Human Resources Generalist

Description

As the local HR Generalist for Germany, you will deliver end-to-end HR support for approximately 60 employees and managers.

You will be the first point of contact for day-to-day HR needs, ensure compliant and consistent HR operations, and partner with the MD to support the people agenda locally while aligning to global/Regional HR Operations standards.

Reporting lines: Functional reporting to HR Operations; local reporting to the MD (Germany)

Requirements

• Employee lifecycle & HR operations
• Manage end-to-end employee lifecycle activities: onboarding, probation, contract changes, promotions, transfers, leaves, and offboarding.
• Prepare and manage local HR documentation (e. g., employment letters, certificates, confirmations) in line with internal standards and German legal requirements.
• Maintain accurate employee records and HRIS data; ensure timely processing of changes and adherence to data privacy requirements.
• Own local HR calendars and processes (e. g., probation reviews, annual policy acknowledgements) and coordinate with HR Operations on process improvements.
• Employee relations, compliance & works council coordination
• Provide day-to-day guidance to employees and managers on HR policies, local practices, and employment-related queries.
• Support employee relations matters (e. g., attendance, conduct, performance, grievances) by advising managers, documenting cases, and partnering with HR Operations/HRBP/Legal as required.
• Ensure local compliance with German labour laws and applicable collective agreements; support audits and respond to regulatory requests as needed.
• Monitor and support absence and leave management (e. g., sickness, parental leave), ensuring appropriate documentation and timely communication with payroll/provider partners.
• Payroll, benefits & vendor coordination
• Act as the local interface to payroll and external providers: validate monthly payroll inputs (e. g., new hires, leavers, salary changes, allowances, absences) and ensure deadlines are met.
• Support employee benefits administration (enrolment changes, queries, life events) and ensure compliance with local statutory requirements.
• Coordinate with head office on headcount reporting, cost centre alignment, and local administration topics.
• Global Mobility
• Track and support local mobility/relocation or cross-border employment topics in partnership with HR Operations and external advisors (as applicable).
• Prepare and coordinate visa / work permit applications, work permit transfers in conjunction with our local partner.
• Ensure local registration at townhall and provide local guidance as necessary.
• Recruitment support & onboarding experience
• Partner with Talent Acquisition and hiring managers to ensure a smooth candidate-to-employee handover and consistent onboarding.
• Coordinate local induction, mandatory trainings, and onboarding checklists; gather feedback to improve the new joiner experience.
• Country partnering, engagement & communications
• Partner with the Country Manager on local people priorities (e. g., engagement actions, communications, policy rollouts) and provide insight on trends and risks.
• Support local initiatives (e. g., wellbeing, recognition, DEI activities) aligned to the broader HR strategy.
• Maintain local HR content and communications (FAQs, guidance notes) to ensure employees and managers have clear, timely information.
• Reporting, data quality & continuous improvement
• Produce and validate local HR reports/metrics (e. g., headcount, attrition, absence, onboarding/offboarding status) and share insights with HR Operations and the Country Manager.
• Identify recurring issues and propose process improvements to increase employee experience, compliance, and operational efficiency.
• Support annual HR cycles (e. g., compensation reviews, performance cycle administration) in line with global processes, ensuring local compliance and timelines are met.
• Required qualifications & experience
• Proven experience in a generalist HR role in Germany, ideally supporting a small-to-mid sized employee population.
• Strong working knowledge of German labour law fundamentals and HR administration practices (e. g., contracts, leave/absence processes, works council interaction as applicable).
• Experience coordinating payroll inputs with external payroll providers and administering benefits.
• Comfortable operating in a matrix environment with dual reporting lines and multiple stakeholders.
• Experience using HRIS systems and maintaining high-quality employee data; strong Microsoft Office/Excel skills.
• Fluent German and professional English (spoken and written).

Education & certifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Human Resources, Business Administration, Law, or a related field.
• Relevant HR qualification/certification is a plus (e. g., IHK HR-related certification or comparable).
• Key competencies
• Service-oriented mindset with strong employee experience focus.
• Sound judgment, confidentiality, and ability to handle sensitive topics with discretion.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills across cultures and levels.
• Organized and detail-oriented with the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Continuous improvement mindset; able to simplify and standardize processes.
• What success looks like (first 6–12 months)
• Smooth, compliant delivery of core HR processes for Germany with strong data quality and on-time payroll inputs.
• Trusted partnership with the MD and managers, providing timely guidance and pragmatic solutions.
• Improved employee experience through clear communication, responsive support, and streamlined local HR administration.
• Effective collaboration with HR Operations and other HR functions, ensuring alignment to global standards while meeting local requirements.