HR / People & Culture Manager (m/f)

The HR, People & Culture Manager will be responsible for developing, coordinating, and improving the full employee lifecycle at MARBLE - from recruitment and onboarding to employee development, performance support, HR administration, internal communication, policies, and organizational culture. This is a hands-on role at the current stage of our development, but also a strategic role with the opportunity to shape the future HR function of the organization. The ideal candidate is someone who understands that HR in a modern company is not only administration, but also structure, communication, development, compliance, employee support, and management support. We are looking for a person who can bring clarity, consistency, and a people-oriented approach while respecting the needs of a project-based, research-driven, and internationally oriented organization. The HR Manager / People & Culture Manager will be responsible for building, coordinating, and improving MARBLE's HR function across the full employee lifecycle, with a strong focus on structure, compliance, employee experience, and future organizational development. Key responsibilities include: - Managing and improving recruitment and selection processes, including job advertisements, candidate communication, interviews, assessments, and recruitment documentation. - Developing and coordinating structured onboarding processes, including pre-boarding, first-day activities, onboarding materials, internal introductions, mentor support, and 30/60/90-day follow-up. - Managing HR administration and employment documentation, including contracts, annexes, internal decisions, personnel files, working time, absences, vacations, and legally required records. - Supporting employment of foreign workers and international employees (researchers/project managers/engineers...), including work permits, residence permits, and related administrative processes. - Supporting foreign and international employees with relocation, country onboarding, local administrative requirements, practical guidance, and integration into MARBLE's work environment and Croatian workplace culture. - Ensuring compliance with Croatian labor legislation, GDPR requirements, internal rules, and relevant reporting obligations. - Drafting, updating, implementing, and communicating HR policies, procedures, internal guidelines, and employee instructions. - Supporting performance management processes, including probation evaluations, goal setting, feedback, development plans, and structured handling of underperformance. - Supporting career development, training, mentoring, knowledge-sharing, advancement criteria, and retention of high-quality employees. - Supporting compensation, benefits, bonuses, salary structures, role levels, pay transparency preparation, and fair reward practices in cooperation with management, finance, accounting, and payroll partners. - Acting as a professional point of contact for employees and managers regarding HR processes, employee relations, communication issues, and workplace matters. - Supporting a respectful, inclusive, fair, and people-oriented workplace culture. - Preparing HR-related internal communication, intranet content, employee announcements, instructions, and engagement initiatives. - Supporting organizational culture, employee wellbeing, DEI and gender equality initiatives, internal events, and employee experience improvements. - Monitoring implementation of the Gender Equality Plan (GEP) and reporting on gender balance in governance and staff levels. - Preparing HR reports and analytics related to headcount, recruitment, turnover, absences, training, performance, and other people-related indicators. - OKR reporting: monitoring and reporting HR-related Objectives and Key Results through the project's performance monitoring IT system, annual progress reports, and MARBLE project reports. - Performing other tasks as defined by the Director, Associate Director for Business, and Head of General Services Department.

We are looking for a person who has: - Minimum bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in Human Resources, Psychology, Law, Business Administration, Management, Organizational Development, or a related field relevant to human resources management. - Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in HR, preferably in a growing company, research organization, technology company, project-based organization, or internationally oriented environment. - Advanced knowledge of Croatian labor law and HR administration. - Experience with recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, and HR documentation. - Understanding of performance management, employee development, and organizational culture. - Ability to communicate clearly, professionally, and diplomatically. - Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. - Ability to create structure where processes are still developing. - Ability to work independently, but also closely with management, department heads, and employees. - High level of discretion and responsibility when handling confidential information. - Advanced knowledge of Croatian and English language, both written and spoken. - Practical mindset, initiative, and willingness to build new and improve existing systems. Additional Advantages - Experience with international employees, foreign workers, work permits, or relocation processes. - Experience in EU-funded projects, research institutions, universities, R&D companies, or engineering environments. - Experience with salary structures, career frameworks, advancement systems, or pay transparency preparation. - Experience with HR digital tools, intranet systems, ERP systems, or project management tools. - Experience in creating HR policies, procedures, internal guidelines, or employee handbooks. - Experience with DEI, gender equality plans, employee engagement, or organizational development. Selection Process: - CV screening and shortlisting the candidates who fit the requirements of the Job Ad - Shortlisted candidates may be invited to take an online Personality and Ability Test -Employment Interview – the candidates with the best fit will be called for an Interview with the Selection Committee - Candidates may be required to do a short assignment to check their professional and problem-solving skills. - Job Offer and Signing the Employment Contract with the chosen candidate