Executive Assistant HR

Careers at AkzoNobel

Executive Assistant HR

Company: AkzoNobel

About AkzoNobel

Since 1792, we’ve been supplying the innovative paints and coatings that help to color people’s lives and protect what matters most. Our world class portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. We’re active in more than 150 countries and use our expertise to sustain and enhance the fabric of everyday life. Because we believe every surface is an opportunity. It’s what you’d expect from a pioneering and long-established paints company that’s dedicated to providing sustainable solutions and preserving the best of what we have today – while creating an even better tomorrow. Let’s paint the future together.

Job Purpose

As the HR Executive Assistant, you will provide high-level executive and administrative support to the HR Directors, who are part of the HR Leadership Team (HRLT).

You will act as a trusted business partner and confidant, working with a high degree of autonomy. This role is pivotal in enabling the Executives to operate at maximum effectiveness by managing their calendars, facilitating smooth operations, and ensuring professional coordination of business travel, events, and meetings. You will also support selected projects and play an important role in enhancing the engagement and efficiency of the HRLT.

Key Responsibilities

Calendar & Meeting Management

• Plan, organize, and prepare (virtual and in-person) meetings, ensuring agendas, materials, IT, and facilities are in place.
• Welcome and host visitors, ensuring they are connected with the relevant team members.
• Organize, facilitate, and attend team meetings, workshops, offsites, and other internal/external events, including follow-up on action items.
• Manage and maintain the department’s SharePoint site.
• Coordinate events, conferences, and HRLT engagements.

Travel Coordination

• Arrange end-to-end business travel including visas, transportation, accommodation, dining, and meeting schedules.
• Oversee travel budgets and ensure cost-effective arrangements.

Administrative & Project Support

• Prepare, edit, and distribute documents, reports, and presentations.
• Serve as Project Management Officer (PMO) for selected initiatives.
• Handle incoming and outgoing correspondence in Dutch and English.
• Create and manage purchase orders, track invoices, and oversee payments.
• Support project implementation with administrative tasks.
• Manage expense reports and budget tracking for direct reports.

Team & Engagement Support

• Facilitate onboarding and offboarding processes for HRLT team members.
• Coordinate engagement activities such as celebrations, gifts, and recognition moments.
• Liaise with Facilities and IT to ensure smooth daily operations.

Level of Autonomy

This role requires a high level of independence, decision-making capability, and initiative. You will be trusted to manage sensitive matters discreetly, prioritize tasks effectively, and proactively identify improvements to processes without direct supervision.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience (Secretarial qualification is an advantage).
• Minimum 10 years’ experience as an Executive Assistant, ideally in an international, listed, and fast-paced corporate environment.
• Full-time availability with flexibility beyond standard working hours.
• Fluent in Dutch and English (French is an advantage).
• Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with all levels of the organization.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills with the ability to work autonomously.
• Experience in internal communications and basic project management.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• High level of confidentiality, integrity, and organizational sensitivity.
• Proactive team player with a service-oriented mindset and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to improve administrative and team processes.

At AkzoNobel we are highly committed to ensuring an inclusive and respectful workplace where all employees can be their best self. We strive to embrace diversity in a context of tolerance. Our talent acquisition process plays an integral part in this journey, as setting the foundations for a diverse environment. For this reason we train and educate on the implications of our Unconscious Bias in order for our TA and hiring managers to be mindful of them and take corrective actions when applicable. In our organization, all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age or disability.