Senior HR Business Partner

Role: 

We are looking for a Senior HR Business Partner to join our teams in Munich, Düsseldorf or Frankfurt.

The Senior HR Business Partner leads the German HR team currently consisting of 4 team members and plays an active, hands on role across all core HR disciplines relevant for the German practice of Pinsent Masons. 

The purpose of the role is to provide strong, credible HR leadership and enable strategic development of the German HR team in a partner-led environment. In addition to strategic development, the role assumes concrete operational responsibility in day to day business, particularly in matters like employee support, recruitment, payroll, employee development, local employer branding, and people-related events. The HR Team in Germany works closely with the leadership team, consisting of the Head of Germany, the Heads of Office in Germany, the COO EMEA and the partners in Germany, as well as with the UK/firmwide HR team on an international level with the aim to build trusted relationships and ensure consistent, high-quality HR support across the German offices. 

Working in close partnership with the Global HR leadership team (the majority of whom are based in the UK), the role also plays an important part in aligning German HR practices with the firmwide approach, helping to improve consistency, systems usage and ways of working. 

Responsibilities:

• Leading the HR Germany team 

• Responsible for all HR-related topics and projects at the Munich, Düsseldorf, and Frankfurt locations

• Supporting and advising management and the German HR committee on HR issues

• Working closely with the Head of HR EMEA on firmwide and local priorities to provide the best possible service to German employees, including further development of policies, project delivery and standardisation of processes

• Operational ownership and active involvement in recruiting in Germany, including conducting interviews, managing contract negotiations, and coordinating with hiring managers. Ensuring a smooth recruiting and onboarding process and contract management.

• Responsible for the German implementation of firmwide HR priorities such as Performance Management, Talent Mapping, Promotions and Reward

• Hands on responsibility for the German payroll process, including reviewing payroll runs, resolving individual issues, and working directly with Finance and the external provider. Identifying improvements to payroll processes

• Hands on management of complex HR issues, particularly around employment law, driving organisational changes, and individual personnel actions.

• Project work with firmwide HR and specialist teams to review and improve processes and systems

• Creation and analysis of reports.

• Actively driving HR development topics

• Local responsibility for firmwide employer branding, including career fairs and career website

• Attendance at management meetings and firmwide and international HR meetings 

• Active handling of individual employment law and employee relations cases, providing direct advice to managers and employees. 

• Driving continuous improvement of HR processes, identifying opportunities to streamline workflows, reduce manual effort and improve service efficiency.

• Embedding the firm’s Employee Valuer Proposition (EVP) across the Germany offices and working to align the career experience to the EVP.

Skills / Experience:

• Extensive experience in HR in an International Law Firm in the German market

• Significant leadership experience

• In-depth knowledge of German HR regulations and guidelines and their practical implementation

• Change management experience is essential

• Enjoy meeting and supporting people

• Organisational skills and an ability to ‘get things done’ in an efficient and proactive manner

• Strong operational experience and the ability to handle high workload

• Trustworthy, diplomatic, strong customer service skills, solution-oriented 

• Project management experience, delivering successful results

• Technically savvy and driven to optimise

• Excellent communication skills in German and English

• Ability to influence and challenge

If you are motivated by strategic HR leadership, hands‑on delivery and driving practical, sustainable improvement, we would be pleased to hear from you.

Benefits:

• An open and very collegial office culture in an international environment 

• Reimbursement of travel expenses (Deutschlandticket), employee discounts through Corporate Benefits, JobRad, Wellpass, company pension allowance, paid time off for new parents

• Further education & training on hard and soft skills, locally and via our global network and mentoring

• Networks and communities to get involved in

• Home office & workation option (minimum 3 days per week in office required)

• Company doctor

• Office and team events, such as Christmas parties, visits to the Oktoberfest, sporting events and get-togethers

   

Our Commitment to Inclusion 

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident employer, a top Stonewall employer, and a signatory to multiple inclusion charters. We value diverse perspectives and encourage everyone to bring their authentic selves to work.

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