CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER

In The Pocket is a leading digital product studio renowned for crafting digital strategies and delivering exceptional digital products and platforms. We are the largest independent agency in Belgium and a challenger in the European agency landscape. We work for top-tier companies that are ambitious about their digital transformation and are committed to have a lasting and positive impact on their business. With our forward-thinking, good-natured team of remarkable humans, we are dedicated to staying at the forefront of digital.

As the Chief People Officer, reporting to the CEO, you will be a key member of the executive team, providing strategic leadership in all aspects of human resources and organisational development. Your expertise in international HR practices will help us attract, develop, and retain top talent across multiple regions, fostering a culture of innovation, diversity, and excellence. In The Pocket is looking for someone with a clear vision on HR that resonates with our values. Someone who is willing to be authentic in exploring and addressing the opportunities and challenges that come with the modern workplace. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement global HR strategies aligned with the company’s business goals and values.
• Start-up new (European) studios, where you take a leading role in deploying all aspects of HR in the local entity.
• Oversee Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, Culture, Office & Facilities
• Organise training, learning, coaching, mentoring and professional development to ensure every ITP’er has the ability to grow to their full potential .
• Lead diversity and inclusion initiatives to promote a supportive and innovative work environment.
• Manage and optimise HR operations and systems across different countries, ensuring compliance with local employment laws and regulations.
• Provide strategic guidance on organisational design and change management to support the company’s growth and scaling efforts.
• Oversee our Comp & Ben framework and adjust where necessary, to ensure people are rewarded in a fair and equitable way.
• Develop and grow the people team to support In The Pocket’s strategy at scale.
• Oversee Office, Hospitality and Events.
• Foster a high-performance culture through performance management processes that emphasise continuous improvement and high standards.
• Serve as a coach and advisor to the leadership team on key organisational and management issues.
• Be a challenger in the executive team to improve current ideas and strategies with your expertise and experience.

Requirements:

• 5-10 years of experience as a CHRO, HR Director, or similar leadership role, with significant exposure to international HR management.
• Experience and ability to deliver in a fast paced, high-growth, changing environment.
• Strong understanding of global workforce dynamics and familiarity with international labour laws and employment practices.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement comprehensive HR strategies.
• Exceptional leadership skills with the ability to drive organisational change.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with fluency in Dutch and English. 
• Expert at negotiating, influencing, and managing stakeholder relationships across different cultural contexts.
• Willingness to travel to our offices to support local operations and work from our Ghent HQ.

What We Offer:

• To become part of a tight-knit executive team that works hard to further In The Pocket’s international growth strategy.
• To join In The Pocket’s positive and generous culture, built on:
• A strong conviction that digital product development is important work that has the potential to shape society’s future.
• Strong and cohesive teams working together with a high degree of autonomy.
• A “freedom within the framework” approach that stems from the idea that you should give smart people the opportunity to make smart decisions.
• Our relentless focus on improving the organisation and growing our footprint in the digital landscape.
• Competitive compensation package, including benefits and flexibility in work arrangements.
• Opportunities for growth and development in a growing company with a global reach.

Additional information:

In The Pocket is organised in autonomous teams consisting of developers, designers and product managers. By being part of one and the same team, they can develop a product from start to finish. Because every team carries responsibility, working at In The Pocket means accepting a high level of autonomy. We rely on trust and openness, and sharing our learning curve. At In The Pocket there’s time to experiment and budget to develop yourself. 

On a personal level we are looking for a colleague who shares our values.

• Ownership: Working at In The Pocket means accepting a high level of autonomy. You take ownership and show the ability to decide and act for the good of the company.
• Integrity: Stick to your values, even when it doesn’t pay off in the short term. In The Pocket relies on trust and openness, which in turn relies on your integrity.
• Lead & Educate: Digital technologies are changing the world. We go all in, head-first. We take the lead in designing and building with emerging technologies. We share our passion and knowledge with as many people as possible.
• Agility: In The Pocket is permanently under construction. We never settle, it’s never done. Observing, adapting and improving is in our nature. That resonates with the people who work here. We are always looking for a better solution, always ready for the next step, pragmatic and committed to move forward.
• Team: As individuals we are bright and talented, as a team we are unbeatable. We are open and positive, constructive and honest. We help and inspire our colleagues to do their best work.