European HR Manager
Location: Dusseldorf, Germany
Working Pattern: 4 days per week in the office
Languages: Fluent in German and English
About the Role:
My client is seeking an experienced and strategic HR leader to join their team as the HR Lead for DACH & Benelux, with the potential for the remit to expand into leading on HR for other areas of Europe.
This is a full generalist HR role, where you will be responsible for driving the people agenda across a dynamic and growing region. Your primary focus will be on building and executing the people plan, with a strong emphasis on employee benefits, engagement, diversity & inclusion (DEI), and reward. You will also be a key player in performance management, succession planning, and managing numerous annual HR cycles.
In this role, you will work closely with senior leadership teams, HR colleagues, and business managers to implement effective HR strategies that support the company’s growth objectives. You will also have the opportunity to lead key HR projects, including a major pension project, as well as a Great Place to Work Initiative and support leadership development through coaching and strategic HR interventions. You will also have ownership of the Works Councils relationships, ensuring productive and harmonious working relationships.
Key Responsibilities:
- People Plan Delivery: Lead the people strategy and execute annual HR cycles including merit reviews, performance management, succession planning, and compensation adjustments.
- Employee Benefits & Engagement: Oversee and enhance employee benefits programs, with a major focus on building a great workplace culture and driving employee engagement.
- Relationship Management: Foster strong, proactive relationships with local works councils, addressing challenges, and ensuring smooth, constructive collaboration.
- Project Management & Change: Lead HR projects, such as the ongoing pension project, and drive process improvements within the HR function. Challenge the status quo and actively improve HR systems and practices.
- Coaching & Stakeholder Management: Support leadership teams by coaching managers and senior leaders, helping them navigate HR challenges and strengthen their teams.
- HR Operations: Oversee HR activities in the DACH/Benelux region, ensuring efficient HR processes are in place while managing high-level cases.
- Collaboration with Central HR Team: Work closely with the central HR team and support in the strategic direction for HR practices in the region.
- Travel & Regional Leadership: Occasional travel to the head office and regional locations, less than once a month.
Ideal Candidate:
- 7+ years of HR experience, ideally within a large business or multinational environment.
- Strong strategic HR mindset with a proven track record in process improvement, change management, and project delivery.
- Experience in working within complex, large-scale organizations, ideally with a North American head office.
- Stakeholder management and communication skills to influence senior leaders and colleagues at all levels.
- Experience in managing and improving processes, from performance management cycles to compensation and benefits frameworks.
- Strong analytical approach to HR and data-driven decision-making.
- Experience in managing works council relationships.
- Comfortable working in a matrixed environment with the ability to work within the structure set by a central HR function.
- Fluent in both German and English.
- Location: Based in Dusseldorf 4 days per week.
Why Join?
- Work in a fast-paced, dynamic business with opportunities to make a real impact.
- Lead strategic HR initiatives across the DACH and Benelux regions, and potentially expand into more of Europe.
- Be a part of a growing company that values strategic HR leadership, innovation, and proactive change.
- Attractive compensation package and flexible work environment (4 days a week in the Dusseldorf office, less than monthly travel).
If you are a forward-thinking, solutions-oriented HR leader with a strong background in strategic HR and process improvement, we want to hear from you! Apply now to be part of a growing team and make a significant impact on the future of our business!
