People Operations Manager

Glacier is united by a shared ambition: bringing world-class ice cream expertise to every corner of the world. With more than 76 years of experience in European markets, we deliver top-quality frozen products for retail, B2B and export partners. In doing so, we offer tailor-made solutions based on excellence, innovation and reliability.

As the third-largest ice cream manufacturer in Europe, our goal is clear: to become the number one partner for private label and co-manufactured ice cream products.

To strengthen our team at Glacier Langemark, we are looking for a People Operations Manager (m/f) for our site in Langemark.

As People Operations Manager, you are the local HR lead for our Belgian site. You are the first point of contact for the works council and you build an open, trust-based relationship with employee representatives. At the same time, you are the dedicated HR partner for the site’s people leaders. And you make sure HR administration and payroll support run smoothly.

What will you do?

Works council and social dialogue

• You are the HR owner of the relationship with the works council and the trade union representatives.

• You manage the full cycle: agendas, information and consultation files, and follow-up of agreements, in line with Belgian legislation and collective labour agreement obligations. Together with the works council secretary, you make sure everything runs correctly.

• You prepare people leaders for meetings and communicate the outcomes clearly to employees. Where needed, you coordinate with legal counsel.

• You anticipate which topics will require consultation (policy changes, organisational decisions) and plan in time, so that we are always compliant.

• You also follow up on the Committee for Prevention and Protection at Work (CPBW) and the social elections, in cooperation with the prevention adviser, with files that are always audit-ready.

HR advice and case management

• You are the point of contact for our people leaders on performance, absence, disciplinary and grievance procedures, and the interpretation of policy under Belgian employment law.

• You coach people leaders through difficult conversations and decisions.

HR administration and payroll

• You safeguard the quality and timing of contracts, onboarding and offboarding, changes in employment conditions and employee data, and you keep the data in our HRIS up to date.

• You are responsible for the monthly payroll of our white-collar employees and work with our payroll partner on input control, variable pay, absences and employee queries.

• You oversee the day-to-day fleet management.

• You lead our HR Officer and our receptionists and coach them in their development.

Partnership and improvement

• You are the local link to the Centres of Excellence (Talent & Reward) and the HR Business Partners. You translate global programmes into locally compliant actions and feed Belgian insights back.

• You contribute to HR transformation projects, simplify and automate processes, and improve our employees’ experience.

Who are we looking for?

• You have proven experience as an HR Manager or senior HR Advisor in Belgium, with hands-on experience in works councils, consultation procedures and social elections.

• You know Belgian employment law and social relations well, and you understand how payroll administration works (or have worked closely with payroll teams).

• You have experience advising and coaching people leaders.

• You have experience managing employees.

• You work comfortably in an international setting.

• You are a clear communicator with diplomacy and credibility, even in difficult cases.

• You are organised and accurate, and you keep compliance, administration and projects in balance at the same time. Process improvement, automation and data suit you.

• You speak fluent Dutch and good English.

What do we offer? In return for your commitment, you receive a competitive salary supplemented with a comprehensive package of extra-legal benefits. This package always includes meal vouchers, hospitalisation and group insurance, a commuting allowance and a CAO90 bonus, among other things.

Practical information Location: Langemark (West Flanders). For works council meetings, discussions with site management and the day-to-day leadership of your team, your presence on site is essential. That is why you work at least 3 days per week on our site.

Contract: This is a permanent role.