintain accurate employee and organisational data in Workday and other relevant HR systems.
• Prepare HR and organisational reports.
• Conduct audits and data checks to ensure the accuracy, completeness and compliance of employee data changes.
• Ensure that HR transactions are processed accurately and within agreed timelines.
• Support effective HR vendor relationship management and follow up on open operational matters.

Knowledge management and continuous improvement

• Maintain HR information on the employee self-service portal and the internal HR knowledge database.
• Continuously improve and update the internal HR knowledge base, including information relevant to Polish HR processes.
• Provide input into the improvement of local People Services and HR information.
• Identify opportunities to improve HR processes, systems and service delivery in cooperation with HR Business Partners and global HR teams.
• Share knowledge and contribute to the standardisation and continuous development of HR operations.
• Encourage consistent adherence to defined processes in order to secure service quality and a reliable employee experience.

About You

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology or another related field.
• At least 2 years of experience in HR operations, HR administration or a similar Employee Lifecycle role.
• Practical experience with HR administration, including personal files management and benefits administration.
• Previous experience providing HR support in Poland is required.
• Practical knowledge of Polish employment and labour law is required.
• Experience supporting HR processes for other European countries, particularly smaller countries or entities, would be an advantage.
• Fluent spoken and written Polish and English.
• Practical knowledge of Workday is required.
• Experience with ServiceNow or another HR case management system would be an advantage.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage several priorities and deadlines.
• A service-oriented and communicative approach when working with employees, managers, HR colleagues and external vendors.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with local, regional and global HR teams.
• Openness and flexibility to support different countries and adapt to varying local HR requirements.
• Interest in HR process improvement, automation, self-service and knowledge management.

What we Offer

• A 12-month fixed-term employment agreement.
• Benefits package including: lunch card, private medical care for you and your family, sports card, life insurance, access to the MyBenefit platform.
• Flexible working hours starting between 7:30 and 9:30.
• Hybrid working model: 3 days from the office and 2 days from home.
• An open working environment where you can work independently and influence the development of HR processes and services.
• The opportunity to support Polish HR operations while gaining exposure to selected European countries.
• The opportunity to contribute to the development of a growing HR Service Center in Kraków.
• Global collaboration with HR colleagues around the world.
• The opportunity to develop experience across HR operations, Employee Lifecycle processes, HR systems and service delivery.

Ready to join our journey?

If you are an HR operations professional with knowledge of Polish employment law, a strong service mindset and an open approach to supporting different countries, we look forward to receiving your application.

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