HR Business Partner

At the core of Principal Directorate People’s mission is a strong commitment to supporting our colleagues. We aim to attract and recruit individuals with the right skills at the right time, while fostering talent through a proactive and holistic approach to learning spanning functional, cross-functional and general development.

PD People consists of three directorates: People Planning and Talent Management, People Engagement and Development, and People Services and Well-Being. Our two HR business partner teams sit within Directorate People Engagement and Development, working closely with learning and talent architecture teams to shape development plans that support the organisation’s strategic goals. The directorate’s mission is to promote an inclusive culture of continuous growth, good management practices and staff engagement.

HR Business Partners play a vital role in cultivating a collaborative, knowledgeable and inclusive “one Office” culture. They support organisational change, drive talent mobility and advise on performance management to enhance employee experience and engagement. They also help to ensure that flexible working supports both well-being and performance, while contributing to reskilling initiatives.

We are currently seeking a motivated and collaborative HR Business Partner to join our team and contribute to effective people management across the organisation.

About the Role

As an HR Business Partner, you will collaborate with business leaders to develop and implement HR strategies that support business objectives. You will provide guidance on employee relations, performance management, talent development, and organizational design. Your role will be critical in driving a high-performance culture and ensuring compliance with company policies and employment laws.

With us you will:

• Drive the HR agenda and act as a change agent, ensuring the implementation of HR strategies, policies and guidelines.
• Partner with business leaders to align HR strategies with business goals.
• Act as the HR interface for a specific business area.
• Counsel and coach leaders within assigned business areas.
• Advise on employee relations issues, including conflict resolution and disciplinary actions.
• Translate business needs and challenges into operational HR plans, including talent planning, onboarding, talent management, performance development, engagement and well-being, health and absence management, diversity and inclusion, communication and change management.
• Support talent management initiatives, including succession planning and leadership development.
• Drive performance management processes and coach managers on effective feedback and development plans.
• Ensure compliance with employment laws and company policies.
• Provide data-based insights to guide decision-making and offer people-oriented solutions.
• Analyze HR metrics and provide insights to improve organizational effectiveness.
• Leverage digital tools and platforms to streamline HR processes and support the transition to a more agile and tech-enabled HR function.
• Lead change management initiatives and support organizational transformation.

Apply if you have:

• Relevant professional experience as an HR Business Partner or in a similar role in an international environment.
• A deep understanding of key HR areas, in particular the talent management cycle (talent development and talent acquisition), as well as learning and development, workforce planning, staff mobility, staff well-being, diversity and inclusion, etc.
• Experience in helping to develop and deliver fit-for-purpose HR strategies.
• Experience in actively supporting organisational change and business transformation from an HR perspective.
• Experience using digital HR tools and platforms to optimise processes, support data-driven decisions and enable agile HR service delivery.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to coach, influence and partner at leadership level.
• The desire to make a difference in people's lives and a positive attitude to work.
• A proven ability to prioritise, meet deadlines and make the best use of resources.
• A practical, can-do attitude to working in a collaborative and dynamic team.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while staying calm and clearly focused on objectives.
• The ability to handle sensitive information with due regard for confidentiality and the utmost discretion.
• A proactive, forward-thinking approach and initiative, combined with a service mindset geared towards providing value-added advice and solutions.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practices.
• Ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders at all levels.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Our minimum requirements for this post:

• Diploma of completed studies at master's level or – in exceptional cases – equivalent professional experience. (Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field may also be considered.)
• Generally, an excellent knowledge (at least C1) of one official language (English, French and German) and ability to understand the other two; alternatively, excellent knowledge (at least C1) of at least one official language (in such cases, the willingness to learn the missing language(s) and to reach level B2 within a set time frame would be required).
• Citizenship of one of the member states of the European Patent Organisation.

Key information

Duration of appointment: Five years, with the possibility of extension

Career path: Technical

Application deadline: 29.10.2025

Interviews planned for: 24.11.2025 - 5.12.2025

* after deduction of EPO-internal tax and before deduction of staff contributions to the social security and pension schemes.

Why join us?
✓ Be part of the EPO's transformation and enable innovation✓ Work with inspiring people from a variety of cultures✓ Develop yourself and take on an intellectual challenge✓ A competitive salary✓ Family-friendly benefits✓ A good work-life balance✓ Generous flexibility options✓ Relocation benefits and various allowances✓ Contributory medical insurance and pension schemes✓ 30 days' leave per year✓ Free gym access✓ Social activities and clubs

Who we are
We are the patent office for Europe. We are proud to deliver high-quality patents and efficient services that foster innovation, competitiveness and economic growth.

Our vision
We will empower and motivate our staff to set worldwide standards in intellectual property. Our Office will be effective and transparent, respond to the needs of our users and be agile in managing the changing demands and conditions of a dynamic global patent system. Our work will contribute to a safer, smarter and more sustainable world.

Our values
All our relationships within our Office and with partners around the world will prosper through trust, fairness, mutual respect, adaptability, collaboration and a commitment to excellence.

Our work environment
We believe that diversity is fundamental to our success. Our inclusive work environment respects, values and celebrates our individual differences. We want you to be yourself at work. Join us on this exciting journey to a more digital, collaborative and sustainable organisation.

🖂 jobinfo@epo.org