P&O Generalist

Posted: 20th May 2026
Starting date: As soon as possible

The Ocean Cleanup is a global nonprofit that develops and scales solutions to rid the world’s oceans of plastic, driving systemic change, and creating a lasting positive impact for people, wildlife, and the planet.

The P&O team plays a vital role in making that mission possible by enabling our people to thrive. We translate ambition into action by attracting purpose-driven talent, supporting our teams through every stage of the employee journey, ensuring full compliance with employment laws and payroll processes, and providing learning & development support to all our staff members.

We’re looking for a P&O Generalist who thrives on structure, has a sharp eye for detail, and enjoys solving people-related puzzles - big and small. If you’re excited to be part of a fast-paced, international team and contribute behind the scenes to a cleaner future, this is the role for you.

The Assignment

As our P&O Generalist, you will keep the team moving: chasing commitments, making meetings matter, and making sure nothing slips through the cracks. Behind the scenes, you'll own our employee records, navigate Dutch labour regulations, and manage relationships with the UWV, Arbodienst, and IND. You will guide colleagues through absence, reintegration, and occupational health with equal parts structure and genuine care.

Recruitment is part of the mix too - coordinating interviews, assessing candidates, and helping bring the right people in.

Detail-oriented and people-focused, this is a role where your work quietly makes a big difference.

Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate employee records in our HR systems and for our monthly reporting.
• Support the company's interactions with the UWV and the Arbodienst, and the relevant employee insurances.
• Support with all IND related processes.
• Support with our Sickness and Wellbeing policy.
• Support absence and leave registration, including sick leave in line with Dutch legislation. This includes re-integration processes.
• Support all recruitment activities, such as interviews, candidate assessments and interview scheduling.
• Analyze P&O data and employee feedback to identify trends and propose initiatives that enhance engagement, retention, and employee well-being.
• Collaborate with the P&O team in driving people-related projects and continuous process improvements.
• Handle P&O administrative tasks, including employment contracts for people on payroll and EOR, contractors, interns, student workers, onboarding, offboarding, and personnel changes.
• Process monthly Dutch payroll in collaboration with external payroll providers.
• Help coordinate performance review cycles, development planning, and engagement survey moments across the organization.

Professional Qualifications

Even if you don’t meet every professional qualification listed, we strongly encourage you to apply if you believe you have the right skills, experience, and motivation to contribute to our mission. We recognize that talent and potential come in many forms, and we value diverse perspectives and unconventional career paths. If you’re passionate about the work we do and confident in your ability to make an impact, don’t hesitate to submit your application—we’d love to hear from you.

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Financial Administration or Business Administration. While possessing a degree or higher-level qualification is advantageous, our primary focus is on individuals with strong intellectual capacity and quick thinking.
• At least 3 years of experience in People Operations within a dynamic and international organization.
• Solid administrative and organizational experience.
• Experience supporting payroll, and compensation and benefits matters.
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken. Dutch is a strong plus.
• Previous experience within an international company.

Personal Qualifications

• Accurate and structured way of working and an eye for detail.
• Data driven and affinity with numbers.
• Resilient and capable of prioritizing tasks.
• People focused and good communication skills.
• Intrinsic motivation to work on our ambitious and meaningful mission.

Additional Details

• Valid residency or work permit for the Netherlands is required.
• Conducting a pre-employment check may be part of this recruitment process.