Director, Global Human Resources

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Director, Global Human Resources based in Germany.

This is a senior HR leadership opportunity supporting a globally distributed workforce spanning approximately 50 countries.

You will lead core HR operations while serving as a trusted strategic partner to directors, executives, managers, and staff.

The role combines global people strategy with hands-on oversight of employee relations, compensation, benefits, performance, compliance, and HR operations.

You will lead and develop a small HR team while continuously improving programs, processes, systems, and ways of working.

A strong focus on organizational effectiveness, leadership development, workforce insights, and employee experience will be central to your impact.

You will operate in a highly distributed environment where curiosity, sound judgment, adaptability, and cultural awareness are essential.

This position offers the opportunity to shape global people practices within a fast-growing technology organization while helping create a consistent and equitable employee experience worldwide.

Accountabilities:

• Lead the day-to-day operations of the global HR function, managing and developing a small team while establishing clear accountability, ownership, and effective ways of working.
• Serve as a senior HR business partner to directors and executive leaders, providing practical guidance, sound judgment, and strategic recommendations on people and organizational matters.
• Guide managers through sensitive employee relations issues, workplace concerns, conflicts, performance challenges, and investigations with fairness, discretion, and appropriate judgment.
• Oversee the full employee lifecycle, from onboarding through offboarding, while partnering with Talent Acquisition to ensure a smooth transition from candidate to employee.
• Manage core HR programs covering compensation and bonus administration, policies, leave programs, HR communications, performance management, and other essential people initiatives.
• Navigate global employment practices across multiple countries, maintaining a consistent and equitable employee experience while engaging local experts when specialized knowledge is required.
• Monitor emerging HR trends and evolving workforce expectations, translating relevant insights into improvements in workforce planning, leadership capability, team effectiveness, and organizational design.
• Oversee global benefits and well-being programs, including provider and broker relationships, renewals, enrollment, employee education, and ongoing participant support.
• Support immigration and relocation matters when required, coordinating with employees, managers, external counsel, and service providers to ensure well-managed transitions.
• Oversee leadership and organizational development initiatives while partnering with Learning & Development stakeholders on broader leadership, culture, product, and skills development programs.
• Lead the performance management program and ensure effective alignment between performance, compensation, and Learning & Development initiatives.
• Oversee HR systems, workflows, data integrity, reporting, and people analytics, using technology and automation to simplify processes, identify trends and risks, and improve decision-making.
• Continuously evaluate HR processes and programs to determine what should be improved, simplified, automated, delegated, or discontinued as the organization evolves.
• Act as a change agent by identifying organizational needs and partnering with senior HR leadership to translate emerging issues, global events, and employee needs into practical strategies and coordinated action.
• Champion a strong workplace culture and employee experience while promoting thoughtful, inclusive, and effective global people practices.

Requirements:

• 8-12 years of progressive HR experience, including at least 5 years in an HR leadership position and meaningful experience supporting a global workforce.
• Experience working within a globally distributed organization, particularly one with a significant employee population in the United States.
• Broad HR generalist expertise spanning employee relations, benefits, compensation, performance management, compliance, HR operations, and the complete employee lifecycle.
• Strong knowledge of global employment practices, with exposure to employment requirements across multiple countries and the judgment to recognize when local expertise is needed.
• Experience leading, mentoring, and developing HR professionals and building effective people teams.
• Experience overseeing or contributing to Learning & Development programs, particularly initiatives focused on leadership, culture, and organizational development.
• Strong experience with HR systems, reporting, data integrity, process improvement, automation, and people analytics.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to listen carefully, synthesize complex situations, and provide clear and actionable recommendations.
• Strong organizational skills, sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a changing and ambiguous environment.
• A proactive, curious, analytical, and solutions-oriented approach to people and workplace challenges.
• Ability to communicate with diplomacy and candor while building trusted relationships across different levels, functions, cultures, and geographic locations.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• HR certification such as SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CIPD, or an equivalent credential is an advantage.
• Experience supporting fully remote teams and workforces consisting of both employees and contractors is highly desirable.
• Experience supporting employees across Canada, India, the United Kingdom, and multiple European countries is an advantage.
• Experience improving HR operations through technology, automation, and people analytics is highly desirable.

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation package.
• Fully remote work environment within a globally distributed organization.
• Flexible working hours.
• Various paid time-off programs.
• Equipment provided for your remote office.
• Career development funding for external training, certifications, and conferences.
• Ongoing connectivity allowances.
• Opportunity to participate in an equity incentive plan.
• Work-from-anywhere opportunities and additional flexibility designed to support work-life balance.
• Employee-focused initiatives and programs supporting connection, well-being, and engagement.
• Opportunities to participate in volunteering and social-impact initiatives.
• Opportunity to contribute to global HR strategy and organizational development within a high-growth technology environment.