Principal HR Specialist

Principal HR Specialist 

Skillsoft’s People Operations team is a strategic business function focused on putting employees first by humanizing systems and creating a positive employee experience throughout the employee lifecycle. Our team partners closely with employees, managers, HR Business Partners, and global teams to drive operational excellence, engagement, and compliance while supporting business needs.

We are seeking an experienced Principal HR Specialist in France to support France and Germany. In this role, you will have an opportunity to play a critical role in delivering an exceptional employee experience while ensuring efficient HR operations across the employee lifecycle. This role combines hands-on operational support with employee relations expertise, labor compliance, and local country ownership. The ideal candidate will have strong experience supporting HR operations within France and Germany, including French Works Council (CSE) management, employee relations, and employee lifecycle processes in a multinational environment.

Responsibilities

People Operations & Employee Lifecycle

• Support end-to-end employee lifecycle activities across France and Germany including onboarding, employee changes, transfers, and offboarding
• Ensure a smooth onboarding experience for new hires through preparation of employee documentation and coordination of onboarding activities
• Maintain employee records and HR systems while ensuring data accuracy and compliance with legal and company requirements
• Manage employee-related data changes including working hours, leave administration, and benefits-related updates

Employee Relations & Labor Relations

• Manage and coordinate French Works Council/CSE activities including preparation, consultation requirements, documentation, and stakeholder management
• Provide guidance and support to managers regarding employee relations matters and local employment practices
• Partner with HR Business Partners and leadership on employee cases including performance concerns, workplace issues, disciplinary actions, and policy interpretation
• Act as a trusted point of contact for employees and managers on people-related matters.
• Ensure local compliance with labor laws and employment regulations

Payroll, Compensation & Benefits

• Support payroll preparation through management of employee data and variable payroll inputs
• Coordinate compensation and benefits administration activities
• Partner with payroll teams to ensure timely and accurate processing

Training, Health & Employee Well-being

• Manage the administrative aspects of the French training plan and associated legal obligations.
• Coordinate occupational health appointments and related processes
• Support workplace well-being and employee engagement initiatives
• Serve as disability advocate where applicable

Data, Reporting & Projects

• Conduct analysis of HR data to support decision-making and provide operational insights
• Create and maintain reports and dashboards tracking key HR metrics
• Identify opportunities to improve People Operations processes and employee experience
• Lead or participate in HR initiatives and projects, ensuring successful execution
• Collaborate with global HR teams to support regional and global programs

Skills & Qualification Requirements

• Minimum 8-10 years of experience in People Operations, HR Operations, or Employee Relations roles
• Strong experience independently managing French Works Council/CSE processes
• Robust working knowledge of French labor law
• Experience supporting HR operations and employee lifecycle activities in Germany
• Knowledge and experience with HRIS systems (Workday preferred)
• Must be Fluent in both French and English languages with strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently
• Be detail oriented with strong organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Experience working in HR organizations with a high level of confidentiality and discretion
• Project management and stakeholder management skills
• Have a process improvement mindset with a focus on employee experience

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience working in multinational and matrixed organizations
• German fluency highly preferred