Head of Human Resources - Portugal

Company Description: 

We Dream. We Do. We Deliver. 

At Merkle, a dentsu company, we power the experience economy. Whether we’re building the next great app, running CRM at scale for global brands, delivering technology architectures that support millions of users, or providing world-class data, identity, and insights solutions, it’s all in the name of crafting experiences that set brands apart from the competition. Backed by dentsu's legacy of innovation and creativity originating in Japan, we’ve spent over 35 years helping brands build loyalty, drive growth, and connect meaningfully with their audiences.  

We’ve been named a global “Leader” by top industry analyst firms in categories as wide-ranging as digital transformation and commerce, experience design, engineering and technology integration, digital marketing, data science, CRM and loyalty, and customer data management. 

Why choose Merkle? 

Innovation at Our Core: As part of dentsu’s global network, Merkle pushes the boundaries of customer experience, integrating creativity, technology, and data to drive real-world impact. For over 35 years, we’ve been innovating to meet the changing needs of our clients. 

Global Reach with Local Expertise: With over 16,000 employees across 30+ countries, and part of a 70,000 employees’ network at dentsu, Merkle blends global insights with a deep understanding of local markets to deliver personalized, effective solutions. 

Collaborative Culture: At Merkle, your ideas and contributions truly matter. You’ll join a team that fosters innovation, collaboration, and creative problem-solving. Together, we work on impactful international projects, making meaningful connections every step of the way. 

Job Description: 

Head of HR Portugal

We are seeking a hands-on, process-driven Head of HR to lead our HR operations in Portugal. This is not a generic HR leadership role - it requires a sharp focus on operational excellence, legal compliance, and regional alignment with global HR processes. You will be the go-to expert for all HR matters in Portugal, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery of HR services, while driving consistency and collaboration across the cluster.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the local HR team, fostering a high-performance and service-oriented culture.

• Ensure timely and quality delivery of all HR tasks and services, including employee life-cycle processes, reporting, and compliance.

• Drive process improvements and harmonization across the Portuguese offices, aligning with global HR standards and regional cluster policies.

• Own and manage payroll operations in Portugal, with the ability to step in and run payroll directly if needed.

• Act as the legal HR key point of contact in Portugal, ensuring full compliance with local labor laws, social security, and regulatory frameworks in collaboration with the local Legal team.

• Support and coach people managers on employee relations, performance management, and HR best practices.

• Handle complex employee relations cases and escalations, including senior stakeholder management.

• Collaborate with People Services to review and optimize HR processes and service delivery.

• Partner with Talent Acquisition to attract and hire top talent in the Portuguese market.

• Work closely with Reward and Talent Management teams to ensure local implementation of compensation frameworks, performance cycles, and development programs.

• Ensure policy alignment within the Portuguese market and across the regional cluster.

• Utilize Excel and HR systems to analyze data, track KPIs, and support decision-making.

Requirements

• Proven experience in a senior HR role, ideally in a multi-site, international environment.

• Deep knowledge of Portuguese labor law, employment regulations, and HR compliance.

• Strong payroll expertise, including hands-on experience or readiness to manage payroll directly.

• Demonstrated success in process improvement and policy alignment across regions or business units.

• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and resolve escalations at senior levels.

• Confident in coaching and guiding managers and HR team members.

• Proficient in Excel and comfortable working with HR data and systems.

• Experience partnering with Reward and Talent Management functions to deliver compensation and development initiatives.

• Fluent in Portuguese and English.

*Work visa sponsorship is not available. For local documentation (NIF, NISS), please consult Portuguese authorities.