Site Head of People & Organisation, Mönchengladbach (DE)

The role is based at one of Europe’s most advanced e-commerce logistics campuses, located in Mönchengladbach, Germany. The site serves as a central hub within a highly automated, technology-driven fulfillment network supporting millions of customers across multiple European markets. The campus combines large-scale operations with a strong focus on process excellence, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement. It brings together logistics, technology, engineering, and people leadership in a fast-moving environment where complexity, scale, and speed are part of everyday reality. Beyond its operational importance, the location plays a strategic role in shaping future logistics concepts—ranging from automation and systems integration to sustainability initiatives and workforce transformation. Teams on site work closely with central functions and international stakeholders, balancing hands-on operational responsibility with long-term network development. Situated in the Rhine-Ruhr region, the site offers excellent connectivity to major European transport routes and urban centres, while benefiting from a strong local talent market and an established industrial infrastructure.

The Site Head of People & Organisation will lead and develop a team of approximately 20 P&O leaders in a high-volume operational environment. The position will drive optimisation and standardisation across core HR services, including payroll and time-related processes. It will build a performance-oriented, accountable culture with room for ownership and initiative whilst ensuring a reliable, transparent employee experience for circa 1,800 blue-collar employees across shifts and functions. The role will act as a key interface to operations leadership, headquarters, Works Council, and trade unions. It will establish robust people metrics and use data to identify gaps, set priorities, and support operational decisions.

We are seeing a leader over eight year of senior HR leadership experience in operational environments such as logistics, retail, or manufacturing. The individual will need to demonstrate experience leading and scaling HR teams of over 10 professionals in high-volume settings. A strong, hands-on knowledge of German labour law and its application in day-to-day operations is key as well as proven experience working constructively with Works Councils and trade unions in complex environments. The individual should be fluent in German and English (written and spoken) with strong analytical capability and practical experience with HR systems, ideally including Workday, time management, and payroll-related solutions.

A high-impact HR leadership role at one of Europe’s largest and most advanced e-commerce logistics campuses. A role with strong business relevance: people decisions directly affect performance, cost, and service levels. Broad scope across workforce planning, labor relations, leadership development, and transformation. Close collaboration with operations leadership and exposure to senior, international stakeholders. Opportunity to shape modern, scalable HR practices in a complex, tech-driven environment.

Active labour relations environment with union presence and recurring collective bargaining topics with high operational intensity (shifts, large hourly workforce, constant staffing pressure). Limited “corporate comfort”: HR is hands-on, pragmatic, and often conflict-proximate as well as ongoing change dynamics across the wider logistics network increase uncertainty and pressure. Success depends heavily on resilience, clarity, and the ability to hold boundaries under stress.