HR Manager

Date: Jan 26, 2026

Location: Barcelona, ES

Company: AkzoNobel

About AkzoNobel

Since 1792, we've been supplying the innovative paints and coatings that help to color people's lives and protect what matters most. Our world class portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. We're active in more than 150 countries and use our expertise to sustain and enhance the fabric of everyday life. Because we believe every surface is an opportunity. It's what you'd expect from a pioneering and long-established paints company that's dedicated to providing sustainable solutions and preserving the best of what we have today – while creating an even better tomorrow. Let's paint the future together.

For more information please visit

2024 Akzo Nobel N.V. All rights reserved.

HR Manager – BU Decorative

We are looking for an HR Manager for our Iberia Decorative business based in Barcelona.

You will be the key HR point of contact for our Sales and Marketing teams, combining a strategic view with very hands‑on, operational support close to the business.

You will work in a multinational, matrix environment, collaborating with different functions and countries and driving change and growth initiatives.

• Act as HR Business Partner for Decorative Sales and Marketing teams.
• Provide advice and coaching to managers on organization, performance, development, compensation and talent management.

• Support and drive business initiatives and change projects, both commercial and organizational.

• Manage the employee lifecycle in a generalist way: onboarding, development, performance and offboarding, in close collaboration with People Services and CoEs.

• Facilitate P&DD, talent calibration and workforce planning processes.
• Identify learning and development needs and work with CoEs to implement suitable solutions.

• Drive engagement, culture and internal communication initiatives.

• Ensure correct implementation of global HR processes at local level.

• Promote the use of self‑service tools by managers and employees and coordinate transactional topics with People Services.

• Ensure full compliance with local labor legislation in all HR policies and practices.

• Manage labor relations (works councils, unions, etc.) at the relevant level.
• Participate in internal/external audits and investigations when required.

• University degree (HR, Psychology, Business Administration, Law or similar).
• At least 5 years of experience as an HR Generalist / HRBP, ideally in a multinational and matrix environment.
• Experience working closely with Sales and/or Marketing populations; experience in FMCG or strongly commercial environments will be highly valued.
• Dynamic, flexible profile with strong adaptability, solution‑oriented and a genuine team player.
• Ability to combine strategic thinking and operational execution: from designing initiatives to implementing them and being hands‑on in day‑to‑day topics.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, strong stakeholder management.
• High level of English (mandatory), comfortable communicating in international settings (written and spoken).
• Ability to work effectively in complex, fast‑changing environments, handling a certain degree of ambiguity.

• A key HR Manager role for a strategic business line such as Decorative.
• A multinational environment with exposure to matrix structures and international teams.
• A real mix of strategic and operational HR responsibilities, with room to propose improvements and new ways of working.
• A competitive compensation package in line with the experience provided, plus AkzoNobel's standard benefits.

At AkzoNobel we are highly committed to ensuring an inclusive and respectful workplace where all employees can be their best self. We strive to embrace diversity in a context of tolerance. Our talent acquisition process plays an integral part in this journey, as setting the foundations for a diverse environment. For this reason we train and educate on the implications of our Unconscious Bias in order for our TA and hiring managers to be mindful of them and take corrective actions when applicable. In our organization, all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age or disability.

Requisition ID: 51319