Job Description — Senior HR Lead (Head of HR) Location: Bad-Homburg / Hesse Employment Type: Full-time, permanent Start Date: By arrangement About the Role We are seeking a hands-on Senior HR Lead/ Team Lead to lead the HR function for approx. 100-person organization in the Hesse area.This is a layer-coach role : you will set HR strategy and policy while remaining operationally active across day-to-day HR delivery.The ideal candidate brings 10 years of progressive HR experience, is ready to step into or has recently stepped, and thrives in environments where both strategic thinking and direct execution are required — without a large team to delegate to. Key Responsibilities Strategic & Policy Leadership Design, implement, and continuously improve the company's HR strategy aligned with business objectives Develop and own the full HR policy framework — employment policies, compensation structures, performance management, and people development programs Translate business growth plans into concrete workforce planning and organizational design decisions Advise C-level and senior leadership as a trusted strategic HR partner Drive employer branding and culture initiatives across the organization Team Leadership & HR Operations Lead a small HR team; set priorities, develop team members, and ensure delivery quality Oversee the full employee lifecycle: recruiting, onboarding, performance cycles, compensation reviews, and offboarding Coordinate payroll processes in collaboration with finance or external payroll providers Maintain HR data integrity, reporting (headcount, attrition, turnover cost), and HRIS management Labor Law & Compliance Ensure full compliance with German labor law (ArbZG, KSchG, AGG, BetrVG, BGB) Handle disciplinary procedures, grievances, and employment terminations — including preparation of legal documentation Serve as the internal point of escalation for all sensitive HR and employment matters Talent & Organizational Development Own end-to-end recruitment for all levels, including senior and leadership positions Build structured onboarding, career pathing, and succession planning frameworks Identify skill gaps across the organization and develop targeted L&D initiatives Requirements Experience & Background 10 years of progressive HR experience across multiple HR disciplines Demonstrated experience operating — either formally or in a de facto capacity (e.g., Head of HR, Senior HRBP with policy ownership) Strong familiarity with German labor law and, where applicable, Betriebsrat engagement Skills & Competencies Strategic thinker with strong execution discipline — sets direction and follows through personally Policy development skills: able to draft, implement, and communicate HR policies clearly and compliantly Analytical and data-literate: uses HR metrics to inform decisions and present to leadership High autonomy and ownership mindset — does not wait to be directed Credible at all levels: equally effective in a boardroom and on the floor Languages German: fluent (C1–C2), spoken and written English: professional proficiency (Additional languages a plus depending on organizational context) Education Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Law, Organizational Psychology, or equivalent