HR Business Partner - Europe Anima Care | Leeds-based with European Responsibility
About Us
Anima Care is a growing provider of pet cremation services, committed to supporting pet owners through some of their most difficult moments. Following our recent acquisition of ten crematoria across Northern Europe, we are expanding our People team to support this exciting next chapter. This acquisition brings approximately 100 colleagues across sites in Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark into the Anima Care family, and we are looking for an experienced HR Business Partner to help us build something great
The Role
This is a varied and genuinely impactful generalist HR role, sitting within our Group People team and reporting directly to the Chief People Officer, based at our Leeds headquarters. You will be the dedicated HR partner for our European sites, taking ownership of the full employee lifecycle across four countries. As the business integrates this acquisition, your initial focus will be on building strong relationships with site leaders and colleagues, gathering and reviewing HR data, contracts and policies, and laying the foundations for a robust and engaging HR infrastructure across the region.
This is a rare opportunity to shape the People agenda from the ground up in a business that genuinely values its people and the sensitive nature of the work they do.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as a trusted HR Business Partner to site directors and managers across Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark, providing commercially focused, proactive HR support
- Lead the review and harmonisation of existing employment contracts, policies and procedures across all acquired sites, ensuring legal compliance in each country
- Partner with site leaders to develop and implement locally relevant People plans aligned to business objectives
- Build and maintain accurate HR data and metrics, using insight to identify trends and inform decisions
- Lead on all employee relations matters across the region, including absence management, disciplinary and grievance processes, with appropriate regard for local employment law
- Develop and deliver a resourcing strategy that supports cost-effective, high quality hiring across the European sites
- Design and implement an employee wellbeing strategy suited to the nature of pet cremation services
- Support engagement activity across sites, including the delivery of annual employee opinion surveys and follow-up action planning
- Manage new starter onboarding and leaver offboarding processes
- Coach and upskill site managers in people management practices and HR processes
About You
You will bring a strong generalist HR background combined with genuine knowledge of European employment law and the confidence to operate across multiple jurisdictions.
Essential:
- Minimum two years of generalist HR experience gained outside the UK, with demonstrable working knowledge of employment law in at least one of the countries in scope (Germany, Netherlands, Sweden or Denmark)
- Experience building effective relationships with and influencing senior stakeholders
- CIPD qualified (or equivalent)
- Strong attention to detail with the ability to work accurately and consistently under pressure
- Confident interpreting people metrics and translating data into practical action plans
- Excellent coaching skills and the ability to develop manager capability in a hands-on operational environment
- High levels of resilience and the ability to manage competing priorities across multiple sites and timezones
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the cultural awareness to work effectively across different countries and working environments
Desirable:
- Experience in a service-based or operational environment
- Language skills in German, Dutch, Swedish or Danish
What We Offer
- A high-impact role with genuine scope to shape the HR function for a growing European business
- Direct access and reporting line to the Group Chief People Officer
- A values-driven business where the work you do genuinely matters
- Leeds-based with flexibility for site travel across Europe
Package:
- Up to £48,000 basic per annum.
- Pension – 4% and 4% - employer contributions matched up to 6%
- Holidays – 25 days plus bank holidays
Anima Care is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that reflects the communities we serve.