Teamlead Recruitment & Onboarding en Inhuurdesk

About this position

At TNO, we work every day on innovations that make the Netherlands stronger, safer and more sustainable. We can only achieve this through our people, which is why HR plays a crucial role in our organisation.

Within HR Operations, we introduced a new structure in 2025 to make our processes even more efficient and future-ready. The department consists of five teams: (1) Recruitment & Onboarding, (2) Contingent Workforce Desk, (3) HR Services, (4) Organisation Administration & Payroll, and (5) Functional Support. We are looking for one Team Lead to oversee the first two teams. As Team Lead Recruitment, Onboarding & Contingent Workforce, you will lead two teams that ensure all new colleagues, whether permanent, temporary or externally contracted, join TNO through a smooth and professional process. In doing so, you will make a direct contribution to the success of the entire organisation.

As Team Lead Recruitment, Onboarding & Contingent Workforce, you will be responsible for delivering a seamless and professional employee entry process across TNO. Together with your teams, you will support the timely and accurate recruitment, selection, communication and onboarding of new colleagues. The teams play a key role in coordinating interviews, managing supplier relationships, and preparing, processing and validating employment, internship and contractor agreements. You will provide clear direction, set priorities and foster collaboration, ensuring that our services continuously meet organisational needs while delivering an excellent experience for new colleagues and stakeholders alike.

What will be your role?

You will join HR Operations at a pivotal moment. The introduction of TNO’s new HR system, MyHR, has resulted in a new organisational structure and a different way of working. This creates an exciting challenge and opportunity to further connect teams, optimise processes and shape a high-quality, future-proof HR service together.

You will be the first point of contact for matters relating to recruitment, contingent workforce management and onboarding. Where needed, you will also contribute hands-on to operations, supporting day-to-day activities, assisting with urgent vacancies and managing complex contractor engagements. This allows you to stay closely connected to the business, lead by example and contribute directly to achieving results.

Working closely with the other Team Leads and the Manager HR Operations, you will ensure that HR processes are efficient, reliable and error-free. Continuous improvement is at the heart of everything you do as you help build a department where ownership, collaboration and professional excellence are the standard.

The implementation of MyHR has brought significant changes to processes, ways of working and team structures. As Team Lead, you will play a key role in guiding this transformation and supporting the continued growth of the teams. You will preserve the strengths of the existing teams while actively driving standardisation, digitalisation and process-oriented working practices.

As MyHR continues to evolve, you will regularly deal with operational challenges and escalations. You know how to bring structure, clarity and direction in such situations. You identify opportunities for improvement, address bottlenecks and ensure that services become increasingly efficient, consistent and future-proof. Throughout, you maintain the right balance between daily operations and long-term development.

You will lead two teams of approximately 18 professionals, each bringing their own expertise, background and experience. You will encourage professional growth, ownership and employee engagement within your teams. Through regular one-to-one meetings, development discussions, coaching and a strong focus on wellbeing, you will help employees perform at their very best.

In addition, you will be responsible for a range of management responsibilities, including leave approval, workforce planning and supporting absence management processes in collaboration with the Health & Vitality Desk.

Within the new HR Operations structure, you will play a key role in further developing a future-proof HR service organisation. Generative AI will be an important part of this journey. You will translate the organisation’s strategic direction into a clear vision for your teams and turn that vision into tangible improvements. Looking beyond day-to-day operations, you will focus on quality, collaboration and continuous development. Together with the other Team Leads and the Manager HR Operations, you will build a department that is ready for the future and provides outstanding support to employees, managers and stakeholders.

What we expect from you

You are a people-focused leader with strong management capabilities and a service-oriented mindset. You are committed to both the personal development of your employees and the achievement of organisational goals. As a natural connector, you are able to guide people through change while remaining resilient and confident. You actively contribute to improving HR processes, provide both solicited and unsolicited advice, and inspire others with new ideas and perspectives.

