Employee Relations Manager, Central Region

Momentum; Berlin; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Leadout Capital seeks an Employee Relations Manager/Sr. Manager to join the EMEA Employee Relations team in Germany, covering the Central Region (Germany and Austria) with expansion as needed.

You will manage end-to-end ER investigations, support performance management, and ensure compliance with local labor laws. You will collaborate with HRBPs, Employment Legal, and ER COEs to deliver seamless HR support and balance business risks with employee welfare, while driving ER metrics and

Qualifications

• German and English fluency required for written and spoken communication.
• Experience in employee relations and Works Council management in Germany.
• Knowledge of local labor laws in Germany; Austria experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead employee relations cases across designated regions; manage investigations and disciplinary, grievance, and separation processes.
• Collaborate with HRBPs, Employment Legal, and ER COEs to deliver high-quality HR support as a single HR point of contact.
• Oversee complex case handling with Works Councils, support restructures, and ensure compliance with local processes and policy.
• Coach leaders and managers on ER challenges, provide training on ER processes and leadership practices.
• Generate and report ER metrics, identify trends, and support impact projects within the ER program.

Skills

German language fluency

English language fluency

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder management

ER experience

Job description

The Experience

The Employee Relations Manager/Sr. Manager is a part of the EMEA Employee Relations team and Global Employee Relations function. This role will report to the Director of Employee Relations covering France, Central and South region.

This role will be responsible for end-to-end case management of disciplinary and grievance investigations, conducting witness interviews, collating findings, and maintaining compliance with local law. They will also support people managers in addressing underperformance, using standard methodologies to ensure consistent application of the Performance Improvement Framework (PIF) in alignment with Salesforce values.

What You'll Actually Be Doing

• Lead ER cases across designated regions (conduct investigations, support performance management, and run disciplinary, grievance, and separation processes). Primary responsibility for the Central Region (Germany and Austria) initially, with the scope expected to be extended depending on structural and business needs.
• Collaborate and partner with HRBPs, Employment Legal, and Employee Success COEs to achieve high-quality, seamless HR support, and represent as "1 HR" to the business. Partner closely with ER team members across EMEA; share best practices and leverage support from each other to sustain positive employee relations programs.
• Demonstrate a proven track record of managing complex casework, including conducting internal investigations in close consultation and collaboration with local Works Councils (Betriebsräte). Manage restructures and reorganization programs, strictly applying local legal processes, Works Council co-determination requirements, and Salesforce practice and policy across diverse jurisdictions.
• Coach business leaders and people managers through ER challenges, managing business risk, and balancing commercial decisions with employee welfare. Deliver and facilitate training as required on ER processes and leadership best practices.
• Generate, analyze, and report on metrics to share themes and trends with the business. Track, report, and analyze case trends utilizing the internal ER case management system. Lead or participate in special projects/programs requiring ER internal partner input, as needed (e.g., HR Compliance activity).

You're Our Person If...

• Demonstrated experience in employee relations and robust Works Council (Betriebsrat) management in Germany; experience navigating labor laws in Austria is highly advantageous.
• Experience as an HR BP with material ER exposure or as a dedicated ER specialist.
• Language skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills — must speak German and English to a fluent level.
• Proven negotiation skills and a strong ability to influence others at all levels of the organization. Ability to build strong partnerships and work effectively in a highly matrixed, international environment with leaders and Employee Success colleagues.
• Background: Experience working in a fast-paced environment, preferably in a high-growth technology company (although this is not a strict requirement).