Head of HR (interim)

Interim head of Human Resources
Fixed Term Contract – 18 months
€100,000 - €120,000 (flexible depending on experience) plus bonus
2 days in office, 3 days at home
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 into the executive committee and lead the local HR department in Hanover, and work as part of a larger European team located in the parent company. This role will be integral to supporting the organsiation during a period of high growth and transformation.

Job Summary

As the Interim Head of HR, you will oversee our small HR department and drive all HR interventions across the people, process and performance spectrum. This senior leadership role involves managing and advising the senior leadership team on all HR-related matters, including employee relations, talent management, organisational development, and HR process compliance. You will lead a small team of HR professionals, maintain HR policies and processes, and contribute to the development of HR initiatives that support the business’ commercial goals, culture, and people strategy. This position will be for a fixed term arrangement of 18 months, and we are looking for an experienced HR leader with a background in managing HR functions within multinational B2C organisations.

Responsibilities
• Lead the HR function, providing strategic guidance and direction to senior leadership and line managers.
• Develop and implement HR strategies, policies, and processes that align with organisational goals, employee needs, and compliance requirements.
• Partner with senior leadership to advise on and facilitate talent acquisition, leadership development, employee relations, and performance management.
• Support on organisational design and workforce planning, ensuring that the company has the right talent in place to meet future business needs.
• Lead the small HR team as a ‘player coach’, managing the execution of day-to-day HR operations, including recruitment, onboarding, training, performance management, and employee relations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for senior executives regarding all HR matters, providing expert advice and support on complex employee issues.
• Foster a culture of employee engagement, supporting initiatives related to employee wellbeing, recognition, and retention.
• Provide oversight of the performance management process, ensuring fair and consistent execution across the business.
• Lead on compensation and benefits management processes, ensuring alignment with company strategy, market competitiveness, and employee satisfaction.
• Manage employee relations issues, including investigations, disputes, and disciplinary actions, ensuring compliance with legal and company policies.
• Collaborate with the UK-based parent company HR team to ensure alignment of HR practices and policies across the global organisation.
• Monitor and manage HR metrics, analysing data to drive improvements in HR programs and employee outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with relevant employment laws and regulations across all jurisdictions in which the company operates.

Desired Skills and Experience
• Proven experience in a senior HR leadership role, preferably within large, multinational business-to-consumer (B2C) organisations
• knowledge and experience of collective labour law (BetrVG, Betriebsverfassungsgesetz) is an advantage
• Experience of working with German works council
• Strong understanding of German HR best practices and the ability to implement them in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Extensive experience advising senior leaders and line managers on complex HR issues, including performance management, organisational design, and employee relations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a diverse HR team, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.
• Experience managing large-scale/mature HR operations and driving organisational change initiatives.
• Strong business acumen, with the ability to link HR strategies to business outcomes.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and build relationships at all levels of the organisation.
• Fluent in both German and English, with exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
• Familiarity with HRIS and data analytics tools.
• Knowledge of German labour law and regulations; experience in managing cross-border HR issues is a plus.

If this is something of interest please do apply or reach out to luke.snowdon@middlemore.co.uk