Head of HR (interim)

2 days in office, 3 days at home

Location: Hanover, Germany

Middlemore has been retained by a long-standing European financial services client to recruit an HR Generalist to join their team in Hanover.

This position will report to the executive committee and lead the local HR department in Hanover, working as part of a larger European team based at the parent company. The role is crucial in supporting the organization during a period of high growth and transformation.

Job Summary

As the Interim Head of HR, you will oversee a small HR department and drive all HR initiatives across people, processes, and performance. This senior leadership role involves managing and advising the senior leadership team on HR matters, including employee relations, talent management, organizational development, and HR compliance. You will lead a small team of HR professionals, maintain HR policies and processes, and contribute to HR initiatives aligned with business goals, culture, and people strategy. This is a fixed-term role for 18 months, seeking an experienced HR leader with a background in managing HR functions within multinational B2C organizations.

Responsibilities

1. Lead the HR function, providing strategic guidance to senior leadership and managers.
2. Develop and implement HR strategies, policies, and processes aligned with organizational goals and compliance.
3. Partner with leadership to advise on talent acquisition, leadership development, employee relations, and performance management.
4. Support organizational design and workforce planning to meet future business needs.
5. Manage the small HR team, overseeing recruitment, onboarding, training, performance management, and employee relations.
6. Serve as the primary contact for senior executives on HR matters, providing expert advice on complex employee issues.
7. Foster a culture of employee engagement, wellbeing, recognition, and retention.
8. Oversee the performance management process, ensuring fairness and consistency.
9. Manage compensation and benefits to ensure alignment with strategy and competitiveness.
10. Handle employee relations issues, including investigations and disciplinary actions, ensuring legal compliance.
11. Collaborate with the UK-based HR team to ensure consistency of HR practices across the organization.
12. Monitor HR metrics and analyze data to improve HR programs and employee outcomes.
13. Ensure compliance with employment laws across all jurisdictions.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Proven senior HR leadership experience, preferably in large multinational B2C organizations.
• Knowledge of German labor laws (BetrVG, Betriebsverfassungsgesetz) is advantageous.
• Experience working with German works councils.
• Strong understanding of German HR practices and ability to implement in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience advising senior leaders on complex HR issues.
• Ability to lead and inspire a diverse HR team.
• Experience managing large-scale HR operations and organizational change.
• Strong business acumen linking HR strategies to business outcomes.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills in German and English.
• Familiarity with HRIS and data analytics tools.
• Keen knowledge of German labor law; cross-border HR experience is a plus.

If interested, please apply or reach out to us.

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