At Skillsoft, we believe skills fuel growth. Our mission is to empower every organization and every learner to turn constant change into continuous growth. As part of the team, your skills will help organizations understand what skills they have, what they need next, and how to apply them in ways that drive real performance and progress.
Principal HR Specialist
Skillsoft’s People Operations team is a strategic business function focused on putting employees first by humanizing systems and creating a positive employee experience throughout the employee lifecycle. Our team partners closely with employees, managers, HR Business Partners, and global teams to drive operational excellence, engagement, and compliance while supporting business needs.
We are seeking an experienced Principal HR Specialist in France to support France and Germany. In this role, you will have an opportunity to play a critical role in delivering an exceptional employee experience while ensuring efficient HR operations across the employee lifecycle. This role combines hands-on operational support with employee relations expertise, labor compliance, and local country ownership. The ideal candidate will have strong experience supporting HR operations within France and Germany, including French Works Council (CSE) management, employee relations, and employee lifecycle processes in a multinational environment.
Responsibilities
People Operations & Employee Lifecycle
Support end-to-end employee lifecycle activities across France and Germany including onboarding, employee changes, transfers, and offboarding
Ensure a smooth onboarding experience for new hires through preparation of employee documentation and coordination of onboarding activities
Maintain employee records and HR systems while ensuring data accuracy and compliance with legal and company requirements
Manage employee-related data changes including working hours, leave administration, and benefits-related updates
Employee Relations & Labor Relations
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Manage and coordinate French Works Council/CSE activities including preparation, consultation requirements, documentation, and stakeholder management
Provide guidance and support to managers regarding employee relations matters and local employment practices
Partner with HR Business Partners and leadership on employee cases including performance concerns, workplace issues, disciplinary actions, and policy interpretation
Act as a trusted point of contact for employees and managers on people-related matters.
Ensure local compliance with labor laws and employment regulations
Payroll, Compensation & Benefits
Support payroll preparation through management of employee data and variable payroll inputs
Coordinate compensation and benefits administration activities
Partner with payroll teams to ensure timely and accurate processing
Training, Health & Employee Well-being
Manage the administrative aspects of the French training plan and associated legal obligations.
Coordinate occupational health appointments and related processes
Support workplace well-being and employee engagement initiatives
Serve as disability advocate where applicable
Data, Reporting & Projects
Conduct analysis of HR data to support decision-making and provide operational insights
Create and maintain reports and dashboards tracking key HR metrics
Identify opportunities to improve People Operations processes and employee experience
Lead or participate in HR initiatives and projects, ensuring successful execution
Collaborate with global HR teams to support regional and global programs
Skills & Qualification Requirements
Minimum 8-10 years of experience in People Operations, HR Operations, or Employee Relations roles
Strong experience independently managing French Works Council/CSE processes
Robust working knowledge of French labor law
Experience supporting HR operations and employee lifecycle activities in Germany
Knowledge and experience with HRIS systems (Workday preferred)
Must be Fluent in both French and English languages with strong written and verbal communication skills
Ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently
Be detail oriented with strong organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills
Experience working in HR organizations with a high level of confidentiality and discretion
Project management and stakeholder management skills
Have a process improvement mindset with a focus on employee experience
Preferred Skills & Experience
Experience working in multinational and matrixed organizations
German fluency highly preferred
MORE ABOUT SKILLSOFT:
Skillsoft (NYSE: SKIL) is a global leader in AI-native skills management for the human + AI era. By unifying learning, real-time skills intelligence, and workforce insights, Skillsoft helps enterprises build their Skillforce™ — humans and AI working together to drive measurable business outcomes. Through personalized, interactive learning across leadership, technology, and compliance, Skillsoft enables organizations to close critical skill gaps and accelerate transformation. Skillsoft is trusted by thousands of organizations worldwide, including 60% of the Fortune 1000, and supports a global community of more than 105 million learners. Learn more at skillsoft.com.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about us. If this opportunity intrigues you, we would love for you to apply!
NOTE TO EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES: We value the partnerships we have built with our preferred vendors. Skillsoft does not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies. All resumes submitted by employment agencies directly to any Skillsoft employee or hiring manager in any form without a signed Skillsoft Employment Agency Agreement on file and search engagement for that position will be deemed unsolicited in nature. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is subsequently hired as a result of the referral or through other means.
Skillsoft is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, and other legally protected categories.
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