Jr. HR Manager - Cologne in Köln

About Barilla

At Barilla, we believe that every great journey begins with passion and a bold vision. From our humble beginnings in 1877 in a small shop in Parma, Italy, we’ve blossomed into a global leader in the food industry, guided by our commitment to progress and excellence.

Today, Barilla is an international group present in more than 100 countries and we are proud to be recognized as the world’s top food company by reputation. With 20 beloved brands in our portfolio, we are world leader for pasta, the number one choice for ready-made sauces in Europe, leader for bakery products in Italy, and for crispbread across Scandinavia with Wasa.

Our success story is written by a passionate team of 9,000 dedicated employees across 30 plants and offices worldwide, all united by a shared mission to nourish the future with purpose and passion.

Are you ready to add your unique flavor to our journey?

About the Role

As part of the Central & Northern Europe (CNE) HR Team you will act as a trusted HR partner to our employees and business leaders, providing comprehensive HR support across the entire employee lifecycle. You will partner closely with the business, supporting organizational development, talent acquisition, performance management, employee development and all key HR processes.

Beyond your local HR Business Partner responsibilities, you will contribute to regional HR initiatives, taking ownership of Employer Branding, the Future Leader Program and the coordination of our Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) activities.
This is an excellent opportunity for an ambitious HR professional who enjoys combining operational HR excellence with strategic business partnering and regional project ownership in an international FMCG environment.

Are you passionate about people and motivated to make a difference? Join us in Cologne and become part of a company that brings the joy of food to millions of consumers every day.

Main Responsibilities

HR Business Partnering

• Act as the primary HR contact for employees within the assigned business areas in Germany, covering Trade Marketing & Sales and Category Marketing.
• Partner with, coach and challenge business leaders on all relevant people and organizational matters.
• Support the implementation of Group HR strategies, policies, processes and initiatives.
• Drive key HR processes across the employee lifecycle, including organizational development, talent management, performance management, compensation and employee development.

Employee Lifecycle & HR Operations

• Coordinate and manage employee lifecycle activities, including recruitment, onboarding, promotions, internal and international transfers, organizational changes and departures.
• Manage employment-related matters in collaboration with internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Coordinate employment contracts, compensation packages and organizational announcements.
• Oversee payroll-related topics and support matters relating to pensions, retirement and other employee benefits.
• Ensure consistent, professional and compliant HR practices in line with Group guidelines and local requirements.

Talent Acquisition & Recruitment

• Own the end-to-end recruitment process for positions within your assigned scope, from job posting and candidate management to interviews, selection and offer negotiations.
• Partner with our Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) provider and act as the primary regional contact.
• Manage and coordinate the assigned RPO resource.
• Develop and strengthen our university recruitment and employer engagement activities.
• Represent the company at external recruitment events.

Employer Branding & Communication

• Take ownership of the Employer Branding strategy and its implementation across Central & Northern Europe.
• Drive employer branding activities across relevant communication channels, particularly LinkedIn.
• Work closely with Communications and External Relations to strengthen our employer positioning.
• Develop engaging presentations and communication materials for employer branding and university recruitment initiatives.

Performance Management & Workforce Planning

• Support and challenge business leaders throughout annual performance and development processes.
• Ensure timely and consistent execution of performance management activities.
• Support headcount and labor cost management in collaboration with business leaders and Group HR.
• Monitor relevant workforce indicators, including absenteeism, turnover, overtime and leave utilization.
• Identify trends and propose appropriate action plans to support organizational effectiveness.

Employee Relations & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with applicable local employment laws, regulations and HR practices.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of German employment legislation and relevant employee relations matters.
• Work closely with the Works Council, Legal, Payroll and other relevant stakeholders.
• Support employment-related legal matters and ensure consistent application of local and Group HR policies.
• Review and update local HR policies and practices where required.

Your Qualifications

• Masters degree in Business Administration, Human Resources Management or a comparable field.
• 3-5 years of relevant professional experience in Human Resources, ideally in an HR Business Partner or generalist role.
• Experience working with Works Councils and a good understanding of German employment practices.
• Solid knowledge of core HR processes, including recruitment, employee relations, performance management and talent development.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships and influence stakeholders at different organizational levels.
• A proactive, solution-oriented and hands-on approach, combined with the ability to manage multiple priorities and projects independently.
• Excellent organizational and coordination skills.
• Fluent German and English language skills.

What We Offer

An international, purpose-driven and inclusive workplace where people collaborate across borders, feel valued and empowered, and thrive through a strong culture of flexibility, quality and sustainability.

Continuous Growth

• Continuous learning and development through training programs and mentoring opportunities
• Transparent career paths and internal mobility opportunities to support long-term growth
• Starter, our tailored onboarding journey, combining digital learning with onlife experiences

Wellbeing & Flexibility

• Smart Working policy with up to 40% remote work
• Structured parental leave policy
• A strong focus on employee wellbeing, including complimentary pasta, crispbread, fresh fruit, vegetables and coffee
• Modern office spaces in an attractive location with excellent access to public transportation
• Access to a company canteen and kitchen area for a comfortable daily break

Other Benefits

• Attractive employee discounts through our Corporate Benefits platform
• Bike leasing and access to Urban Sports Club memberships to support sustainable mobility and an active lifestyle
• Opportunities to contribute to national and international Diversity & Inclusion initiatives

At Barilla, we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace where diversity in all its forms is valued and embraced. Our employment policies and practices are designed to ensure equal employment opportunities for all, regardless of age, race, color, citizenship, faith, religion, creed, gender, sex, pregnancy, gender identity or characteristics of expression, sexual orientation, marital status, genetic information, medical condition, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. Our commitment to equal employment stems from our unwavering belief that it is not only the right thing to do, but it is also a fundamental driver of innovation and business success.