Senior HR Manager, People Governance and Compliance

Thomson Reuters

. Own People Governance & Compliance across EMEA Continental Europe & MEA .

Posted 10/15/2026full-timeBarcelona • SpainSeniorWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in HR Compliance and Governance across EMEA, with a strong focus on European Employment Law and GDPR regulations. Proven ability to manage compliance incidents, develop policies, and drive process improvements in a global organization.

Highest-signal resume keywords

HR Compliance ManagementGDPR KnowledgeEuropean Employment Law ExpertiseStakeholder ManagementProcess Improvement

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

HR Policy DevelopmentCompliance AuditingData Privacy ManagementLegal ResearchPolicy Lifecycle ManagementEmployment Law InterpretationRisk ManagementData RetentionCompliance ReportingHR Governance

Soft Skills

Independent OperationCredibility with Senior LeadersStrong Communication SkillsStakeholder EngagementNegotiation Skills

Tools & Technologies

HR Information SystemsCompliance Management SoftwareData Protection ToolsKnowledge Base PlatformsAudit Management Tools

Industry Keywords

People GovernanceCompliance AuditsOHS ActivitiesData Subject Access RequestsEmployee Record-KeepingLocal Labour LawHR Risk RegisterUnion NegotiationWorks Council CompliancePrivacy Regulations

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Own People Governance & Compliance across EMEA Continental Europe & MEA
Provide Tier 2 HR compliance casework and operational support
Establish and maintain standardized HR policies compliant with local labour law
Manage policy lifecycle, including drafting, exceptions, change logs, and communications
Interpret global and local policy for the business
Monitor employment law adherence across jurisdictions
Manage GDPR, DSAR, data retention, and privacy requirements with Privacy & Legal
Run internal and external HR compliance audits
Manage compliance incidents, including triage, root-cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions, and closure
Maintain the regional HR risk register and partner with Legal on litigation and reputational risk
Own OHS activities and plans with site management
Set global standards for employee record-keeping and retention
Maintain the HR policy library, templates, and version control
Document legal research, audit findings, remediation plans, and regulatory filings
Develop policy training and communication materials
Maintain a self-serve knowledge base and FAQ
Produce compliance reporting and KPIs for leadership
Oversee benefit provider administration and local payroll inputs
Perform compliance due diligence and oversight for HR vendors
Improve HR data collection methods for data protection
Act as primary HR contact for local regulators and inspections
Represent the company in legal proceedings and fulfill board-mandated HR responsibilities as needed
Partner with the People Advisory team on union and works council negotiation documentation and agreement compliance

Requirements

What you’ll need

Fluency in English, Spanish, and French
Significant HR compliance, employment law, or HR governance experience across multiple European jurisdictions
Strong knowledge of European employment law and data privacy regulation
Essential GDPR knowledge
Proven ability to operate independently in a matrixed, global organization
Track record of driving process improvement or automation
Strong stakeholder management skills
Credibility to advise senior HR and business leaders
Based in, or willing to relocate to, Barcelona or Madrid
Fluency in other European languages preferred

Benefits

Comp & perks

Flexible hybrid working environment (2–3 days a week in the office depending on the role)
Work from anywhere for up to 8 weeks per year
Flexible work arrangements and Flex My Way workplace policies
Grow My Way programming and continuous learning and skill development
Flexible vacation
Two company-wide Mental Health Days off
Access to the Headspace app
Retirement savings
Tuition reimbursement
Employee incentive programs
Resources for mental, physical, and financial wellbeing
Two paid volunteer days off annually
Opportunities for pro-bono consulting projects and ESG initiatives
Reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and sincerely held religious beliefs