Ruben Hernandez

HR Director with extensive experience in industrial and energy environments, leading people strategy and HR operations in complex, multi-site organizations. Proven track record in labour relations, including collective bargaining, works councils and management of sensitive labour matters. Experienced in leading multifunctional HR teams, ensuring structured processes, compliance and operational excellence.

Strong background in organizational and process transformation and workforce planning, aligning people strategy with business objectives.

Head of People & Culture/HR Director at SOLARIG (2021-05 – Present)

• Define and execute the People & Culture Strategy, supporting international expansion and multi-business growth.
• Direct P&C operations during a rapid scaling phase, increasing the organization while maintaining process efficiency, cultural alignment, and compliance standards.
• Oversee all regional HR operational activities, including administration, payroll governance, talent acquisition operations, and employee relations, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and compliance across jurisdictions.
• Manage HR administration frameworks, ensuring adherence to company policies, internal controls, and local labor legislation in all operating countries.
• Oversee payroll operations, ensuring timely and accurate salary payments, statutory compliance, vendor governance, and risk mitigation controls.
• Supervise regional benefits administration, ensuring effective management of employee benefits programs, alignment with compensation strategy, and compliance with local regulations.
• Manage Talent Acquisition operations, ensuring scalable recruitment processes, clear governance, strong collaboration with Business Partners and Centers of Excellence, and delivery against workforce planning objectives.
• Oversee employee relations frameworks and case management processes, ensuring fair, consistent, and legally compliant handling of workplace matters across multiple jurisdictions.
• Design and implement organizational models, governance structures and people KPIs, evolving the function towards a data-driven People Analytics model.

HR Director EU at TRINA SOLAR ISBU (2018-05 – 2021-04)

• Established and scaled the European HR function, (Spain, Italy, Portugal & France) defining governance, policies, systems and operating model in a multi-country environment.
• Partnered with European Managing Directors on workforce planning and organizational design to support growth and business expansion.
• Served as trusted HR advisor to European Managing Directors, aligning workforce planning and organizational design with aggressive growth objectives.
• Led regional talent, attraction, performance and leadership development strategies, supporting business expansion and operational effectiveness.
• Designed and governed compensation, benefits and payroll frameworks, ensuring alignment with global standards and local labor regulations.
• Ensured labour law compliance and proactive people-related risk mitigation across all European operations, reporting at executive level to global headquarters.

HR Director at LITALSA (2014-07 – 2018-04)

• Led end-to-end HR operations and governance for a manufacturing environment, covering payroll, contracts, employee lifecycle, variable compensation, terminations, absenteeism and statutory reporting.
• Managed union engagement and led collective bargaining negotiations and Works Council relationships, defining industrial relations strategy and ensuring operational continuity.
• Strengthened governance and compliance in line with industrial regulatory frameworks.
• Integrated Health & Safety governance into daily plant operations, aligning preventive KPIs with production targets.
• Advised senior management on restructurings, disciplinary processes and workforce optimization.

HR Director at SOLARIG (2008-01 – 2014-06)

• Deployed the corporate HR strategy across multiple countries, directly supporting the company's international expansion and growth.
• Supported the set-up and scaling of international subsidiaries, defining HR frameworks, internal procedures and people governance models.
• Designed compensation, benefits and reward policies to ensure market competitiveness and enable sustainable growth.
• Led workforce planning, budgeting and forecasting across countries, supporting organizational scalability and cost control.

HR Manager Spain at CIRQUE DU SOLEIL/MANPOWER (2005-09 – 2007-12)

• Led mass recruitment project for touring shows: Allegria and Drallion.
• Payroll & managed of the local staff (+150 employees per city)
• Acted as liaison between Cirque du Soleil & Manpower temporary staff.

HR Consultant at DELTA CONSULTING (2003-04 – 2005-08)

• Managed cross-border recruitment, overseeing end-to-end selection processes and client relationships for Polish talent placement in the Irish market

Master in Human Resources in Human Resources – Pontificia de Comillas (ICADE) University (2003-06)

Law Degree in Law – Zaragoza University (2002-06)