HR & Operations Business Partner

**Position overview**

We’re looking for a People & Operations Business Partner to join our growing team at Lemba Therapeutics. This is a unique opportunity for a proactive, resourceful HR professional who thrives in a startup environment and enjoys operating across HR, finance, and administration. In this role, you’ll own the full employee lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding to payroll, performance, and compliance, while partnering closely with leadership on culture, compensation, and organizational growth. You’ll also oversee day-to-day operational processes such as payroll coordination, benefits administration, and compliance with Dutch labor and tax laws. This is a hands-on, high-impact role ideal for someone who enjoys both strategy and execution, and who’s excited to build scalable people systems that support a fast-moving, science-driven biotech company.

**Administrative and financial responsibilities**
- Oversee and audit monthly payroll processing by collaborating with the outsourced payroll vendor and internal Financial Controller. Ensure salary adjustments, reimbursements, bonuses, and hourly data are accurate, compliant, and processed on schedule.
- Administer employee attendance, leave, and vacation programs while coordinating with insurance providers and the company physician on disability and medical leave cases to ensure compliance with Dutch labor regulations.
- Manage and maintain pension and employee benefits programs, including enrollment, renewals, and employee communications. Oversee allocation of company resources and workspace (“free space”) as part of benefits and operational planning.
- Develop, track, and maintain annual HR and people operations budgets in close coordination with the CFO and Financial Controller, ensuring financial discipline and transparency across all HR-related spend.
- Ensure accuracy, integrity, and compliance of all HR data, documents, and systems. Generate timely reports and analytics to support decision-making by leadership.
- Maintain full compliance with GDPR standards, enforcing best practices for secure handling and storage of all employee and payroll-related data.

**Human Resources responsibilities**
- Oversee onboarding and offboarding processes, ensuring smooth integrations for new hires and compliant, well-documented terminations, including return of assets and final settlements.
- Design and administer competitive compensation and benefits packages in collaboration with management, ensuring equity, compliance, and alignment with market benchmarks.
- Support employee learning and development initiatives, including training programs, company events, and team-building activities that strengthen engagement and retention.
- Implement and manage the performance review process, guiding managers through annual evaluations and fostering a culture of continuous feedback and professional growth.
- Advise and coach team leaders on employee relations, performance management, and people-related decision-making in accordance with Dutch labor law and internal policies.
- Handle workplace concerns and investigations with fairness and confidentiality, overseeing disciplinary actions and conflict resolution procedures when necessary.
- Drive employee engagement and culture-building initiatives, including surveys, action plans, and communication strategies that promote transparency, trust, and collaboration.
- Maintain up-to-date HR policies and employee manuals, providing clear guidance to staff on HR, payroll, and pension matters while ensuring accessibility and legal accuracy.
- Ensure full compliance with Dutch wage, labor, and health & safety regulations, liaising with ARBO services, tax authorities, and pension bodies as needed, and supporting audits related to employment, benefits, or taxation.

**Qualifications**
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Human Resource Management, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
- 5+ years of progressive HR experience in the Netherlands, ideally including payroll coordination, HR operations, and compliance oversight.
- Demonstrated experience in an international and multicultural organization, with the ability to adapt policies and practices across diverse teams.
- Fluent in both Dutch and English (written and verbal); additional European language skills are a plus.
- Strong proficiency with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace; familiarity with Nmbrs (Pay and Hire), and other HRIS systems preferred.
- Exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills, with the ability to operate autonomously and manage multiple priorities in a dynamic, startup environment.
- High degree of integrity and discretion when handling confidential information and employee data (GDPR compliance focus).

**Compensation**
- Competitive monthly gross salary, commensurate with experience and market standards.
- 8% holiday allowance paid in addition to the gross annual salary.
- Annual 13th-month bonus paid in December.
- Equity parti