In a dynamic environment with tight deadlines and changing priorities, you bring calm, structure and clarity. You support your teams in setting the right priorities and understand the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance yourself. Challenges do not deter you; on the contrary, they energise you. You enjoy working with your teams to continuously identify opportunities for improvement. For you, success means seeing your teams thrive, continue to grow and ensuring that the right people are placed in the right roles.

In addition, you bring:

• Leadership Experience
  You have experience leading, coaching and motivating teams. You know how to inspire people, drive engagement and achieve shared goals. Experience in a dynamic or changing environment, such as during organisational change programmes or system implementations, is highly desirable.
• Strong Communication Skills
  You possess excellent communication skills in Dutch and preferably also in English. You are able to discuss complex topics clearly and effectively, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders, from senior management to job applicants. You are comfortable providing constructive feedback and handling sensitive conversations, such as those related to performance or organisational change, with professionalism and respect.
• Professional Expertise
  You preferably have solid knowledge of relevant HR systems, such as SAP SuccessFactors and/or Fieldglass, as well as experience with recruitment, contingent workforce management and onboarding processes, or related HR operations.
• Proactive & Independent
  You take a proactive approach and are able to work independently within established frameworks. You identify potential issues early, propose solutions and continuously seek opportunities to improve services. You are comfortable taking ownership and making decisions.
• Education & Experience
  You hold at least a bachelor's degree level of working and thinking, gained through formal education and/or relevant professional experience, supplemented by relevant work experience.

What you'll get in return

Challenging and varied work with a real impact. And plenty of opportunities as, at TNO, you are in charge of shaping your career. We offer a gross monthly salary between € 4,800 and € 6,600 (based on your knowledge and experience), 8% holiday pay, a 13^th month bonus of 8.33% and a flex budget (5.58% + € 180). In addition, you will be given every opportunity to develop yourself.

TNO offers optional employee benefits, enabling you to tailor your benefits package to match your personal situation. You may also expect:

• An extremely professional, innovative working environment where colleagues are leading experts in their field.
• The opportunity to attend courses, workshops and conferences, and to receive training and coaching based on your needs.
• 33 days annual leave plus a flexible holiday that can be used on a cultural, religious, or otherwise important day of your choosing (on a full-time basis).
• An employer working towards a respectful, inclusive, and equitable work environment where every employee can flourish, with various initiatives such as Jong TNO, numerous expertise based guilds, Rainbow Community and Round Tables on diverse inclusion topics.
• We offer a comprehensive and flexible mobility plan that also includes full compensation for public transportation for commuting and business travel.
• Great social events with your team and other TNO colleagues. That’s how you will get to know a lot of people really quickly.
• Flexible working hours, the possibility to work parttime (32 or 36 hours) and the possibility of working from home.
• A good pension scheme.

Read more about tailoring your benefits package.

TNO as an employer

Our people are at the heart of TNO. Their curiosity, expertise and entrepreneurial mindset make it possible to deliver high-impact research and innovations that contribute to society’s sustainable wellbeing and prosperity. That is why we invest in an inspiring and inclusive working environment where colleagues can excel, have autonomy and continue to grow.

Your talent and ambition have every opportunity to flourish at TNO. You work with experts (both within and beyond TNO), have access to advanced technology and the freedom to explore, experiment and innovate. Our strength lies in independence, reliability and collaboration. We find each other in wonder and ingenuity. We are driven to push boundaries. By working with businesses and government, and by connecting different perspectives, we strengthen our innovative capability and create responsible, meaningful results.

At TNO, we believe this is our time to help society, government and business move forward faster. Together with driven colleagues, you turn knowledge into concrete innovations or ventures that truly make a difference by combining the power of science and entrepreneurship. And in doing so, you make your mark on our time.

The selection process

Please apply before Sunday November 8th, 2026. The selection process comprises two interview rounds. The first interview takes place on Wednesday November 25th, 2026. In a final meeting we will discuss the terms of employment and your tailored benefits package. We aim to finalize the entire process within four weeks.

The selection process may include an online assessment and a reference check.
A certificate of Conduct (VOG) is required before starting a new job at TNO.