Head of People & Culture
De Lier
Stora Enso
For Stora Enso, one of Europe’s largest producers of corrugated packaging, we are looking for a people-oriented and strategic Head of People & Culture for the Dutch business unit in De Lier (~500 employees).
Organisation
For Stora Enso De Lier – currently still known as De Jong Verpakking, we are seeking a Head of People & Culture. The company is one of Europe’s largest producers of corrugated packaging, serving a wide range of sectors including retail, fresh food, horticulture, and industry. With extensive in-house stock and production capacity, they ensure fast, reliable, and customer-focused delivery.
In addition to standard packaging, Stora Enso De Lier provides tailor-made solutions such as inventory management, printing, and packaging machinery. Founded in 1996 by entrepreneur Henk de Jong, the company has grown into a highly successful and customer-centric manufacturer employing more than 500 people. Since 2023, De Lier has been part of Stora Enso, a Finnish-Swedish global leader in renewable packaging, biomaterials, and wooden construction products.
De Lier is part of Stora Enso’s Packaging Solutions division, which develops high-quality, fiber-based packaging and offers customers design and sustainability expertise to optimize their packaging chains and reduce their ecological footprint. The organization fosters a strong performance culture grounded in ambition, agility, analytical thinking, and accountability. With continued investment in growth, technology, sustainability, professionalization, and international expansion, Stora Enso De Lier combines entrepreneurial drive with the strength of a global group.
Position
As Head of People & Culture, you will lead the HR function in the Netherlands and play a pivotal role in shaping the next phase of organizational development and professionalization. You translate Stora Enso’s international HR strategy into actionable initiatives for the De Lier site, ensuring the HR function effectively supports the company’s strategic goals.
You will lead and develop a team of seven HR professionals (HR Business Partners, Recruitment, and HR Back Office), fostering a culture of ownership, clarity, and collaboration. Together, you’ll drive initiatives in organizational development, onboarding, talent and succession planning, employee engagement, and diversity & inclusion.
A key focus will be on strengthening and optimizing HR operations – including the professionalization and automation of the HR Back Office and the implementation of global systems like Workday. In this role, you will act as a strategic advisor to senior management, a partner to the operations leadership, and a bridge between the local business and Stora Enso’s international HR community. As the company transitions from a family-owned business to part of a global corporate structure, you will play a central role in guiding and supporting this cultural and organizational transformation. You report to the VP HR Western Europe at Stora Enso.
Profile
You are an experienced, all-round HR leader with a strong track record in dynamic, entrepreneurial environments—ideally within manufacturing or similar operational settings. You bring both strategic vision and a pragmatic, hands-on approach. With deep expertise across the HR spectrum, you know how to translate policy into practice and guide organizations through growth and professionalization.
You connect easily with people at all levels—from production floor to executive board—and understand how to embed a strong local culture within a larger international framework.
You bring:
- 10+ years of broad HR experience, including leadership roles in international, matrix organizations.
- A strong background in change management, organizational development, talent and succession planning, engagement, and D&I.
- Experience with operating model design and implementation.
- Proven ability to lead teams through transformation and professionalization.
- Strong affinity with HR analytics, process optimization, and digitalization (e.g., Workday).
- Up-to-date knowledge of Dutch labor law and HR best practices.
- Experience working with Works Councils (OR).
- Full professional proficiency in Dutch and English.
This is a pivotal role for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, evolving business with deep local roots and growing international ambition.
Salary indication: €120–140k per year, excluding variable compensation.
More information?
Get in touch with us.
Laura Bargeman
Vroom Talent
Marjolein Hes
Vroom Executive