Principal Organisation Design & Development (all genders)

THE ROLE & THE TEAM

The Organisation Design & Development team is a specialized function within People & Organisation (P&O) at Zalando. Our mission is to collaborate with senior executives on large-scale business transformation projects, focusing on operating model and organisational design changes. Additionally, we shape the overall organisational development by owning Zalando’s group frameworks for strategic workforce planning and organisational effectiveness.

Key Responsibilities:

As a Principal in Organisation Design & Development, you will:

- Ensure sustainable organisational design, with a focus on the structural setup of our overall business (operating model).

- Lead the execution of organisational changes.

- Enhance planning processes for organisational and strategic workforce development.

- Strengthen governance over organisational practices.

This is an individual contributor role with no direct team leadership responsibilities. However, as a Principal, you will lead projects and contribute to the development of Organisation Design products, such as strategic workforce planning frameworks.

INCLUSIVE BY DESIGN

At Zalando, our vision is to be inclusive by design. And this vision starts with our hiring - we do not discriminate on the basis of gender identity, sexual orientation, personal expression, ethnicity, religious belief, or disability status. You are welcome to leave out your picture, age, or marital status from your application. We only assess candidates on their qualifications and merit. 

We want to provide you with a great candidate experience. Feel free to inform us of any accommodations you may need, so we can best support you throughout the hiring process. 

do.BETTER - our diversity & inclusion strategy: https://corporate.zalando.com/en/our-impact/dobetter-our-diversity-and-inclusion-strategy
Our employee resource groups: https://corporate.zalando.com/en/our-impact/our-employee-resource-groups 

What We’re Looking For

We welcome candidates from diverse professional backgrounds. While there is no one-size-fits-all profile, we expect candidates to demonstrate:

• Experience: At least 8+ years in strategic transformation roles, ideally within larger transformational programs, operating model changes, or organisational design projects.

• Consulting Acumen: Prior consulting experience at an executive level, either in-house or externally.

• Complex Problem-Solving: Ability to structure complex organisational and workforce challenges, analyse both quantitative and qualitative data, and advise on strategic direction.

• Communication Skills: Proven ability to craft and deliver compelling decision proposals and pre-reads for senior executives, both in written and verbal formats.

We will evaluate your professional experience based on the following criteria:

• Complexity and scale of the business problems you have addressed.

• Collaboration with and exposure to senior executives.

• Level of independence in your previous roles.

• Experience with strategic planning and transformations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Business experience is valued over functional HR experience.

• Strong analytical skills with exposure to a broad range of business challenges.

• Experience working on 1-2 projects involving strategic workforce planning or related long-term planning initiatives.

• Experience in developing and facilitating workshops.

What We Value

At Zalando, we believe that strong teams are diverse but share common values and traits. We are looking for individuals who exhibit customer-centricity, optimism, and resilience.

We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every single requirement. You may be the right candidate for this role or others at Zalando!

If you think you have what it takes, we’d love to hear from you.

WHAT WE’D LOVE YOU TO DO (AND LOVE DOING)

• Develop Zalando's strategic workforce planning capabilities; the product and related practice. Driving the end to end development and implementation of the group SWP framework and process, and related metrics, tools and enablement. 

• Drive own lighthouse projects including, advising senior executives and their leadership teams on how to approach operating model changes by; 1) identifying key problems to solve and key stakeholder (groups) to involve in the process 2) leveraging centrally available tools to design fit for purpose operating model solutions, 3) advising senior (executive) leaders and stakeholders on their role through the process, including how to manage change. 

• Maintain toolkits, guidelines, and policies and our overall knowledge base with approaches used for our broader organisational design practice. 

OUR OFFER

Zalando provides a range of benefits, here’s an overview of what you can expect. Ask your Talent Acquisition Partner to learn more about what we offer.

• Employee shares program

• 40% off fashion and beauty products sold and shipped by Zalando, 30% off Zalando Lounge, discounts from external partners

• 2 paid volunteering days a year

• Hybrid working model with 60% (or more) remote per week, actual practice is up to each team to best support their collaboration  

• Work from abroad for up to 30 working days a year

• 27 days of holiday a year to start

• Relocation assistance available (subject to prior agreement)

• Family services, including counselling and support

• Health and wellbeing options (including WellHub)

• Mental health support and coaching available

Learn all about Zalando and our values here: https://jobs.zalando.com/en/?gh_src=22377bdd1us