Why This Job is Featured on The SaaS Jobs
People leadership roles inside SaaS scale-ups tend to sit close to the operational realities of growth, and this one is positioned that way. With Trengo described as an ~85-person, Series A-backed company building an AI-powered customer engagement platform, the People function is likely navigating the classic SaaS mix of product-led change, evolving org design, and a growing manager layer—without the buffer of large-company process.
From a SaaS career standpoint, the combination of People Business Partner scope and team leadership is notable. It offers practice in building repeatable people operations (performance cycles, absence management, onboarding) while also shaping how managers lead and how teams collaborate. The role’s emphasis on workforce planning, reward strategy input, and engagement insights aligns with the kind of data-informed people work that transfers well across SaaS organizations as they move from early scale to more structured execution.
This role fits an HR professional who prefers being both strategic and hands-on, and who enjoys partnering directly with leaders on real-time decisions. It will suit someone comfortable mentoring junior specialists and coordinating across adjacent functions like talent acquisition and workplace experience, particularly in a hybrid office setting.
The section above is editorial commentary from The SaaS Jobs, provided to help SaaS professionals understand the role in a broader industry context.
Job Description
Employment Type
Full time
Trengo is a dynamic scale-up in Utrecht with around 85 passionate colleagues, where no two days are the same. We foster an innovative, informal, and vibrant culture that empowers our team to make a real impact. We’re looking for a People Business Partner & People Team Lead (32-40 hrs/wk) to shape culture, lead HR operations, drive strategic initiatives, and mentor the People team.
About Trengo
We believe in a world where technology empowers the relationship between companies and their customers. That’s why our mission is to build an AI-powered customer engagement platform to replace repetitive work with meaningful conversations. How do we do that? Our software makes it easy for customer-facing teams to communicate with customers via multiple channels, all in one shared inbox. Email, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, live-chat, you name it.
With a Series A investment of $36M led by Insight Partners and Peak Capital and becoming one of the four official WhatsApp Business Solutions Providers in the Netherlands, we empower our customers to scale their businesses and optimize the channels their clients truly prefer.
What your role looks like
In the role you will...
Serve as a trusted advisor to managers and leadership on employee cases, leadership styles, and team dynamics. Manage complex employee relations ensuring compliance with labor laws.
Lead the performance cycle and absence (verzuim) management processes with empathy and solid knowledge of the WVP.
Drive organizational development by designing and improving onboarding, manager development, and product knowledge training programs.
Manage employee engagement surveys, analyze results, and share valuable insights with leadership to drive continuous improvement in company culture.
Collaborate closely with the Senior Leadership Team on strategic HR topics such as workforce planning and reward strategy.
Enhance internal communication and foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performing company culture.
Lead and develop the People team, including Jr Operations Specialist and Talent Acquisition Specialist, guiding them to deliver operational excellence in recruitment, HR administration, and employee experience.
Lead the Workplace Experience Managers (WEM) team on cultural activities that bring our culture to life.
What you’ll bring
We’re looking for an experienced HR professional who can balance hands-on People Operations with strategic thinking in a fast-paced, small-company environment. You bring credibility, initiative, and the ability to influence at all levels while supporting the growth of both the business and the People team.
You..
Have 4+ years of HR experience, including at least 1 year in a leadership or mentoring role.
Bring strong labor law expertise and proven experience in absence and performance management.
Have worked in start-ups, scale-ups, or companies under 100 employees, navigating fast-paced and ambiguous environments.
Excel at partnering with managers and leadership, building trust quickly while confidently challenging when needed.
Are a proactive communicator and influencer who thrives at all organizational levels.
What’s in it for you?
This is what we carefully prepared for you:
🚀 Be part of an AI-pioneering company, making an impact from day one.
🌍 Hybrid working (at least 2 days p.w. in the office) + 2 months per year to work abroad.
🧘 Mental health support with free sessions from on-demand psychologists (OpenUp).
📚 Learning budget + 2 extra days off to attend courses or conferences.
🌴 28 vacation days to rest, recharge, and travel
🚆 Travel reimbursement to our Utrecht HQ.
📶 Monthly internet & phone allowance to stay connected.
🗣️ Dutch courses for our international colleagues.
🍴 Daily warm lunches prepared by our workplace experience team when you’re at our beautiful Utrecht office.
💼 Pension contribution to help you plan for the future.
🛫 Sabbatical: After two years, enjoy up to three months away (unpaid) to rest, recharge, or see the world.
