Employee Relations Manager

About ECF

The European Climate Foundation (ECF) is a major philanthropic initiative working to help tackle the climate crisis by fostering the development of a net-zero emission society at the national, European and global level.

We support more than 800 partner organizations to carry out activities that drive urgent and ambitious policy in support of the objectives of the Paris Agreement, contribute to the public debate on climate action and help deliver a socially responsible transition to a net-zero economy and sustainable society in Europe and around the world.

The ECF brings together diverse perspectives and backgrounds to find the best innovative solutions to tackle climate change. We are focusing on engaging and hiring great people from a wide diversity of backgrounds to strengthen the cause. If you share our values of respect, innovation, and collaboration, join us.

About the role

We are looking for an Employee Relations Manager to join our Human Resources team, reporting to the HR Director. This is a great opportunity to contribute to a collaborative and purpose-driven HR function, while supporting the development of a strong and fair employee relations framework at ECF.

The Employee Relations Manager plays a central role in supporting ECF’s operations across Europe by helping shape and implement our approach to employee representation, social dialogue, and employment law compliance across multiple jurisdictions.

You will be the go-to person for the HR team and senior leadership on employee relations matters, with two main areas of focus.

Key responsibilities

Social Dialogue & Works Council Engagement

You will lead our strategy and engagement with the existing 5 formal employee representative bodies across Europe (Belgium, France, Germany, Spain and The Netherlands) as well as the informal representations of the total workforce of close to 400 employees.

Your responsibilities include:

• Coordinating structured and compliant social dialogue across countries;

• Maintaining a positive and trust-based relationship with employee representatives;

• Anticipating and addressing emerging social concerns;

• Supporting leadership in preparing, delivering, and negotiating during formal consultation processes.

HR Legal & Policy Framework

You will act as the legal and compliance point of contact for HR, helping to ensure that ECF’s people policies and employment practices remain compliant with local labor laws across all jurisdictions. Your responsibilities will include:

• Advising the HR team and leadership on employment law matters in multiple countries;

• Help in drafting, updating, and aligning internal policies with legal obligations and ECF’s organisational values;

• Providing strategic input on contractual structures, workforce changes, and legal risk mitigation;

• Monitoring legal developments and ensuring ongoing compliance with employment regulations;

• Supporting fair, consistent, and legally sound handling of grievance and disciplinary processes.

Requirements

Experience and Competencies

• Proven experience in European labor law and employee relations (ideally across several countries);

• Strong communication and negotiation skills with both internal and external stakeholders;

• Ability to manage multiple complex topics simultaneously, set clear priorities, and mitigate legal and operational risks effectively;

• Strategic thinking and high integrity in dealing with sensitive and confidential matters;

• Fluent in English (spoken and written); additional European languages are a plus.

Other information

What we offer

• The opportunity to play a central role in shaping ECF’s social and legal HR landscape.

• An extended network of close partners with technical understanding of the issues, strong international and local change-making experience and a deep knowledge of grant making and strategy development.

• A flexible work environment and a space to develop and challenge yourself.

• Competitive compensation, commensurate with experience and country benchmarks.

Location

Any ECF location.

Valid working permit is a MUST.

Start date

As soon as possible

How to apply

Please send your CV and a short cover letter, in English, through our official channel.

Deadline for application: Monday the 14th of July 2025

All applications will be treated confidentially.