ABOUT DESCARTES UNDERWRITING

Our mission is to help corporations and public sector organizations build their long-term resilience. To make it happen, we protect them from emerging risks, which are becoming increasingly significant and severe due to the growing unpredictability and complexity of the world.

Descartes Underwriting is a global leader in corporate insurance against climate, cyber and emerging risks.
We offer a new generation of parametric insurance, using a unique tech and data-driven approach to develop an unparalleled understanding of emerging risks.

Since 2019, our team has brought together deep expertise in the global corporate insurance landscape with a tech-driven, data-centric approach. This combination allows us to provide exceptional insights into emerging risks and the capacity to deliver agile solutions for our clients and partners. Our ambition is to continue revolutionizing the corporate insurance industry and keep growing all over the world.

With a global presence and a strong foothold in the US, we serve over 400 large corporations across a wide range of industries, operating through 17 offices in North & Latin America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. To date, Descartes Underwriting has delivered more than $10 billion in capacity through corporate brokers. Backed by $141M from renowned investors, including Highland Europe, BlackFin, Serena, Cathay, and Eurazeo, we continue to push the boundaries.

ABOUT THE PEOPLE TEAM

As HR & Payroll Operations Lead, you will join our dynamic and collaborative People team, currently made up of 8 dedicated professionals based in Paris and New York. They are committed to driving the company's success, passionate about fostering diversity, and constantly eager to learn and grow.

The team is being expanded around a Chief People Officer who joined in mid-2024, holds a position on the Executive Committee, and drives the People strategy.

The People team's mission is twofold - both equally important:

• Support Descartes growth and resilience globally
• Bring the best possible experience for all candidates and employees, in all our locations

The People team's strategic objectives:

1. Build the right People strategy and deploy the team effectively
2. Streamline the experience, while ensuring compliance and scale
3. Attract and hire top talents
4. Enable employees to thrive and grow
5. Empower managers to excel in their roles and create resilient organizations.

ABOUT YOUR ROLE
Your responsibilities will include, for France but also for some other countries.

Payroll Operations

• Manage monthly payroll, via external payroll providers you’ll lead the relationship with;
• Ensure social taxes are properly calculated, controlled and paid, in relation with Finance;
• Manage complex compensation set-ups in line with local laws and regulations (e.g. benefits in kind like company cars, leave subrogation);
• Track employees’ benefit allowances (e.g. transportation allowance, meal plan);
• Deploy effective communication strategies regarding employee payroll, including writing (or contribute to writing) relevant documentation that will guide employees who have questions about their payroll.

Compensation & Benefits process implementation

• Identify compensation and benefits partners, negotiate contract terms and set-up partnerships;
• Manage all compensation & benefits initiatives including deferred compensation (e.g. profit sharing, employee savings schemes), fringe benefits (e.g. pension schemes, health insurance) and benefits in kind (company car, phones, housing allowance, etc.);
• Support top management in calculating annual bonus and wage increase schemes and delivering goal settings letters to employees annually.
  

Scale and compliance

• Contribute to achieving positive outcomes in internal audit reports and control assessments of the HR processes;
• For any new hub or business Descartes would develop (ex.: creation of a new country from scratch, acquired company), contribute to build the HR Operations;
• Continuously improve our operations by simplifying when possible, automating where feasible, and ensuring reliability in everything we do;
• Manage or support HR, Payroll, Compensation and Benefits aspects for new joiners and leavers;
• Documente HR processes, either for employees or for internal purposes.

HR data, tools and reporting

• Enhance and maintain HR databases (Excel and HRIS tool), work with your People colleagues on guaranteeing data consistency;
• Contribute to choosing and implementing our future global HRIS;
• Produce appropriate reports and KPIs for internal and external parties (e.g. investors, internal leadership);
• Support and liaise with Finance on compensation-related reporting, budgeting and controlling (e.g. pension provision, budget forecasts).

ABOUT YOU

Please feel free to apply even if you don’t meet every single requirement

• You are graduated from a Business school/academic institutions/universities with a specialization in HR and equivalent;
• You experienced from 5 to 10 years of experience in HR after graduation;
• You are recognized for :
  • your rigor
  • your problem solving skills ; a bias for action and delivery
  • your strong interest in labor law and payroll issues
  • your practical mindset and eagerness to automate and scale thanks to tools
  • your ability to work in a true international context, with different cultures, but also different regulations and law
• You have significant experience in an HR department, with ideally a focus in HR Operations (“administration du personnel”);
• You are at ease, either in a fast-paced, high-growth environment where agility and automation were critical, or in a regulated industry (such as banking or insurance) where you developed strong skills in navigating compliance and risk management functions effectively;
• You have ideally already been managing an international scope, taking into account local specificities and identifying the right partners in each country;
• You are fluent in French and English (written and verbal communication);
• You recognize yourself in values like: excellence, diversity, humility and eagerness to learn.

WHY JOIN DESCARTES UNDERWRITING ?

• Work in a both collaborative and professional environment;
• Be part of an international team, passionate about diversity;
• Commitment from Descartes to its staff of continued learning and development (including annual seminars, training etc.) to enable your growth;
• Join a company with a true purpose – help us support our clients be more resilient in the face of climate risks;
• A competitive salary, bonus and benefits;
• You may work from home up to 2 days a week.

At Descartes Underwriting, we cherish value of diversity whatever it may be. We are committed to fighting against all forms of discrimination and for equal opportunities. We foster an inclusive work environment that respects all differences.

With equal skills, all our positions are open to people with disabilities.

Department

People & Culture

Locations

Paris (HQ)

Remote status

Temporarily Remote

Employment type

Full-time