HR Manager

The organization

Havensteder is a housing authority in the Rotterdam metropolitan area. It employs approximately 500 people, and with a portfolio of over 45,000 homes, the authority provides a home for many residents in the metropolitan area. Havensteder has ambitious goals regarding the quality, availability, and sustainability of its housing stock, and thus for the quality of life of its residents and other tenants. These goals are outlined in the Port City Plan 2022–2025. This includes the construction of 900 additional public housing units, 500 mid-range rental units, and approximately 2,000 home improvement projects. Circular construction is a key priority for Havensteder, with the goal of becoming resource-neutral by 2050. Collaboration with our network partners is essential to achieving our objectives.

Organizational prerequisites for our ambitions
Achieving the goals set out in the Havensteder Plan 2022–2025 requires us to prioritize talent as a critical success factor for the success of our strategy in a tight labor market. In addition, it requires our employees to develop competencies in the areas of collaboration, service, and entrepreneurship. HRM will play a key role in this. Other organizational prerequisites for realizing these ambitions include the digitization of processes and data-driven work and management.

Given the importance of both fields, it has been decided to split the current position of Director of HRM, I&A, and Facilities into two separate management roles. One of these roles is that of HRM Manager, which underscores the importance and essence of this role—and its implementation—within the organization and its development.

We are therefore looking for an HRM manager who can position and support the department in such a way that it can make a significant contribution to our goals. This can be achieved by constantly balancing day-to-day operations with the department’s long-term goals and strategy.

The HRM Department at a Glance

The department consists of an independent team of 10 FTEs, including senior HRM consultants, administrative staff, an application administrator, a benefits consultant, an organizational development consultant, and a recruiter.

Who are we looking for?

You have completed a relevant academic degree and possess the expertise required for the position. In addition, you have extensive and demonstrable knowledge and experience in the areas of HRM management, organizational development, and change management. As a manager, you have experience holding ultimate responsibility, can clearly articulate your vision for HRM, and know how to engage stakeholders. You achieve results by implementing vision and policy with decisiveness. Furthermore, you are focused on achieving results and fostering collaboration. You know how to inspire, motivate, and coach people in such a way that they can perform to the best of their ability. Additionally, you leverage your internal and external networks to achieve your goals. You recognize yourself in the following competencies:

Leadership

1. You are a key strategic business partner. Drawing on your expertise, you advise the board members and the executive team on personnel and organizational (policy) matters, and you participate in discussions of these topics during executive meetings. You provide support to the board members in their interactions with the Works Council and labor unions.
2. You will ensure that the HRM department is firmly established, well-represented, and actively involved within the organization. You will serve as a figurehead who also gives others a chance to shine.
3. You are capable of engaging in cutting-edge dialogue about the relationship between a modern, forward-thinking HRM vision, ambition, and organizational development. You stand firm in your commitment to your responsibilities and are accountable for fulfilling your obligations.
4. You are able to lead an enthusiastic and professional HR team in a visible, approachable, and inspiring manner. It is important that you can brainstorm, facilitate, motivate, make decisions, contribute ideas, remain calm, and command respect.
5. You are an optimistic, engaging go-getter who knows how to strike a balance between ambition, a focus on service, and the team’s job satisfaction and well-being.
6. You are bold, see opportunities, and are a proactive team player.

Policy and Strategy

1. You will share responsibility for developing the organization’s strategic policy.
2. You are able to align your vision with the organization’s objectives across all its divisions and translate it into actionable goals, thereby strategically positioning the department.
3. You monitor labor market trends and assess current and future talent needs based on strategic challenges. You translate this into quantitative and qualitative strategic workforce planning.
4. To attract, recruit, and retain employees, you will utilize modern tools and collaborate with colleagues on Havensteder’s strategic positioning in the labor market.
5. You will develop the annual HRM plan, ensuring that the activities are well-focused.
6. You know how to engage colleagues in the HRM Annual Plan and get them to commit to it, thereby making them co-owners of the plan.
7. Since there are many different paths to Rome, you like to think in terms of strategic scenarios.

Organizational Development

1. You are able to guide strategic change initiatives based on a clear, data-driven HRM vision.
2. You will be responsible for leadership and talent development programs designed to enhance quality—while preserving our current informal culture—by fostering greater structure, proactivity, efficiency, and professionalism.

Our offerings

We offer you exciting work at a Rotterdam-based company with a meaningful mission, an informal, no-nonsense culture, and passionate colleagues. This position is for 32–36 hours per week; initially on a fixed-term contract, with the intention of establishing a long-term partnership. The position is classified in scale N of the Housing Services Collective Labor Agreement (minimum €5,591.00 and maximum €8,225.00 gross per month). The work location is in the striking “Red Apple” residential tower, in the center of Rotterdam.

Procedure

Havensteder is working with the executive search firm Colourful People on the recruitment and selection process. The internal and external processes are taking place simultaneously. For more information about Havensteder, the position, and the process, please contact Sandra Lutchman, a partner at Colourful People (06 40 74 40 74, S.Lutchman@colourfulpeople.nl). You can let her know you're interested by no later than September 2, 2022 Please submit a cover letter and resume via the Colourful People website.

Scheduling appointments

The (virtual) preliminary interviews with Colourful People will take place on September 13, 14, and 15. The first and second rounds of interviews will take place on September 26 from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM and on October 5 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Havensteder office.

Havensteder strives to ensure that the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives found in the Rotterdam metropolitan area is reflected in the composition of our workforce. That is why we strongly encourage candidates with a bicultural background to apply for this position.