14 Aug 2026
Job Information
- Organisation/Company: Centar izvrsnosti MARBLE drustvo s ogranicenom odgovornoscu za istrazivanje i razvoj
Offer Description
About the Role:
The HR, People & Culture Manager will be responsible for developing, coordinating, and improving the full employee lifecycle at MARBLE — from recruitment and onboarding to employee development, performance support, HR administration, internal communication, policies, and organizational culture.
This is a hands-on role at the current stage of our development, but also a strategic role with the opportunity to shape the future HR function of the organization.
The ideal candidate is someone who understands that HR in a modern company is not only administration, but also structure, communication, development, compliance, employee support, and management support. We are looking for a person who can bring clarity, consistency, and a people-oriented approach while respecting the needs of a project-based, research-driven, and internationally oriented organization.
About us:
CoE MARBLE – Centre of Excellence in Maritime Robotics and Technologies for Sustainable Blue Economy - is a non-profit research organisation, financed by the European Commission under the prestigious Horizon Europe Teaming programme, founded by the University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing.
The main goal of CoE MARBLE is toengage Croatia in a path of sustainable innovative growth in the blue economy in a strategic partnership with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and the National Research Council (Italy). The strategic vision of CoE MARBLE is to put Croatia on the map of R&I excellence by becoming a European lighthouse and a role model in the field of maritime robotics and technologies, focusing on key research areas identified as essential enablers with the highest impact on the blue economy sectors aligned with the Smart Specialization Strategy of Croatia.
CoE MARBLE is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and respectful workplace. Recruitment is based solely on merit, with transparent and gender-neutral selection criteria applied to all candidates regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, or family status. We strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and identities.
Workplace:
CoE MARBLE – Centre of Excellence in Maritime Robotics and Technologies for Sustainable Blue Economy, Froudeova 13, 10020 Zagreb
Key Responsibilities:
The HR Manager / People & Culture Manager will be responsible for building, coordinating, and improving MARBLE’s HR function across the full employee lifecycle, with a strong focus on structure, compliance, employee experience, and future organizational development.
Key responsibilities include:
- Managing and improving recruitment and selection processes, including job advertisements, candidate communication, interviews, assessments, and recruitment documentation.
- Developing and coordinating structured onboarding processes, including pre-boarding, first-day activities, onboarding materials, internal introductions, mentor support, and 30/60/90-day follow-up.
- Managing HR administration and employment documentation, including contracts, annexes, internal decisions, personnel files, working time, absences, vacations, and legally required records.
- Supporting employment of foreign workers and international employees (researchers/project managers/engineers…), including work permits, residence permits, and related administrative processes.
- Supporting foreign and international employees with relocation, country onboarding, local administrative requirements, practical guidance, and integration into MARBLE’s work environment and Croatian workplace culture.
- Ensuring compliance with Croatian labor legislation, GDPR requirements, internal rules, and relevant reporting obligations.
- Drafting, updating, implementing, and communicating HR policies, procedures, internal guidelines, and employee instructions.
- Supporting performance management processes, including probation evaluations, goal setting, feedback, development plans, and structured handling of underperformance.
- Supporting career development, training, mentoring, knowledge-sharing, advancement criteria, and retention of high-quality employees.
- Supporting compensation, benefits, bonuses, salary structures, role levels, pay transparency preparation, and fair reward practices in cooperation with management, finance, accounting, and payroll partners.
- Acting as a professional point of contact for employees and managers regarding HR processes, employee relations, communication issues, and workplace matters.
- Supporting a respectful, inclusive, fair, and people-oriented workplace culture.
- Preparing HR-related internal communication, intranet content, employee announcements, instructions, and engagement initiatives.
- Supporting organizational culture, employee wellbeing, DEI and gender equality initiatives, internal events, and employee experience improvements.
- Monitoring implementation of the Gender Equality Plan (GEP) and reporting on gender balance in governance and staff levels.
- Preparing HR reports and analytics related to headcount, recruitment, turnover, absences, training, performance, and other people-related indicators.
- OKR reporting: monitoring and reporting HR-related Objectives and Key Results through the project’s performance monitoring IT system, annual progress reports, and MARBLE project reports.
- Performing other tasks as defined by the Director, Associate Director for Business, and Head of General Services Department.
Where to apply
E-mail: jobs@marble.eu
Requirements
Research Field: Other
Education Level: Bachelor Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
Candidate profile:
What We Expect:
We are looking for a person who has:
- Minimum bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in Human Resources, Psychology, Law, Business Administration, Management, Organizational Development, or a related field relevant to human resources management.
- Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in HR, preferably in a growing company, research organization, technology company, project-based organization, or internationally oriented environment.
- Advanced knowledge of Croatian labor law and HR administration.
- Experience with recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, and HR documentation.
- Understanding of performance management, employee development, and organizational culture.
- Ability to communicate clearly, professionally, and diplomatically.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Ability to create structure where processes are still developing.
- Ability to work independently, but also closely with management, department heads, and employees.
- High level of discretion and responsibility when handling confidential information.
- Advanced knowledge of Croatian and English language, both written and spoken.
- Practical mindset, initiative, and willingness to build new and improve existing systems.
Additional Advantages
- Experience with international employees, foreign workers, work permits, or relocation processes.
- Experience in EU-funded projects, research institutions, universities, R&D companies, or engineering environments.
- Experience with salary structures, career frameworks, advancement systems, or pay transparency preparation.
- Experience with HR digital tools, intranet systems, ERP systems, or project management tools.
- Experience in creating HR policies, procedures, internal guidelines, or employee handbooks.
- Experience with DEI, gender equality plans, employee engagement, or organizational development.
Languages: ENGLISH
Level: Excellent
Additional Information
Benefits
The selected candidate will have the opportunity to:
- Build and improve HR processes from the inside.
- Work with researchers, engineers, project teams, management, and international employees.
- Contribute to organizational development and company culture.
- Support a workplace focused on quality people, knowledge, collaboration, and long-term growth.
- Work in an environment connected to research, innovation, maritime robotics, and advanced technologies.
- Take ownership of meaningful HR initiatives with visible impact.
Contract details:
- Type of contract: Full-time, 40 hours per week
- Number of positions available: 1
- Contract duration: 3 years
Benefits:
- Competitive salary
- Education/training and continuous professional growth
- Access to innovative research projects and new technologies
- Paid local transportation expenses to and from work
- Compensation for regular childcare costs
- Compensation for employee accommodation costs
- Free parking space
- Food cost compensation
- Team building
- Flexible working hours in agreement with the Head of Department
- Medical check - up
- Above-average number of annual leave days
Selection process
Selection Process:
- CV screening and shortlisting the candidates who fit the requirements of the Job Ad
- Shortlisted candidates may be invited to take an online Personality and Ability Test
- Employment Interview – the candidates with the best fit will be called for an Interview with the Selection Committee
- Candidates may be required to do a short assignment to check their professional and problem-solving skills.
- Job Offer and Signing the Employment Contract with the chosen candidate
How to apply: Send your application to jobs@marble.eu. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted shortly after their application for the next steps in selection process.
Additional comments
Application Details:
- Envisaged job starting date: September/October 2026
- Application deadline: September 2, 2026
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available: 1
- Company/Institute: Centar izvrsnosti MARBLE drustvo s ogranicenom odgovornoscu za istrazivanje i razvoj
- Country: Croatia
- City: Zagreb
- Postal Code: 10000
- Street: Froudeova ul. 13
- Geofield
Contact
- City: Zagreb
- Website: https://www.marble.eu/
- Street: Unska ulica 3
- Postal Code: 10000
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