Employee Relations Director (Lawyer), Europe

Arcadis is the global leading design consultancy delivering sustainable design, engineering, and consultancy solutions for natural and built assets.

We are more than 36,000 people, in over 70 countries, dedicated to improving quality of life. Everyone has an important role to play. With the power of many curious minds, together we can solve the world’s most complex challenges and deliver more impact together.

Role description:

As Employee Relations Director, Europe, you will shape the future of how our organization connects with its people—leading the Employee Relations team for approx. 7,000 employees across diverse markets and cultures. You will be the driving force behind creating a fair, respectful, and legally compliant work environment that empowers our people, protects our business, and supports our growth. By balancing business needs with empathy and integrity, you’ll champion a culture of trust, inclusion, and accountability—ensuring our values come to life in every employee experience, every day, around the world. 

Role accountabilities:

Strategic Leadership 

Lead the employee relations function for Europe, supporting the vision for the Global Employee Relations Centre of Expertise and assisting with the execution of a globally consistent employee relations strategy that aligns with our values, empowers our people, and supports sustainable business success. Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, helping them navigate the evolving employee relations and employment law landscape with clarity and confidence. 

Policy Innovation & Global Governance 

Design and oversee employee relations frameworks that strike the right balance between global consistency and local relevance. Champion forward-thinking, inclusive policies that reflect our cultural aspirations and local labor realities—ensuring fairness, transparency, and long-term trust. 

Proactive Risk & Compliance Stewardship 

Anticipate challenges before they arise. You’ll lead with a proactive lens to identify emerging risks, ensure global compliance with labor laws and employment practices, and guide decisions that protect both people and the business. 

Labor & Union Relations Strategy 

Shape and influence our approach to union engagement and collective bargaining, building collaborative relationships with labor partners and works councils (as applicable). Ensure local HR teams are empowered with the right guidance, resources, and tools to lead with confidence. 

Complex Case Leadership & Resolution 

Be the escalation point for the most sensitive and high-impact employee relations and employment law cases and investigations globally. Model principled, fair decision-making that reflects our values and protects the integrity of our culture. Equip and coach HR leaders to build strong employee relations and employment law acumen at all levels. 

Change Leadership & Organizational Transformation 

Play a pivotal role in managing the people side of transformation—in particular major transitions such as restructuring, M&A, and cultural shifts by providing strategic employee relations and employment law support ensuring smooth execution and minimal risk. Ensure our people feel seen, heard, and respected during change. 

Stakeholder Engagement & Influence 

Build and nurture strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders—internally and externally. 

Internally, partner closely with People Services, People Business Partners and Advisors, Compliance, Data Privacy and senior leadership teams to embed best-in-class employee relations and employment law practices into day-to-day operations and strategic planning. 

Externally, act as the face of the organization in engagement with works councils, regulators, and industry bodies. Represent the company with credibility, diplomacy, and a commitment to collaboration. 

Team Development & Global Collaboration 

Lead the employee relations team for Europe. Cultivate a learning culture, build deep expertise, and ensure the team is equipped to navigate complexity with agility. Partner seamlessly with the Global Employee Relations Director, the Employee Relations Directors for UK, Ireland, Asia & Middle East and Europe (and their teams), the Global Employee Relations Operations Manager, the wider People team, Compliance, and Data Privacy teams as well as senior leaders to co-create solutions. 

Data-Driven Strategy & Continuous Improvement 

Leverage employee relations and employment law updates, insights, analytics, employee voice data and AI to inform decisions, identify patterns, and improve