HR Regional Manager Nordics

Company Description

SGS is the world’s leading Testing, Inspection and Certification company. We operate a network of over 2,500 laboratories and business facilities across 115 countries, supported by a team of 99,500 dedicated professionals with over 145 years of service excellence.

Job Description

Act as a partner to the Managing director of Nordics & Baltics and the Head of HR Europe for all related HR matters. Assist the Managing Director to lead and model the way for HR related issues in partnership with the Head of HR Europe.

You will be reporting directly to the Managing Director Nordics & Baltics and in dotted line to the Head of HR Europe.

Responsibilities:

HR Business Partnership

• Act as a strategic HR Business Partner to the MD and Nordic Management Team, offering commercially focused HR guidance.
• Build strong internal relationships to deliver high-level HR support aligned with business priorities across the Nordics.
• Drive credibility of the HR function by delivering added value through proactive, solution-oriented support.

Compensation, Benefits & Payroll

• Develop and implement competitive remuneration policies and salary structures aligned with local practices and SGS global guidelines.
• Manage multi-country payroll processes, ensuring efficiency, compliance, and understanding of local tax regulations.
• Oversee global reward processes including Annual Salary Review (ASR) and AIP, and lead local implementation.
• Conduct job evaluations using Towers Watson methodology, in collaboration with regional/global reward teams.
• Analyze and manage HR metrics (e.g., payroll, time tracking, employee records, benefits) to inform decisions.

Talent Acquisition

• Lead recruitment across Nordics & Baltics, ensuring attraction of top talent and compliance with SGS recruitment policies.
• Build partnerships with Global TA and approved sourcing platforms (e.g., SmartRecruiters, LinkedIn, agencies, universities).
• Apply structured selection methods and tools (e.g., psychometric testing) to ensure quality hires.

Learning & Development

• Implement and manage the L&D strategy for Nordics & Baltics in alignment with global/regional initiatives (e.g., TR & SP, leadership programs).
• Coordinate training programs to address business needs and track effectiveness through key HR indicators (e.g., turnover, engagement).

Performance Management

• Drive adoption and effective use of SGS performance management systems (e.g., mySGS).
• Ensure timely execution of the performance cycle and provide ongoing coaching to managers and staff.
• Deliver training and refresher sessions to reinforce performance management practices.

Organizational Development & Communication

• Roll out HR policies, procedures, and processes in line with SGS Group guidelines and local legal requirements.
• Foster transparent communication around organizational and personnel changes across Nordics & Baltics.

Employee Relations & Social Dialogue

• Maintain constructive relationships with social partners and contribute to SGS's positive public image.

Team Leadership

• Lead and develop the HR teams across the region to deliver consistent, high-quality support.
• Identify and mentor future HR leaders; ensure HRBPs can act as true strategic partners through effective use of mySGS.

HR Systems (Workday / mySGS)

• Act as the regional Workday (mySGS) expert; lead local deployments and support ongoing optimization in collaboration with Regional HRIS.
• Enable data-driven decision-making by delivering analytics and reports to management teams.

Health, Safety & Integrity

• Promote a culture of safety and compliance with SGS health, integrity, and human rights policies.

Qualifications

Education

• Degree in Human Resources or related field; MBA preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of senior HR leadership experience, including 5+ years in a multi-country role.
• Proven track record as Head of HR for a medium to large-sized organization.
• Strong background in managing HR across the Nordic and Baltic regions.

Core Competencies

• Strong leadership in matrixed and multi-country environments.
• Skilled in team coordination, motivation, and aligning efforts toward common objectives.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Trusted advisor with a high level of integrity, confidentiality, and professionalism.
• Decisive, action-oriented, and resilient under pressure.
• Commercially driven with a strategic mindset to enhance business competitiveness.
• Independent, organized, and capable of managing multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Deep expertise in HR systems, including compensation and talent development platforms.
• Culturally adaptable with international experience and willingness to travel.
• Fluent in English.
• Committed to SGS standards of ethics and integrity in all decisions and actions.

Additional Information

Why SGS?

• Join a globally recognized and stable company, a leader in the Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC) industry.
• Enjoy a flexible schedule and hybrid work model.
• Access SGS University and Campus for continuous learning options.
• Thrive in a multinational environment, collaborating with colleagues from multiple continents.
• Benefit from our comprehensive benefits platform.

Join Us: At SGS, we are dedicated to fostering an open, friendly, and supportive culture that thrives on teamwork. We value diversity and provide endless opportunities to learn, grow your expertise, and fulfill your potential.