Chief People & Change Officer

Knauf Ceiling Solutions; München; Hybrid; EUR 125.000 - 150.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A leading ceiling solutions company based in Munich is seeking a Chief People & Change Officer to guide HR transformation and foster an inclusive workforce. You will lead a global team of HR professionals, shaping the People & Change strategy aligned with business goals. Candidates should have extensive senior HR leadership experience, preferably in industrial environments, and a proven track record in change management. This role offers competitive compensation, hybrid working flexibility, and growth opportunities.

Leistungen

Competitive total compensation

Health and wellbeing benefits

Learning and leadership development opportunities

Hybrid working flexibility

Qualifikationen

• Extensive senior HR leadership experience in multi-country, matrixed environments.
• Proven track record leading transformation and culture change.
• Fluent in English; additional languages are a plus.

Aufgaben

• Lead the People & Change function through a business transformation.
• Develop a clear People & Change strategy aligned with business needs.
• Act as a trusted advisor for senior leaders in KCS.

Kenntnisse

HR leadership experience

Change management

Cross-cultural communication

Influencing stakeholders

Jobbeschreibung

Knauf stands for opportunity.

At Knauf Ceiling Solutions, we see potential in everyone and create room to grow. Guided by our purpose — Make tomorrow a home for all of us — we design multi-material acoustic ceiling solutions that make buildings better for people and the planet.

Part of the Knauf Group, we combine global reach with local expertise. In 2019, Knauf AMF and Armstrong Ceiling Solutions united. The combined expertise and heritage of two world-renowned brands resulted in one market‑leading name: Knauf Ceiling Solutions. Headquartered in Munich, Germany, and supported by experts around the globe, we design and manufacture multi-material ceiling and wall system solutions with a commitment to quality and innovation across a variety of market segments. In Knauf Ceiling Solutions we are a team of 1500 ceiling experts and we produce across 10 production sites.

Our portfolio spans mineral, metal, wood wool and gypsum, delivering high acoustic performance, safety and durability across offices, education, healthcare, transport, leisure, retail and industry. We partner with developers, architects, planners, contractors and distributors to streamline design, ordering and installation—from first enquiry to final handover.

You’ll find a values‑led, safe and inclusive culture where you can bring your whole self to work and build a unique career.

Can you say “yes”?

• You treat colleagues with respect and lead by example.
• You put internal customers at the center of every decision.
• You act with future generations in mind and champion sustainable growth.
• You seek out opportunities to learn and help others develop.
• You deliver results and build high‑performing, inclusive teams.

Why this role matters:

KCS is undergoing a significant business transformation—simplifying structures and processes and developing our products, services, organisation and culture to deliver long‑term sustainable growth.

As Chief People & Change Officer, you will lead the People & Change agenda globally—guiding and energizing our teams through change in an inspirational, engaging way—and deliver on our four People priorities: Safety, Engagement, Diversity & Inclusion, Talent Development & Succession Management.

Purpose of the role:

Serve as the primary change partner for KCS’s business transformation while leading and developing the People & Change function to build a safe, inclusive, high‑performing organisation.

What you’ll lead & deliver:

You will lead a global team of 25 HR professionals, organized with a small central team as well as local HR managers in each core market—delivering the annual people cycle end-to-end and supporting our leaders to succeed in their functions.

Your main priorities:

1. People strategy and alignment: Translate Knauf’s Global People Agenda into a clear KCS People & Change strategy and roadmap aligned to the business strategy and needs.
2. Business partner to CEO & Senior leaders: Act as trusted advisor for CEO and senior leaders in KCS
3. Functional optimization and efficiency: Lead the transformation of the HR operating model to deliver efficient HR operations, a seamless employee experience and a strong HR business partner function.
4. Deliver on our People Priorities:
   • Champion a safety‑first culture
   • Drive initiatives to strengthen a diverse workforce and inclusive environment
   • Equip leaders to build highly engaged employees and teams
   • Build robust pipelines for critical roles; drive succession planning, leadership development and a learning culture

Your profile Must-haves

• Extensive senior HR leadership experience in multi-country, matrixed environments (ideally industrial/manufacturing).
• Proven track record leading transformation and culture change.
• Depth in organisational development, talent and succession, leadership development and performance systems.
• Success leading dispersed HR teams and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of employment law and HR compliance across multiple jurisdictions.
• Fluent English; strong cross-cultural communication skills.
• Willingness to travel internationally.

Nice-to-have

• Additional languages (e.g., German, French) and experience across Europe & Apac
• HR technology implementation and people analytics expertise.
• Experience partnering within a global group/center-of-excellence model.

What we offer

• Competitive total compensation with performance-linked incentives.
• Health and wellbeing benefits.
• Learning and leadership development opportunities.
• Hybrid working flexibility and global exposure.
• An inclusive, values-led, safety‑first culture with room to grow.

What happens next?

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