HR Manager / Senior HR Specialist (Ukraine)

Description

ZEN.COM is a smart financial app designed for your everyday life – at home and on the go. We make payments, online shopping, and personal finance management fast, secure, and effortless. With ZEN.COM, you can enjoy cashback on purchases, full control over your spending, and peace of mind thanks to purchase protection. A built-in multi-currency account lets you spend abroad or shop internationally with great exchange rates and no hidden fees. We are looking for a highly independent and hands-on HR professional to support the transformation and restructuring of a recently acquired bank in Ukraine. This is a critical role focused on rebuilding HR foundations, driving cultural transformation towards a modern, international operating model, and supporting a fast-evolving organization at the intersection of industrial banking and fintech (EMI). The ideal candidate brings not only strong HR expertise but also a deep understanding of Ukrainian but also global / European workplace standards, and is comfortable bridging different organizational cultures.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in an independent HR role (preferably as HR Manager or Senior HR Specialist).
• Proven experience in organizational restructuring, transformation, or post-M&A environments.
• Strong understanding of banking, fintech, or EMI environments (experience with both is a strong plus).
• Solid experience in IT and technical roles / departments.
• Strong knowledge of Ukrainian labor law and HR best practices.
• Clear understanding of global and modern EU workplace standards.
• Fluent English (C1/C2 level) and Ukrainian – mandatory.
• Polish language is nice to have.
• Experience working in international environments or with global stakeholders.
• Highly independent, hands-on, and execution-focused mindset.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to operate effectively in evolving and sometimes ambiguous environments.
• Proven experience in workforce assessment and competency mapping, with the ability to evaluate skills, identify gaps, and translate insights into restructuring and talent decisions.
• Based in Kyiv (or willing to relocate) - nice to have.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute HR activities related to organizational restructuring and transformation.
• Support the integration of the acquired bank into a modern, international operating model.
• Drive cultural transformation aligned with EU business practices, including transparency, accountability, and performance-driven culture.
• Act as a cultural bridge between local teams and international stakeholders.
• Partner with leadership on organizational design, workforce planning, and talent strategy.
• Review and optimize existing HR processes, policies, and documentation.
• Introduce and implement modern HR standards and best practices.
• Ensure compliance with local labor law and regulatory requirements in Ukraine.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and payroll practices, including regulations related to hiring and employment in Ukraine, with an understanding of EU standards.
• Participate in end-to-end recruitment processes for key roles (with strong focus on IT and fintech profiles).
• Act as a trusted advisor to management and employees during periods of change.
• Support performance management, employee engagement, and retention initiatives.
• Collaborate with international stakeholders and HQ teams.
• Assess organizational effectiveness by evaluating employee capabilities, performance, and role alignment; develop and implement skills matrices and competency frameworks to support restructuring and workforce optimization.