People & Culture Partner GSA - Hamburg

The People & Culture Partner delivers strategic and operational HR support to designated business units and corporate functions, primarily across Germany, with additional responsibility for Switzerland and Austria within the respective legal entities. The role serves as a trusted advisor to leaders and managers, providing guidance on the effective management and resolution of complex HR matters across the employee lifecycle, including employee relations, performance management, employee development, compensation, internal mobility, retention, talent acquisition, headcount and position management, and compliance-related topics. The postholder collaborates closely with the Director People & Culture, the GSA P&C team, P&C Centres of Excellence, and Employment and Corporate Legal teams, as required, to ensure aligned and effective HR delivery.

• Provide effective day-to-day generalist HR support across the business unit and the employee lifecycle.
• Support and coach leaders and managers on performance, talent, and employee development.
• Advise and support managers on individual employee relations matters, including investigations and exits.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition on recruitment and internal mobility, and support workforce planning, headcount, and position management.
• Partner with business and functional leaders on organisational change, including structures, role design, reporting lines, and related legal and consultation requirements.
• Build constructive, trust-based relationships with the works council and other employee representative bodies across individual and collective matters.
• Partner with HR Centres of Excellence to drive the execution of key local, regional, and global HR programmes, projects, and initiatives.
• Partner with Finance on budgeting, forecasting, and people-related costs, and, in collaboration with the WBD Compensation & Benefits team, provide guidance on compensation matters, including bonus processes.
• Work closely with the HR Services team to drive process improvements and ensure Workday is maintained accurately, enabling reliable reporting and data integrity.
• Escalate complex people matters to the Director People & Culture GSA as appropriate.
• Ensure local HR policies and procedures are reviewed and updated in line with employment legislation.
• Champion the WBD culture and values and drive employee engagement and retention across the organisation.
• Foster collaboration across local offices, strengthen a "one WBD" mindset, and promote a diverse and inclusive workplace that fosters collaboration, belonging, and respect.

• University degree and/or recognised HR qualification.
• Significant experience in a generalist HR role, partnering with leaders and managers across a broad range of people matters.
• Strong knowledge of German employment law, including an up-to-date understanding of relevant legal and regulatory developments.
• Extensive experience in works council relations and co-determination matters, combined with strong knowledge of collective employment law and a proven ability to manage complex individual and collective issues effectively.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to assess situations quickly, define issues, establish facts, draw sound conclusions, and use data to inform recommendations and decision-making.
• Ability to understand the specific challenges of different business areas and to advise and coach EMEA and US People & Culture Partners where relevant.
• Hands-on, proactive, and execution-focused, with the ability to take ownership, drive improvements across client groups, and deliver results.
• A service-oriented mindset combined with curiosity, sound judgement, a collaborative approach, and the confidence to challenge constructively where appropriate.
• Ability to prioritise effectively, manage multiple demands simultaneously, and deliver high-quality work at pace in a demanding, high-pressure environment.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, in German and business-fluent English.

• Proven experience operating effectively within large, US-headquartered multinational organisations and complex matrix structures would be advantageous.

• Hybrid working

• Flexible working hours are offered to assist.