Job Description

Join the movement and find new inspiration

We have an exciting opportunity as:

P&O Business Partner/Assistant Manager (All genders welcome)in the People & Organization departmentat the Kia Europe Headquarters in Frankfurt/Main, Germany.

Job Mission:

As a Business Partner, you will take ownership of core processes and ensure their smooth execution. compliance with German labor. You will support leaders and employees across departments by aligning P&O practices with business goals. In this role, you’ll act as a trusted advisor to managers and executives, offering sound guidance on people-related matters while helping to shape a strong, engaging workplace culture.

Your Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary point of contact for a defined business area, supporting managers and employees on all people matters.

• Act as a sparring partner to senior leaders by advising on workforce planning, organizational design, talent development, and team effectiveness.

• Support the implementation of core people processes (e.g., Recruitment, Performance Reviews, Development Plans, Succession Planning, internal Talent Acquisition).

• Analyze HR metrics (e.g., turnover, engagement, headcount) and help translate insights into actionable people solutions.

• Ensure HR policies and practices are compliant with German labor law and aligned with Kia’s internal standards.

• Participate in cross-functional HR projects and contribute to shaping employee experience, DE&I initiatives, and culture programs.

• Provide guidance on conflict management and employee relations topics with a solutions-focused and empathetic approach.

• Monitor and ensure compliance with all statutory requirements (tax, social security, and other regulatory obligations), including accurate and timely payments to authorities and service providers

• Support and partially steer recruitment processes, acting as a key contact for candidates and ensuring a smooth candidate experience

• Oversee reporting, preparation of employment-related certificates, and communication with external stakeholders such as health insurance providers and authorities

Your talents:

• German and English fluent (written and spoken), additional languages advantageous.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resources/Business or the equivalent in related work experience.

• Several years of professional working experience as HR Business Partner or Generalist, HR Operations, or a comparable function, ideally within an international environment.

• Solid knowledge of German labor law, payroll, tax and social security regulations.

• Proven experience working with external providers, including coordination, validation, and quality assurance of payroll outputs.

• Strong understanding of end-to-end payroll processes, including interfaces to finance, time tracking, and benefits administration.
  Experience in handling audits, reporting requirements, and communication with authorities, health insurance providers, and other external stakeholders.

• Confident handling of HR systems (e.g. Workday or comparable) and very good Excel skills for KPI analysis and reporting.

• High level of accuracy, reliability, and sense of responsibility when dealing with sensitive employee data.

• Strong service orientation and ability to manage and resolve complex employee inquiries in a structured and solution-oriented manner.

• Strong interpersonal and consulting skills with the confidence to advise senior leaders.

• Discreet and trustworthy - able to handle confidential information with integrity.

• Data-driven, solution-oriented, and comfortable navigating ambiguity.

• Ability to work independently, prioritize effectively, and take ownership of topics, even in a part-time role.

• Team-oriented mindset with the ability to collaborate across functions and act as an interface between payroll, P&O, finance, and external partners.

Who are we?

Kia is a global mobility brand with a vision to create sustainable mobility solutions for consumers, communities, and societies around the world. Founded in 1944, Kia has been building motorcycles, cars and trucks for more than 75 years.

Kia is now spearheading the popularization of electrified and battery electric vehicles, developing a growing range of mobility services while encouraging millions of people to explore the best ways of getting around. Our brand slogan – ‘Movement that inspires’ – reflects our commitment to inspire consumers through our products and services.

Kia Europe is the European sales and manufacturing arm of Kia Corporation. From our headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, we lead 39 markets across Europe and the Caucasus, employing more than 5,500 persons, including about 3,500 blue collar workers in our state of the art car plant in Zilina, Slovakia.

Our headquarter is home to 50 different nationalities and this diversity is truly inspiring! This means that every day at Kia is an opportunity to learn something new and to grow personally and professionally. The mix of ambitious and dynamic employees from all over the world is the fuel to our success.

Do you have what it takes to join our team? We are looking forward to getting to know you!

Should you still have doubts, we also offer:

• A vibrant international atmosphere where our workforce represents 50+ nations.

• Playing a pivotal role in shaping Kia's culture in Europe, actively contributing to its development.

• Exploring new solutions, where your creative input matters significantly.

• Enjoying a competitive compensation package, including a Job ticket, consistent on-the-job training, a complimentary staff restaurant, and engaging company events.

  If you’re interested to become part of our Kia team, please apply via our online portal. We are looking forward to getting to know you.