Yugo

Yugo is the trusted name for student housing, globally. Every day we connect young people to opportunities and students to amazing spaces. Here at Yugo, we like to do things differently. It's about people, planet, and passion.

As the Senior People Partner for Continental Europe, you will lead and execute the People strategy, ensuring alignment with Yugo’s mission and values across the region. Partnering closely with leaders and teams, you will provide expert guidance on people initiatives, foster employee engagement, and drive the integration of People & Culture (P&C) strategies to support business growth.

This role will oversee key aspects of employee lifecycle management, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and organisational development, while maintaining a strong focus on regional compliance and cultural alignment. Acting as a trusted advisor, you will support leaders in making strategic decisions to achieve operational excellence and build an engaging work environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic People Partnering: Work closely with senior leaders across Continental Europe to align People & Culture (P&C) strategies with business objectives. Provide expert guidance on organisational design, workforce planning, and change management, ensuring smooth transitions and business continuity. Act as a key advisor on complex HR matters, supporting leadership teams in making data-driven people decisions.

• Talent Acquisition & Development: Partner with Talent Acquisition teams and hiring managers to attract and retain top talent. Lead the development and implementation of succession planning, career pathing, and leadership training programmes. Ensure an engaging and structured onboarding process that helps new hires integrate seamlessly into Yugo. Build talent pipelines to address workforce gaps and proactively respond to hiring needs.

• Employee Engagement & Culture: Foster a high-performance, inclusive, and collaborative work environment by implementing regional employee engagement strategies. Act as a champion for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), ensuring alignment with global initiatives while adapting to regional needs. Conduct regular engagement sessions with teams to understand challenges, drive morale, and enhance overall employee satisfaction.

• Performance & Workforce Management: Support managers in conducting performance reviews, feedback sessions, and development planning. Guide leadership on best practices for managing underperformance and improving employee retention. Design and implement strategies to ensure a consistent and fair approach to performance management across all locations.

• Compliance & Employee Relations: Ensure that Yugo operates in full compliance with labour laws and employment regulations across multiple European countries. Provide expert advice on employee relations, conflict resolution, and legal HR matters. Oversee investigations and ensure that disciplinary and grievance procedures are handled professionally and in accordance with legal requirements.

• Operational Excellence & HR Analytics: Monitor and analyse workforce trends, attrition rates, and engagement data to inform leadership on key people challenges. Use HR analytics and reporting tools to measure the impact of P&C initiatives and adjust strategies accordingly. Manage regional P&C budgets, ensuring cost-effective solutions that align with business priorities.

Essential:

• Significant experience in a senior HR/People Partner role within a multinational organisation.
• Strong knowledge of employment laws and HR best practices across European countries.
• Proven experience in driving employee engagement and leading DEI initiatives.
• Strong track record in managing complex employee relations cases and conducting investigations.
• Expertise in talent acquisition, succession planning, and leadership development.
• Proficiency in HRIS systems and workforce analytics.
• Fluent in English and at least one additional European language (Spanish, Italian or French).

Desirable:

• Master’s degree in HR, Psychology, or a related field.
• Experience in student accommodation, hospitality, or real estate sectors.
• Knowledge of employer branding and innovative talent acquisition strategies.