Head of People & Talent (f/m/d) in Hamburg

Uplift Ventures shapes the future of moving goods.

Global supply chains are being rebuilt - from automation and AI to digital platforms and new business models. We don’t just observe these shifts - we turn them into ventures and opportunities for our core organization, Jungheinrich AG.

As the venturing unit of Jungheinrich, we work across the full venturing spectrum: Venture Building, Venture Clienting, and Venture Capital, combining all three to create a lasting strategic impact.

At the core of everything we do is one belief: Exceptional outcomes are built by exceptional people.

As Head of People & Talent, you will ensure we consistently identify, attract, and win the best entrepreneurial talent - from future founders to top operators across all our venturing activities.

You will build and own Uplift’s talent engine - identifying and attracting the people who power our venturing activities across Building, Clienting and Capital.

What you'll do

Your role has four core dimensions:

• Build the long-term talent community: Develop deep access to the most relevant founder, operator and investor ecosystems, nurture long-term relationships with exceptional individuals, and position Uplift as a top platform for entrepreneurial talent.
• Run proactive sourcing & hiring: Drive active sourcing and high-quality hiring across all Uplift functions and lead the way in discovering the next generation of founders who will build category defining, VC-backable Ventures with us.
• Develop conviction on talent: Build a strong understanding of what defines exceptional founders, operators and investors, and continuously sharpen our judgment through selection, hiring decisions and outcomes.
• Own the people foundation: Take end-to-end ownership of the employee lifecycle - from onboarding to development, HR processes and infrastructure - ensuring Uplift scales as a high-performing organization.

You will:

• Identify and test different channels to source and win top entrepreneurial talent
• Build long-term relationships before talent is "on the market"
• Own Uplift’s talent strategy end-to-end
• Partner with the leadership team on hiring and org topics
• Shape and represent Uplift’s employer brand
• Build scalable hiring processes and HR infrastructure
• Own operational HR (contracts, policies, payroll interface)

This role isn’t about running HR - it’s about owning the full employee lifecycle and building the talent engine that

powers every Uplift venture.

This role is for you if

• You understand what makes exceptional founders, operators and high-performing teams
• You are able to assess potential without a clear track record
• You have proven experience in active sourcing and winning top talent
• You are a strong network builder with access to relevant ecosystems
• You combine strategic thinking with hands-on execution
• You are entrepreneurial, fast-paced, and take full ownership
• You care about building a platform for talent, not just filling roles
• You thrive in ambiguity and move fast while maintaining quality

Bonus:

• Experience in startup, VC, or venture building environments
• Strong personal network in founder, operator or investor ecosystems
• Experience building talent platforms or communities
• Familiarity with HR systems, labor law, or scaling processes
• Strong AI/tooling fluency and willingness to experiment

Languages: Fluent in English and German

What we offer

• A key role with direct impact on Uplift’s success across Building, Clienting and Capital
• The opportunity to build a best-in-class founder & talent engine
• Close collaboration with founders, operators, investors and Jungheinrich leadership
• Full ownership and freedom to shape our people and talent strategy
• A fast-paced, high-caliber environment with ambitious colleagues
• Access to Uplift’s and Jungheinrich’s network and assets
• Competitive compensation and flexibility

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