[Hiring] Regional HR Lead @Sonatype

Role Description

The Regional HR Lead is the primary HR partner for our UK, Germany, and broader EMEA employee population, responsible for delivering a strong, consistent employee experience while supporting business leaders across multiple functions. This role blends regional ownership, employee relations, and HR program execution with light-touch business partnering. Success comes from prioritizing effectively, executing consistently, and helping employees and managers navigate people-related decisions with clarity and confidence.

As the only dedicated HR presence in the region outside of Talent Acquisition, this role serves as the go-to HR resource for managers and employees owning local culture, managing risk, and ensuring alignment with global HR practices. This role will be part time with a view to go full time in 2027, currently operating at 3x per week.

Core Responsibilities (with Business Outcomes)

• Regional HR Ownership & Site Leadership
  • Serve as the primary HR lead for the UK (primarily), Germany and other European employee population (~100 employees)
  • Own and actively shape the regional employee experience, culture, and engagement
  • Provide day-to-day HR guidance to managers and employees across multiple business functions
  • Ensure compliance with local employment laws, practices, and cultural expectations
  • Act as the connector between regional teams and global HR
• Employee Relations & Risk Management
  • Lead employee relations matters across the region, including performance concerns, workplace issues, and formal complaints
  • Conduct investigations end-to-end for standard cases; partner with Legal and/or global HR on complex or high-risk matters
  • Proactively monitor team health, morale, and emerging risks
  • Coach managers on handling sensitive employee situations effectively and consistently
• HR Program Execution & Operational Support
  • Execute core HR programs in-region (performance management, compensation cycles, engagement surveys, etc.)
  • Ensure programs are implemented consistently and effectively at the local level
  • Partner with global Centers of Excellence (CoEs) to bring programs to life in the region
  • Provide feedback to CoEs on what is and isn’t working locally
• Manager Support & Leadership Effectiveness (Light-Touch Business Partnering)
  • Provide practical, on-demand guidance to managers on performance management, team effectiveness, and employee development
  • Support managers in making sound people decisions aligned with company expectations
  • Identify patterns and recurring challenges and escalate where broader solutions are needed
• Workforce Awareness & Organizational Support (Light-Touch)
  • Maintain awareness of workforce trends in-region (attrition, hiring, team structure, capacity)
  • Support leaders in navigating team structure and resourcing decisions where needed
  • Flag risks or gaps to business leaders and global HR partners
• Proactive Culture & Engagement Management
  • Monitor engagement and sentiment (eNPS, surveys, informal signals)
  • Partner with leaders to address engagement gaps and strengthen team culture
  • Act as an early warning system for morale, retention, or leadership challenges

How Performance is Measured

• Employee relations case resolution (quality, timeliness, consistency)
• Employee engagement (eNPS / survey outcomes)
• Attrition trends (with focus on regrettable attrition)
• Manager effectiveness and confidence in handling people matters
• Adoption and execution quality of HR programs

Ideal Profile

• 6–10+ years of HR experience, with strong generalist or HR lead background
• Experience handling employee relations and investigations independently
• Comfortable supporting multiple business functions simultaneously
• Strong judgment and ability to prioritize in a fast-paced environment
• Knowledge of UK (and ideally German) employment practices and regulations
• Practical, solutions-oriented approach to HR

Our Values in Action

• Inclusive Collaboration: We build trust through partnership, respect diverse perspectives, and believe better outcomes come from working together.
• Trust & Accountability: This role relies on integrity, sound judgment, and follow-through.
• Be Bold & Lead: You’ll have the opportunity to shape how HR partnership shows up in-region.

Location and Working Approach

• This role is based in London and is expected to work from our Shoreditch High Street office as needed.
• Travel is part of the role, including occasional travel to the United States.

Equal Opportunity

At Sonatype, we value diversity and inclusivity. We are an equal opportunity employer and are committed to creating an environment where people of all backgrounds can thrive.