Senior People Compliance Specialist, EMEA

An overview of this role

As a Senior People Compliance Specialist (EMEA), you'll partner with GitLab to manage compliant works council engagements across Germany (Mitbestimmung and information rights), the Netherlands (adviesrecht and instemmingsrecht), and France (CSE consultation procedures). You'll lead end-to-end processes, from preparing agendas and information packages to coordinating translations, documentation, and stakeholder inputs, so teams can move through organizational changes with clear timelines and strong governance. In this role, you'll partner closely with People Business Partners, Legal (including Employment Counsel), and business leaders to build trusted relationships, responding to information requests, and reduce compliance and operational risk through standardized guidance, training, and repeatable processes. Over your first year, key outcomes include improving process efficiency, strengthening recordkeeping and data retention practices, and becoming a go-to advisor for works council requirements and compliance across the region.

What you'll do

• Build, drive and iterate our works council engagements, processes and administration across Germany, the Netherlands, and France, ensuring compliance with information, consultation, and co-determination requirements, legal timelines, works agreements, and locally agreed service levels
• Prepare meeting agendas and comprehensive information packages for recurring works council meetings and consultations, including documentation management, translations, and stakeholder coordination
• Partner with People Business Partners, the legal team and the business to build and maintain high-trust, productive relationships with works council members through responsive, consistent support
• Collaborate with Legal, People Business Partners, and business leaders to plan and execute compliant consultation approaches.
• Advise and educate managers and stakeholders on works council requirements, timelines, and procedural best practices, including guidance for sensitive and complex topics
• Manage multiple concurrent requests and consultations independently, prioritizing work to ensure timely completion and clear communication across time zones
• Develop and maintain standardized processes, templates, training materials, and guidance to improve consistency and efficiency in works council operations
• Track, report, and maintain consultation records and metrics, responding to works council information requests and ensuring audit readiness and data retention compliance
• Partner with Employment Counsel, Legal and Privacy team on laws and regulation updates
• Act as subject matter expert on HR compliance and act in an advisory role to People Team centers of excellence, cross-functional stakeholders, and clients
• Proactively address processes to mitigate compliance and operational risk by recommending and prioritizing changes to support the business

What you'...