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. 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 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 th