Act as a trusted advisor to plant leadership and management teams.
Align HR strategies with business objectives, operational priorities, and workforce planning requirements.
Support organizational design, restructuring, and workforce optimization initiatives.
Provide coaching and guidance to managers on leadership, employee engagement, and performance management.
Employee & Labor Relations
Manage complex employee relations matters, including disciplinary actions, grievances, performance issues, and investigations.
Ensure compliance with German labour law and internal company policies.
Develop and maintain constructive relationships with Works Councils (Betriebsrat) and employee representatives.
Lead consultations and negotiations relating to organizational changes, restructuring, working time arrangements, and policy implementation.
Coordinate external legal counsel where required.
Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning
Lead end-to-end recruitment activities for salaried and production positions.
Partner with hiring managers to identify workforce requirements and succession needs.
Develop strategies to attract and retain skilled manufacturing talent.
Performance & Talent Management
Drive the annual performance management process.
Identify talent, succession planning, and development opportunities.
Support leadership development and employee career progression initiatives.
Facilitate training programs and organizational capability-building activities.
Compensation & Benefits
In liaison with corporate, administer salary review, bonus, and incentive programs.
Partner with corporate compensation and benefits on market benchmarking and compensation recommendations.
Ensure internal equity and compliance with applicable regulations.
Support implementation of pay transparency and equality initiatives.
HR Operations & Compliance
Ensure compliance with German employment legislation, social security requirements, and company policies.
Oversee employee lifecycle processes including hiring, onboarding, transfers, promotions, and separations.
Maintain accurate HR records and data reporting in HRIS systems.
Monitor and analyze HR metrics including turnover, absenteeism, productivity, and employee engagement.
Payroll Responsibilities
Manage and coordinate the end-to-end monthly payroll process for employees in Germany, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with applicable tax, social security, labour, and statutory requirements.
Act as the primary liaison with external payroll providers, finance teams, and relevant government authorities to ensure payroll is processed correctly and in accordance with legal requirements.
Review and validate payroll data, including salary changes, bonuses, shift premiums, overtime, allowances, absences, and termination payments.
Ensure statutory deductions, tax withholdings, social insurance contributions, and employee benefits are accurately calculated and administered.
Support payroll audits and maintain payroll records, documentation, and reporting in compliance with company policies and data privacy requirements, including GDPR.
Manage payroll-related employee inquiries and provide clear guidance on pay, deductions, benefits, and statutory entitlements.
Monitor legislative and regulatory changes impacting payroll and recommend process updates to ensure ongoing compliance.
Partner with Finance to support payroll reconciliations, accruals, budgeting, and workforce reporting requirements.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance payroll accuracy, efficiency, controls, and employee experience.
Ensure confidentiality and security of employee compensation and personal data at all times.
Change Management
Support business transformation and continuous improvement initiatives.
Lead HR aspects of reorganizations, and site changes when required.
Develop communication and employee engagement plans during periods of change.
Health, Safety & Wellbeing
Partner with EHS and operational leaders to promote a safe working environment.
Support employee wellbeing initiatives and occupational health programs.
Participate in return-to-work, accommodation, and absence management processes.
Qualifications
Education
Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Law, Psychology, or related field.
Master's degree or HR certification preferred.
Experience
7-10 years of progressive Human Resources experience.
Minimum 3 years in a manufacturing, industrial, aerospace, automotive, chemicals, or engineering environment.
Demonstrated experience working with German Works Councils.
Experience managing employee relations and labor law matters in Germany.
Experience supporting organizational change and restructuring programs.
Knowledge & Technical Skills
Strong knowledge of German employment law and industrial relations.
Understanding of collective bargaining agreements and co-determination requirements.
Experience with HRIS systems.
Knowledge of compensation and benefits practices.
Strong project management and organizational skills.
Leadership Competencies
Business acumen.
Strong influencing and negotiation skills.
Excellent stakeholder management capabilities.
High level of integrity and professionalism.
Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information.
Results-oriented with strong problem-solving skills.
Language Requirements
Fluent German and English required.
Additional European languages are advantageous.
Key Success Measures
Employee engagement and retention levels.
Effective management of employee relations issues.
Successful Works Council collaboration and negotiations.
Recruitment and time-to-fill metrics.
Compliance with labour legislation and company policies.
Leadership capability development.
Achievement of diversity, talent, and succession objectives.
Working Environment
Manufacturing and office-based environment.
Regular presence on the production floor.
Occasional domestic and international travel.
Ability to work effectively with both hourly and salaried employee populations.
About Hexcel Corporation
As a leading producer of carbon fiber reinforcements and resin systems, and the world leader in honeycomb manufacturing for the commercial aerospace industry, Hexcel is creating a better world for us all through lightweight solutions.
