Human Resources Service Center Associate (0.8 FTE)

Where will you be working?

You will be working in the HR department, which consists of eleven colleagues. You will be based in the Personnel Service Center (SCP), which is responsible for personnel and payroll administration, among other things. Together with an enthusiastic and complementary team, you will work closely with HR advisors. You will support managers and employees within HKU.

In recent years, the HR department has taken significant steps toward implementing a quality-focused HR policy, with a strong emphasis on professional development. In the coming years, the focus will be on the employee journey and strengthening the employer-employee relationship. The HR Service Center plays a crucial role in this effort, serving as the beating heart of the HR function at HKU, with a focus on providing optimal service and support.

With over 4,300 students, the Utrecht School of the Arts (HKU) is the largest arts university in the Netherlands and, as such, one of Europe’s largest knowledge institutions focused on the arts, culture, the creative industries, and arts education. HKU offers a wide range of programs across nine schools.

HKU is at the heart of society and is shaping the future. Learning, researching, and creating together are central to our mission. We are rooted in Utrecht and operate nationally and internationally. HKU’s ambition is “to offer and organize excellent arts education and arts research that has meaning and impact on people and society.” As HKU, we are at the heart of that society and strive to be as diverse and inclusive as possible. Our success depends entirely on the quality of our people and the ideas they bring. That is why we are curious about your talent and how you can make a difference for our organization.

What will you be doing?

You will work closely with colleagues in HR, contribute to providing professional services, and play a key role in providing optimal support to managers and employees. In your role as a member of the Personnel Service Center, you will work alongside the HR advisor to support the directors of schools and organizational units in the implementation of a wide range of HR processes. You are the first point of contact for questions regarding personnel matters and ensure that everything runs smoothly, both administratively and substantively. Your responsibilities are diverse and include, among other things:

Onboarding process

• Helping to post job openings through various channels;
• Support the selection process;
• Entering new employee data into Hr2day;
• Drafting an employment contract.

Human Resources and Payroll

• Recording changes in both the HR and payroll systems in Hr2day using predefined process definitions;
• Handling correspondence resulting from these changes;
• Drafting amendments to employment contracts, addenda, confirmation letters, etc.;
• Reviewing and processing expense reports and reimbursements submitted by employees;

Absence Tracking

• Processing sick leave and return-to-work notifications;
• Identifying and implementing measures required under the Gatekeeper Improvement Act;
• Making changes and taking action based on reports from the company physician.

Help desk service for employees

• Assisting employees with questions about HKU and collective bargaining agreement (CBA) provisions, such as: leave, expense reports, overtime, bicycle allowance, working from home, etc.
• Answering questions about using Hr2day;
• Answering questions about payroll.

What do you bring to the table?

You are meticulous, service-oriented, and a go-getter. Thanks to your experience and keen eye, you know what it takes to ensure HR processes run smoothly. You also bring the following to the table:

• A completed vocational degree in HRM (or equivalent), supplemented by several years of work experience in the HR field;
• Experience with HR systems, preferably with HR2day (or similar software);
• Strong communication skills and a friendly, customer-focused, and proactive attitude;
• The ability to think in a process-oriented way and work with precision—you ensure that tasks are completed correctly and on time;
• A positive attitude: You’re a team player who takes responsibility and is always looking for ways to improve.

What do we offer?

• For this position, we offer a salary in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement for higher professional education (CBA-HBO) as well as attractive benefits.
• The gross monthly salary for a full-time position ranges from a minimum of €3,312 to a maximum of €4,377 (pay grade 8), depending on education and experience;
• We are offering a one-year contract, with the possibility of a permanent position upon satisfactory performance.
• Vacation pay (8%) and a year-end bonus of 8.3%;
• Time and resources to support your professional development, well-being, and long-term employability;
• A good pension plan, commuting allowance, parental leave, and much more.

Would you like more information and/or to apply?

• If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Arvid van Saane (Head of HR) atarvid.vansaane@hku.nl. Please use this email address exclusively for questions. Due to the holidays, we may not always be able to respond immediately.
• The application deadline is Sunday, August 24, 2025.
• The rounds of talks are expected to take place on Thursday, August 28, and/or Friday, August 29, 2025.

The position is being advertised both internally and externally. In the event of equal qualifications, internal candidates will be given priority.

Recruitment agencies are asked to refrain from contacting us regarding this job opening.