Hr Manager

We’re building a world-class team to redefine knowledge work with AI

Zeno is a legal AI startup building a platform that helps lawyers research, review, and draft documents with real legal reasoning — not just text prediction. We’re developing technology that can:

• Search and retrieve statutes, case law, and commentary with high precision.
• Reason step-by-step, applying legal tests and weighing precedents.
• Explain every answer transparently, so lawyers can trace conclusions back to the exact sources.

Where most tools automate surface-level tasks, we’re focused on replicating the way lawyers actually think through legal problems, making depth and trust the foundation of everything we build.

You’re joining an early-stage startup that is already working with leading firms such as Ernst & Young, HVG Law, Banning, and many more. Backed with $3M in seed funding, we’re now scaling a team of engineers and thinkers who want to solve real problems, drive innovation, and create lasting change in the legal sector.

The role

As the first dedicated HR professional at Zeno, you’ll own the people systems, processes, and culture-building initiatives that enable our team to scale. You’ll design and implement scalable HR foundations while working closely with the founders during this critical transition from startup to scale-up phase. This role is hands-on, systems-focused, and central to shaping the way our team grows and operates.

You’ll collaborate with leadership across product, engineering, research, and operations to build the structures that support hiring, onboarding, performance management, and employee experience. Your work will ensure that Zeno remains a place where exceptional people can thrive while we grow our product and organization.

What you’ll work on

• Strategic HR & Growth Alignment – Design and execute a scalable HR strategy aligned with rapid expansion, including workforce planning and organizational development.
• Talent Acquisition & Employer Branding – Lead end-to-end recruitment across technical, legal, and commercial roles while building strong pipelines and an attractive employer brand.
• Recruitment Technology & Systems – Implement modern ATS and HR technology tools to streamline sourcing, hiring, and onboarding.
• Culture & Engagement – Partner with leadership to shape company culture, scale engagement initiatives, and establish feedback mechanisms.
• Performance & Development – Create performance management systems, career development frameworks, and employee growth programs.
• Employee Relations & Experience – Manage employee relations, workplace issues, and conflict resolution while fostering a positive and inclusive environment.
• Compliance & HR Operations – Ensure Dutch employment law compliance, oversee contracts, payroll, benefits, and establish scalable HRIS and self-service processes.

What we’re looking for

• 3-5+ years in HR, ideally in tech, legal, or fast-growing startups, with proven success scaling HR operations during growth phases;
• Hands-on experience with HR tech implementation, process optimization, and system scaling;
• Ability to combine long-term HR strategy with a practical, hands-on execution mindset;
• Demonstrated success in building and optimizing recruitment processes to attract top talent;
• Excellent written and verbal skills in both Dutch and English;
• Pragmatic and adaptable team player with high integrity, strong people focus, and a passion for innovation and startup culture.

The ride from startup to scale-up

Things will break, priorities will shift, and there won’t always be a playbook. You’ll wear multiple hats, ship fast, and learn faster. Some weeks will feel chaotic, some problems will feel bigger than your role. That’s the nature of the ride from startup to scale-up: if you need stability and structure, this won’t fit. But if you thrive on ownership, speed, and building from zero, you’ll love it here.

Why join us

• Be part of a product-driven team reinventing how legal professionals work.
• Join early and shape the foundation of a fast-growing, high-impact startup.
• Work in a place where hierarchy doesn’t matter — only the best ideas do.
• Collaborate with a top-tier team of engineers, researchers, and entrepreneurs.
• Competitive compensation, employee benefits and strong upside as we grow.
• An inspiring place to work in the heart of Rotterdam.

Shape the future of legal work with us.