Job Purpose:
We are looking for a hands-on HR Generalist in Germany, with experience of working with works councils, who enjoys working in an international setting and wants to develop further in this area. Working with the works councils is a significant part of the role and whilst you do not need a legal background you do need a good appreciation and understanding of the law in Germany as it applies to works council matters.
You would own delivery of people services for German colleagues working with managers and the works councils. This role is part of a wider Global People Services team and has two direct reports. You would own the relationship with the five works councils in Germany, helping resolve issues as they raise in a timely manner, and building up trust with them to be able to secure their approvals on new processes and solutions. This requires maintaining relationships with various business functions outside of Germany, including Legal, IT and Finance.
Job Overview:
Key Responsibilities
- Takes actions or advises on complex employee relations cases including grievance, discipline, performance related, redundancies; demonstrating a high level of professionalism in line with RWS values, offering 'open door' and providing advice to colleagues on work related issues with empathy and maintaining close collaboration with relevant HRBPs on cases to ensure alignment on actions and supporting management decision-making
- Actively keeps up to date with local law and regulations and provides leadership and support on country specific employee relations and statutory and regulatory requirements, for example, consulting with Works Councils and staff associations, regulatory reporting, ensuring effective, compliant delivery of HR services.
- With your team, proactively identifies challenges, inefficiencies, and pain points in our HR processes and works as part of the broader global team to resolve them, continually improving end-to-end HR services and operations.
- Fosters strong partnerships with all HR functions including Centres of Excellence (e.g. Talent Acquisition, Global Rewards, Talent Development) and Business Unit Business Partners to ensure that the team is delivering the service that the business needs and supports the established standards.
- Works with global HR policies, processes, data and documentation, localising where legally required
- Leads the local HR team to act on outputs from data audits, and other insights, working with local team to remedy data errors/improve data and incorporate lessons learned to improve data accuracy going forward.
- Provides oversight and monitoring of payroll processes including data integrity and accuracy in payroll preparation and benefits management and administration within the country.
- Manages local Germany benefits vendors in line with HR strategy, including maintaining supplier renewals, and leveraging simplification opportunities.
- Monitors and drives culture within country including leading culture transformation and active promotion of One RWS by having a visible presence in the office(s) (if possible) and regularly speaking to colleagues and managers.
Skills & Experience
- At least 5 years experience in HR in a similar position
- Experience/awareness of working with work councils
- Clear communicator in written and spoken English, confident and experienced at having difficult conversations on sensitive subjects.
- Good level of German
- Keeps up to date with changes in Germany Employment law and best practices, (and Switzerland and Austria is an advantage but not required)
- Hands on experience of owning colleague relations cases including redundancy consultation processes, protected conversations, capability and performance and disciplinary cases
- Friendly, approachable and empathetic with good listening skills and ability to be a trusted advisor to first line and middle managers
- Team player able to build strong relationships across boundaries
- Good attention to detail and ability to check the work of others
- Ability to mentor and help assist the personal development of other team members
Life at RWS:
At RWS, we’re here for one purpose: unlocking global understanding.
As a unique, world-leading provider of technology-enabled language, content, and intellectual property services, we remove the barriers to communication to make global connection possible. Our unrivalled experience and deep understanding of language have been developed over more than 60 years. As we look to shape the future, our ambition is to create a world where understanding is universal for everyone.
We work with over 80% of the world’s top 100 brands, more than three-quarters of Fortune’s 20 ‘Most Admir