Division Human Resources Manager

About the Client and Role

Our client, a leading global automotive manufacturing business, is searching for a Divisional HR Manager to support and lead HR activities across multiple plant locations.

This is a key leadership role responsible for driving the people strategy across the division, supporting plant leadership teams, and ensuring HR is closely aligned with operational and business objectives.

The successful candidate will play a critical role in organisational development, restructuring, employee relations, talent management, workforce planning, and supporting change across the business.

The role requires someone with strong experience in manufacturing environments, ideally within automotive or industrial manufacturing, who understands plant operations, shop floor dynamics, and the importance of building strong relationships with both leadership teams and employees.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate HR activities across multiple plants within the division.
• Partner closely with Plant Managers, Operations Leaders, and Divisional Leadership to align HR strategy with business goals.
• Support and lead restructuring, downsizing, organisational change, and workforce planning initiatives where required.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on all people-related topics, including employee relations, leadership development, performance management, and talent planning.
• Ensure strong HR presence across the plants, with a clear understanding of shop floor operations and employee engagement.
• Support plant leadership teams in improving organisational effectiveness, communication, and people processes.
• Drive talent acquisition, succession planning, and retention strategies across the division.
• Lead and support negotiations with works councils, unions, and employee representatives where applicable.
• Ensure compliance with local employment law, company policies, and HR best practices.
• Manage and develop HR teams across the division, ensuring consistent standards and ways of working.
• Support cultural change and continuous improvement initiatives across the business.
• Provide HR reporting, KPI tracking, and insights to support business decision-making.
• Work closely with central HR, finance, operations, and leadership teams to ensure alignment across the division.

Skills and Qualifications

• Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, Law, or a related field.
• Strong experience in HR leadership within an automotive, industrial, or manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience supporting multiple sites, plants, or a divisional structure.
• Experience in restructuring, downsizing, organisational change, or transformation projects is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of plant operations, shop floor environments, and operational business needs.
• Experience working with works councils, unions, or employee representative bodies.
• Strong knowledge of German employment law and HR compliance requirements.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to influence senior leaders while remaining hands-on and close to the business.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to manage complex employee relations topics.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, international, and matrixed environment.
• Fluent in German and English.
• Ideal Candidate Profile
• The ideal candidate will be a strong HR leader with a solid background in manufacturing and plant-based environments.

They will have experience operating at both strategic and hands-on levels, with the ability to support senior leadership while remaining visible and connected to the shop floor.

• This person should be confident leading change, supporting restructuring projects, and helping the business build a stronger and more effective organisation.

They should be commercially minded, operationally focused, and able to work closely with leaders to drive performance through people.

• About CLM
• At CLM, we're obsessed with creating a better executive search experience for our candidates and clients in the automotive industry.

With over 25 years of international experience providing staffing solutions at C-Suite, Leadership and Management level, we go above and beyond to ensure your needs always come first.

• Unfortunately, due to the high level of applications, we are not physically able to get back to every candidate that applies.

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