Senior HR Business Partner - USA

About Nearfield Instruments

Nearfield Instruments (NFI) is a fast-growing, high-tech scale-up that designs, develops, integrates, markets, and services advanced semiconductor metrology solutions. Our instruments enable the world's leading chipmakers to improve production yield and device performance, powering smaller, faster, and more energy-efficient electronics.

We bring together top scientific and engineering talent to develop a breakthrough, high-throughput Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)-based metrology platform, delivering atom-scale, true 3D measurements at industry-relevant throughput. These systems are becoming critical tools in leading-edge semiconductor manufacturing.

With our headquarters in the Netherlands and a rapidly expanding presence across the U.S. and Asia, Nearfield offers an international and dynamic environment where building teams, scaling operations, and supporting growth are central to our success.

The Role

As we continue to build and scale our U.S. organization, we are looking for a Senior HR Business Partner to establish and strengthen our local HR capability.

This is a senior, stand-alone HR role requiring both strategic and operational HR leadership. You will serve as the primary HR partner for the U.S. business, working closely with local leadership and global HR teams to build scalable people practices, support organizational growth, and drive key HR initiatives.

Success in this position requires a high degree of independence, strong stakeholder management skills, and the ability to operate effectively across different time zones, cultures, and business environments. You will be trusted to make sound decisions, proactively identify opportunities and risks, and drive initiatives with limited day-to-day guidance.

Requirements

What you will do

• Act as the primary HR partner for employees and managers across the U.S. organization.

• Manage the full employee lifecycle, from onboarding to offboarding.

• Partner with leaders on organizational design, workforce planning, employee engagement, and talent development.

• Independently lead HR initiatives and projects that support business growth and organizational effectiveness.

• Support and coordinate recruitment activities in close collaboration with the global recruitment team.

• Advise managers on performance management, employee relations, organizational challenges, and people-related decisions.

• Ensure accurate and compliant HR administration, working closely with external providers and our PEO partner.

• Prepare and coordinate payroll inputs, including new hires, compensation changes, and leave administration.

• Drive alignment between the U.S. organization and global HR teams while effectively managing cross-time-zone collaboration.

• Maintain HR data, reporting, and workforce insights to support decision-making.

• Identify HR risks and provide practical, business-focused solutions.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of HR processes, policies, and programs as the organization scales.
  

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.

• 8+ years of progressive HR experience, including significant experience as an HR Business Partner or Senior HR Business Partner.

• Proven experience supporting business leaders in a dynamic, growth-oriented environment.

• Strong knowledge of U.S. employment law and employee relations practices.

• Demonstrated ability to independently drive HR initiatives from concept through implementation.

• Experience advising managers and senior leaders on organizational and people-related matters.

• Proven ability to work effectively across geographies, cultures, and time zones.

• Experience with HR systems, employee administration, payroll coordination, and compliance processes.

• Strong stakeholder management, influencing, and communication skills.

• A proactive mindset, strong sense of ownership, and the ability to operate successfully with minimal supervision.
  

Preferred

• Experience supporting scaling organizations or fast-growing technology companies.

• Experience working with PEO structures and/or managing PEO transitions.

• Experience supporting engineering, semiconductor, manufacturing, or other technical organizations.

• International HR experience within a global matrix organization.
  

What Will Make You Successful

• You are comfortable operating as the senior HR representative in the U.S. without requiring day-to-day guidance.

• You build strong, trusted relationships with employees, managers, and senior leaders.

• You can independently drive initiatives while maintaining alignment with global HR stakeholders.

• You communicate effectively across time zones and collaborate successfully with international teams.

• You combine strategic thinking with a hands-on approach and are willing to roll up your sleeves when needed.

• You thrive in an entrepreneurial, fast-growing environment where structure is still being built.
  

What We Offer

• A key leadership HR role within a growing U.S. organization.

• The opportunity to build and shape the HR function locally.

• Close collaboration with an international leadership and HR team.

• A dynamic, fast-paced, and high-tech environment at the forefront of semiconductor innovation.

• The opportunity to make a direct impact on the growth and success of a scaling global organization.

• Competitive compensation and benefits aligned with the U.S. market.