WE'RE HIRING!
Human Resources Officer
- Type of position: 60% (open-ended contract)
- Location: Brussels-based (hybrid work setup – 50% from ZWE office, 50% from home)
- Starting date: ideally by September 25th
- Application deadline: 27 August 2023, 23:59 CEST
About us
Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) is the European network of communities, organisations, local leaders, experts, and change agents working towards the elimination of waste in our society. We advocate for sustainable systems and the redesign of our relationship with resources, to accelerate a just transition towards zero waste for the benefit of people and the planet. The ZWE network now includes 35 members from 28 European countries and works with topics across the whole chain.
From product design to reusability to end-of-pipe waste management solutions, from the phase-out of plastics to municipal zero waste strategies, our scope has significantly expanded but our mission and vision remain the same – a zero waste, fairer, inclusive, circular Europe for all (and planet, too, while we’re at it). We are a successful and fast-growing independent NGO where personal development, fairness and inclusiveness are high on the agenda.
We are the proud founders of the Mission Zero Academy (MiZA), through which we offer zero waste certifications to cities, municipalities and small businesses. We are founding member of various movements and coalitions that are hosted under our entity (such as Break Free From Plastic), and are the European chapter of the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA),
Our ZWE Values
- We are purpose-driven, always putting forward a solution-oriented approach.
- We are game-changing – we challenge the status quo, explore emerging topics and create a safe space to succeed (and to recover from setbacks).
- We are adaptable, constantly striving towards learning and improving; open to change and taking agency.
- We believe that acting with integrity is crucial to achieving impact and change, both inside and outside our network.
- And we care deeply about our communities, the environment, and systemic changes that benefit society as a whole – while also looking after ourselves and our own well-being as a team and as individuals.
About you:
You have a first experience in HR administration or People & Culture within a small and complex organisation. You are a born problem-solver whilst having an eye for detail and enjoying well-completed tasks. You take initiative and see what needs to be done. And, most of all, you enjoy people and operations and are looking to expand your skills in this area of work.
About the role
The Human Resources Officer is part of Zero Waste Europe’s Operations Team and will be working closely with the Head of Operations in building a people-centred and caring culture, whilst maintaining compliance standards and enabling stronger and more effective HR processes.
The core (and non-exhaustive) responsibilities of the HR Officer will be to:
- Support the 360-degree life cycle of the employees (recruitment, onboarding, organising internal events, supporting the end-of-year evaluations setup, and supporting learning and development initiatives).
- Be responsible for payroll and HR administration (with our current payroll provider sdWorx), including managing various absences (holidays, maternity/parental leave, educational leave), meal vouchers, time sheets, etc - plus following up on our payroll in the UK and remote hiring platform.
- Take ownership of salary and benefits data, including providing correct payroll and forecasted salary data for grant applications.
- Know the organisation’s HR regulations and policies, and apply and update them when needed, taking into account new legislation (PC 337) and initiatives from Zero Waste Europe’s Habits Team .
- Take up the role of prevention advisor (including following a yearly training) and manage ZWE’s wellbeing and prevention plan in collaboration with external consultants.
- Collaborate with the Operations Team and input on yearly strategy and objectives-setting exercises.
About you
Required skills and competencies
- 2+ years working in HR and administration within a small operations team.
- Solid knowledge of Belgian HR regulations, or the ability to look up, and effective interpretation of, legal language.
- Solid IT competences with collaborative tools (Google Drive, Slack, Zoho).
- Exceptional interpersonal skills - you are able to balance between written HR regulations and understanding/compassion for personal life events.
- Good stakeholder manager (you will be liaising with different HR suppliers).
- Proficient in English and Dutch OR English and French.
- Excellent communication and writing skills.
- Initiative taker, teamplayer and ability to work independently.
- Data-driven and detail-oriented.
- Problem-solving and results-oriented attitude.
- Interest in, and passion for, Zero Waste Europe’s work and areas of focus.
- Prioritising integrity above all.
Desired skills and competencies
- A bachelor’s degree in the field of human resources, business administration, project management, administration, or other - or relevant experience.
- Previous experience in People & Culture, project, or event management is an asset.
How we work in the Ops Team
- In all that you do, you identify the options for automation or simplification, freeing up time for what matters: the people around you.
- You own your workflows - when blocked, you ask for help; and, when stuck in your growth, you seek or ask for more responsibilities or challenges.
- You remain focused on your objectives and you dare to say no while caring for a good team spirit.
- You show commitment to accuracy, efficiency, and a high standard of work.
- You like GIFs, and humour gets you a long way.
Equal Employment opportunity
We are committed to the principle of Equal Employment Opportunity for all employees, regardless of sex, marital status, nationality, religion, age, sexual orientation and any other characteristics unrelated to the performance of the job. We also realise that not all individuals have the same opportunities to engage in paid work or studies and are open to receiving applications from those who may not fulfil all the required skills but have the interest, passion, (cap)abilities and drive to fulfil the role. In this respect, we encourage people from a diverse intersection of backgrounds to apply.
Location, Compensation and Work Environment
This is a part-time position with an open-ended contract based out of our Brussels office, under a hybrid working setup with a split 50/50 working from home versus from the office.
Candidates must already have a valid working permit for Belgium - please note that ZWE is not able to provide working permit sponsorships.
We offer a competitive NGO salary (€2854-3416 gross for a FTE) plus benefits, including:
- Lunch vouchers (8€/day); 13th month (year-end bonus);
- Double holiday pay (Belgian standard);
- 20 vacation days plus 6 extra-legal holidays + 4 days between Christmas and New Year; Pro-rated to 60%;
- Hospitalisation, ambulatory and Dental Insurance (DKV);
- Travel insurance; home working and other allowances (€150.00-170.00 net/month); full coverage of public transport costs for commuting (minimum €49.00 net/month); and flexible working hours/times.
We take pride in our ability to support one another's work in an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect, and look forward to introducing the successful candidate to our welcoming and highly motivated team and network members
To apply:
Please send (all merged into a single PDF document) before 27 August 2023 23:59 CEST:
- Your cover letter (maximum 1 page) telling us what you can bring to ZWE and your motivation for applying;
- Your CV in English with two references.
Your application must be sent through the appropriate form on the ZWE website (“Work With Us” page - HR Officer form). Only the applications sent via this form will be taken into account. We can only guarantee that short-listed candidates will be contacted.
The position remains open until filled. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. We encourage potential candidates to submit their applications when ready, and not to wait until the final deadline.
Our 2-round interview process will include:
- A first round of online screening interviews taking place on 30 and 31 August 2023.
- (To be confirmed) A 1h assignment for selected candidates after round 1, taking place during a selected time by the candidate before the second and final round of interviews.
- A second and final interview round will ideally take place before 7 September 2023 (either online or in-person for candidates already in Belgium).
this job offer is not open for applications
