Human Resources Generalist

HR Generalist / HR Manager (m/w/d)

Munich | Hybrid | German & English | Start: November 2026

Are you an experienced HR professional looking for an opportunity to take broader ownership within a growing international engineering business?

We are supporting an international organisation within the rail and advanced engineering sector with the appointment of an HR Generalist / HR Manager to provide approximately 18 months of maternity cover for its German business.

The planned start is November 2026, allowing for a structured handover with the current HR Manager.

The opportunity

You will take day-to-day ownership of a broad range of HR activities for an organisation of approximately 60 employees in Germany, working closely with local management, employees and an international HR team.

This is a hands-on position for somebody who enjoys being close to the business and taking responsibility for getting things done.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing day-to-day HR administration and employee lifecycle processes
• Preparing employment contracts, amendments and HR documentation
• Advising employees and managers on HR matters and German employment practices
• Supporting recruitment, onboarding and employee development
• Coordinating salary reviews, benefits and HR policies
• Reviewing payroll information and coordinating changes with external payroll providers
• Supporting and guiding colleagues within the local HR team
• Taking ownership of HR processes and systems, including the introduction of Personio
• Working closely with the HR Director and wider international HR organisation
• What we're looking for

You will ideally bring 3–4+ years of broad HR Generalist experience and be comfortable taking independent responsibility for HR topics.

We're particularly interested in people who have:

• Good working knowledge of German employment law
• Broad operational HR experience across the employee lifecycle
• Experience advising both employees and managers
• Strong organisational skills and a proactive, hands-on approach
• The confidence to make routine HR decisions independently and appropriately challenge stakeholders
• Strong interpersonal skills, empathy and the ability to build trust quickly
• Fluent or very strong German and English
• Experience with Personio and/or SAP HR would be advantageous, but is not essential

You don't necessarily need to already hold a senior HR leadership title. This could also be an excellent opportunity for an ambitious HR Generalist who is ready to take on broader ownership and leadership responsibility.

Working arrangements

The position is based in Munich with a hybrid working model. A minimum of two days per week in the office is expected, with up to ten home-office days per month.

Regular travel is not required, although occasional international travel may arise.

Why consider the opportunity?

The organisation is entering an exciting period of growth within the European rail and engineering market. This assignment offers the opportunity to take significant ownership of HR activities for the German business while gaining further exposure to an international organisation and broader HR leadership responsibilities.

Interested?

If you're considering your next HR opportunity in Munich and would like to learn more, please apply or contact me directly for a confidential discussion.