HR Business Partner DACH

Fastned; Köln; Vor Ort; EUR 200.000 +; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A leading renewable energy company in Cologne is seeking an HR Business Partner to oversee operations in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. This role requires a strategic approach to build relationships with local leadership and foster a people-driven culture. Candidates should have experience in HR practices, strong communication skills, and a passion for sustainability. The position offers competitive benefits including stock options and a generous training budget.

Leistungen

Stock option plan

Attractive pension plan

Annual training and development budget

Access to fully electric vehicle fleet

29 holidays plus 2 Mission Days

Daily lunches and snacks

Year-round events and team trip

Flexible working hours

Qualifikationen

• Minimum of 2 years of experience as a People Business Partner in a high-paced environment.
• Thorough knowledge of German labor law; Swiss and/or Austrian labor law knowledge is a plus.
• Available at least 32 hours per week.

Aufgaben

• Strengthen the people foundation and manage headcount growth.
• Address workplace challenges with data-driven solutions.
• Partner with local Talent Acquisition to align hiring with planning.

Kenntnisse

Experience in HR practices

Interpersonal skills

Fluency in German

Fluency in English

Consulting on HR topics

Ausbildung

BSc degree in Human Resources or related field

Jobbeschreibung

Overview

Fastned, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Join Fastned as the HR Business Partner DACH and help drive the people strategy across Germany, Switzerland and Austria. You will be based in the Cologne office and work with local leadership to foster a purpose-driven, collaborative culture that supports sustainable growth and the transition to electric mobility.

Powering the future: Electrifying Careers and Charging Up Opportunities. Fastned is at the forefront of the energy transition with a diverse, global team focused on reliability, sustainability and clean energy.

Your role

We are looking for a passionate People Business Partner to oversee all HR operations in Germany, Switzerland and Austria (currently around 60 FTE and growing). As the BP for these countries, you will build and nurture strong relationships with local leadership, serve as a trusted advisor, and partner with leaders to set local people strategies aligned with our mission and culture. You will be based in the Cologne office and will drive engagement initiatives, enhance collaboration, and establish a framework for sustainable growth. This role requires a hands-on approach, agility in change, and a proactive mindset to identify opportunities for improvement within our values-driven, people-centric HR practices.

You will join Fastned’s People team as the local point of contact for the German, Swiss and Austrian business, collaborating with the wider People team (primarily based in the Netherlands) including People Business Partnering, Payroll, People Operations and Talent Acquisition (two TA Specialists are based in Cologne). Our BP team currently consists of one Business Partner Lead and two other People Business Partners.

Responsibilities

• Team with local leaders to strengthen the people foundation and manage headcount growth while ensuring smooth operations.
• Apply HR strategies, tools and labor-law knowledge to address workplace challenges with data-driven solutions.
• Serve as the local people expert for People Operations on German, Swiss and Austrian labor law and HR practices.
• Act as a go-to person for employees and leaders, building trust and keeping the mission of accelerating electric mobility front and center.
• Monitor performance, workforce needs and succession planning to prepare for future growth.
• Partner with local Talent Acquisition to align hiring with workforce planning.
• Identify opportunities to upskill local teams, roll out effective training, and measure impact.
• Collaborate on cross-functional projects spanning L&D, compensation & benefits, HR data, and tooling.

Who we are looking for

You should have solid experience with HR practices and employee management, enabling you to act as a consultant on HR topics and organizational changes, partnering with stakeholders across the organization regardless of seniority or background.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years of experience as a People Business Partner in a high-paced (preferably startup) and matrix environment
• BSc degree in Human Resources or related field
• Fluency in German and English
• Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills
• Thorough knowledge of German labor law; Swiss and/or Austrian labor law knowledge is a plus
• Available at least 32 hours per week
• Passion for sustainability and the transition to electric mobility
• Willingness to travel to other offices (DACH and NL), about once a month

Benefits and working style

Join us in building a better future. We value work-life balance, offer genuine work flexibility and family-friendly policies. Our benefits include:

• Stock option plan – value creation for all employees
• Attractive pension plan (fully covered by Fastned)
• Annual training and development budget (€3,000 per year per employee)
• Access to our fully electric vehicle fleet (charging expenses covered)
• 29 holidays plus 2 Mission Days
• Daily lunches, snacks and drinks at office locations
• Year-round events, Christmas party and annual team trip
• Flexible working hours, travel compensation and personal equipment

Process and notice

Please note: this role will be managed by a non-German speaker; submit your CV and cover letter in English.

The recruitment process consists of 4 stages:

1. A first video conversation with our recruiter to learn about the BP role and Fastned culture
2. Online interview with our BP and a People Operations Specialist
3. Onsite case study with the Director of People, Country Director Germany and Switzerland
4. Final onsite chat with the wider German team

Fastned stands for equity and inclusion. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and identities.

Job details

Seniority level: Associate

Employment type: Full-time

Job function: Human Resources, Consulting, and Strategy / Planning

Industries: Renewable Energy