HR Business Partner (m/w/d) - Factory and Engineering, Berlin

Date Posted: 2025-02-11

Country: Germany

Location: SSI Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Goals & Objectives

• To be the HR Business partner for the Manufacturing (Factory) & Engineering Teams in Germany with around 270 employees in Berlin.
• In alignment with EMEA Operations HR, lead the HR function in active support of the overall achievement of the business plans for aforementioned client groups through tactical and strategic HR interventions.
• Deploy the People strategy in an aligned fashion with business goals and global & regional strategies. For example, technical career ladder for Engineering and front line supervisor training in Factory.
• Offer strategic HR counsel to Leadership as they evolve the organizational design to meet current and future business needs. Ensure any such changes build functional capability and capacity with the line managers.
• Turn Berlin Factory and Engineering culture into a competitive advantage by aligning engagement strategy to business strategy.
• Management and resolution of complex HR issues.
• The HR Business Partner will work closely with senior management, giving a mix of “hands-on” operational HR advice on employee relations, recruitment, selection, performance, management development and more complex issues such as strategic partnering in transformational activities including workforce planning, organizational design and change management, as well as on talent and engagement.
• Demonstrate enthusiasm to meet the challenges of a fast-moving environment, adopt a lateral approach to problem solving, combined with energy and drive. Support line managers in implementation of progressive HR initiatives and develop their business.

Responsibilities:

• Implement People strategy within the German “Electronic Systems” site in Berlin.
• Partner with COEs (Talent Acquisition, Talent Development, Change Management, Total Reward) to ensure execution of strategies, programs & processes in the topics of onboarding, engagement, performance management and succession planning.
• Be the escalation point for employee issues and complex case management and provide expert advice to managers on employee issues including disciplinary and grievance.
• Manage local legal regulations to ensure compliance.
• Validate hiring and headcount plans to ensure alignment with business priorities.
• Drive productivity improvements through the monitoring, analyzing, and forecasting employment costs, headcount & trends.
• Actively coach and participate in all employee relations issues, including investigations, disciplinaries, grievances and appeals, providing clear operational HR advice and guidance and active involvement as required.
• Either in one to one or group situations, develop tools and coaching sessions for managers to ensure that all tools available are being used to lead a motivated and engaged team that delivers results.
• Develop succession plans and work pro-actively to ensure that a talent pool is available and being actively developed within the business, ensuring a diverse mix of talent and development activities across all groups from early career to highly valued professionals.
• Close management of headcount and employment costs within the business units, providing monthly data to support with company forecasts. Review employee productivity taking accountability for ensuring the effective management of resources.
• Actively participate as a member of the German HR team to ensure alignment within the country as well as part of the HR Operations and as part of the client group’s leadership team.
• Partner with client groups to:
  • Support onboarding plans for all new starters and ensure that all new starters have a mid and end of probation review.
  • Support the salary review process ensuring that recommendations are linked to performance and recent appraisals and within budget.
• Maintain up to date knowledge of relevant legislation, implementing new or changed policies and procedures to ensure that the company meets its employment law requirements.
• Ensure adherence to all Company Policies and Procedures.
• Be fully conversant and compliant with all Environmental Health and Safety procedures.
• Complete quarterly ethics module as advised by Ethics & Compliance Officer (ECO).

Qualifications/ Experience/Knowledge:

• Degree qualified – preferably Master in Business Administration or Legal.
• Minimum of 10 years operational HR experience at either HR Manager or HR Business Partner level, preferable in a Manufacturing environment.
• Excellent labor law skills – preferably with operational experience in a Manufacturing environment.
• Fluent in German and English.
• Strong Change Management Expertise.
• Strong business and financial understanding.
• Experience in a matrix organization.
• DT skills including PowerPoint, Excel, etc. as well as experiences with HR Systems like Workday.

Personal Qualities and Behaviours:

• Customer focused.
• Able to promote a positive team culture and build cross-functional working relationships.
• Always act as an ambassador for the Company, giving commercial HR advice and guidance.
• Demonstrates a pragmatic and flexible working style with the ability to juggle workload within tight deadlines.
• Capable of hands-on problem solving, with ability to generate ideas and solutions.
• Sound commercial acumen and good understanding of the business.
• Ability to create and maintain trust and confidentiality.
• Strong communication skills in all disciplines including written, verbal, email and presentation.
• Strong listening and questioning skills.
• A positive attitude to dealing with people and ability to influence and persuade.
• An ability to work at a consistently high level of accuracy with attention to detail.
• Ability to cope with competing demands and to effectively prioritize tasks.
• Proven ability to coach for success and coach for improvement.
• Strong negotiation and conflict management skills.