Principal HR Specialist

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.ResponsibilitiesPeople Operations & Employee LifecycleSupport end-to-end employee lifecycle activities across France and Germany including onboarding, employee changes, transfers, and offboardingEnsure a smooth onboarding experience for new hires through preparation of employee documentation and coordination of onboarding activitiesMaintain employee records and HR systems while ensuring data accuracy and compliance with legal and company requirementsManage employee-related data changes including working hours, leave administration, and benefits-related updatesEmployee Relations & Labor RelationsManage and coordinate French Works Council/CSE activities including preparation, consultation requirements, documentation, and stakeholder managementProvide guidance and support to managers regarding employee relations matters and local employment practicesPartner with HR Business Partners and leadership on employee cases including performance concerns, workplace issues, disciplinary actions, and policy interpretationAct as a trusted point of contact for employees and managers on people-related matters.Ensure local compliance with labor laws and employment regulationsPayroll, Compensation & BenefitsSupport payroll preparation through management of employee data and variable payroll inputsCoordinate compensation and benefits administration activitiesPartner with payroll teams to ensure timely and accurate processingTraining, Health & Employee Well-beingManage the administrative aspects of the French training plan and associated legal obligations.Coordinate occupational health appointments and related processesSupport workplace well-being and employee engagement initiativesServe as disability advocate where applicableData, Reporting & ProjectsConduct analysis of HR data to support decision-making and provide operational insightsCreate and maintain reports and dashboards tracking key HR metricsIdentify opportunities to improve People Operations processes and employee experienceLead or participate in HR initiatives and projects, ensuring successful executionCollaborate with global HR teams to support regional and global programsSkills & Qualification RequirementsMinimum 8-10 years of experience in People Operations, HR Operations, or Employee Relations rolesStrong experience independently managing French Works Council/CSE processesRobust working knowledge of French labor lawExperience supporting HR operations and employee lifecycle activities in GermanyKnowledge and experience with HRIS systems (Workday preferred)Must be Fluent in both French and English languages with strong written and verbal communication skillsAbility to manage multiple priorities and work independentlyBe detail oriented with strong organizational, analytical and problem-solving skillsExperience working in HR organizations with a high level of confidentiality and discretionProject management and stakeholder management skillsHave a process improvement mindset with a focus on employee experiencePreferred Skills & ExperienceExperience working in multinational and matrixed organizationsGerman fluency highly preferredMORE 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 accele