People Operations Administrator

Edelman; Köln; On-site; EUR 36,000 - 47,000; Part time

Job summary

Edelman is seeking a proactive People Operations professional to join the Global People Operations team on a 6-month fixed-term contract, working 32 hours per week, in Köln, Germany. The role focuses on local systems support, onboarding, and ensuring German compliance while collaborating with global stakeholders.

The ideal candidate has 2–3 years in HR, strong MS365/Excel skills, and fluency in English and German. Experience with AI-enabled HR tools and mobility processes is advantageous.

Qualifications

• 2–3 years of professional experience in Human Resources, with a focus on HR systems or HR operations.
• Basic knowledge of German labour and social security law.
• Proficient in MS365, especially MS Excel.
• Familiarity with AI-driven HR tools is a plus.
• Interest in emerging HR technologies and willingness to learn new systems.
• Excellent communication skills in English and German.

Responsibilities

• Provide localised HR system support (Workday not specified in text; reference to HR systems) and onboarding/offboarding coordination.
• Assist with mobility topics including visa processes and working from abroad.
• Prepare German-language HR documents and ensure local compliance.
• Ensure data accuracy in HR systems and liaise with the Systems Manager for updates.
• Support AI/tooling integration to improve HR processes and reporting.
• Act as first point of contact for Germany-related employee inquiries and stakeholder management.

Skills

HR systems

HR operations

English & German fluency

Tools

MS365

MS Excel

Job description

Edelman is a voice synonymous with trust, reimagining a future where the currency of communication is action. Our culture thrives on three promises: boldness is possibility, empathy is progress, and curiosity is momentum.

At Edelman, we understand diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) transform our colleagues, our company, our clients, and our communities. We are in relentless pursuit of an equitable and inspiring workplace that is respectful of all, reflects and represents the world in which we live, and fosters trust, collaboration and belonging.

The Global People Operations team provides employee experience-focused, responsive, and consistent People services to managers, employees and business leaders. The People Experience team operates as the first point of contact for all People-related questions and supports employee life-cycle activities, programs and policies.

We are looking for a proactive and detail-oriented People Operations professional to join our Global People Operations team on a 6-month fixed-term contract , working 32 hours per week.

This role is central to ensuring a seamless employee experience throughout the entire employee lifecycle, supporting core HR processes, and contributing to the successful delivery of key People initiatives. You will also offer localised support to the German team, ensuring processes align with country-specific requirements and compliance needs. The ideal candidate will possess strong expertise in People systems, particularly Workday, alongside excellent communication, organisation, and stakeholder management skills.

As a member of the People Operations team, you will be expected to meet the following expectations and hold the following responsibilities:

The Role

As a proactive and detail-oriented People Operations professional, you will have hands-on experience using Workday to deliver comprehensive, efficient, and effective administrative support to both the People team and wider business functions within a fast-paced, dynamic environment. This role is central to ensuring a seamless employee experience throughout the entire employee lifecycle, supporting core HR processes, and contributing to the successful delivery of key People initiatives. You will also offer localised support to the German team, ensuring processes align with country-specific requirements and compliance needs. The ideal candidate will possess strong expertise in People systems—particularly Workday—alongside excellent communication, organisation, and stakeholder management skills.

Your tasks:

Local System and Process Support

• Acts as the local contact point for system-related queries from all markets but with a specific focus on Germany
• Assists with user support in Workday and monitoring ServiceNow on a regular basis and ensures localized system processes run smoothly.
• Manage onboarding & offboarding processes for all employees, including local processes: pre/post hire logistics, right-to-work checks, digital file management, eligibility verification, first/last day coordination, and delivery of local People introduction
• Explore and support the integration of AI tools into HR operations (e.g., automation of workflows, chatbots, and smart reporting), helping to identify use cases and increase team efficiency.
• Leverage AI-powered tools and Workday functionality to automate administrative tasks, streamline reporting, and enhance employee self-service capabilities.

People Experience

• First point of contact for employee and manager for the local market (Germany)
• Ensure escalation of more complex, strategic and sensitive matters within the employee lifecycle (probation, performance, sickness, etc.)

Workday Data Entry & System Maintenance

• Ensures correct data entry into the system and liaises with the Systems Manager to implement updates or improvements adhering to local compliance and data accuracy.

Preparation of German Specific HR Documentation

• Responsible for the preparation and sending of German-language HR documents, including Employment contracts, certificates, reference letters (Arbeitszeugnisse) or parental leave documents. Ensures compliance with local labor laws and company policies.
• Supports the offboarding process by creating legally compliant termination documentation, coordinating with legal and People Partner, and ensuring accurate system entries and documentation archiving.

Mobility

• Act as the primary point of contact for all mobility-related topics, including visa processes, A1 certificates for business travel outside of Germany, and Working from Anywhere requests
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders (e.g. health insurance providers, legal teams) to ensure compliance with travel and remote work regulations
• Maintain and regularly update the Working from Anywhere database, ensuring accurate records and documentation of employee mobility status

Your profile:

• At least 2–3 years of professional experience in Human Resources, particularly in the areas of HR systems or HR operations
• Basic knowledge of German labour and social security law
• Proficient in MS365, especially MS Excel
• Good understanding of working with AI-driven HR tools (e.g., Workday Assistant, chatbots, intelligent automation platforms) is a plus.
• Interest in emerging HR technologies, including AI and automation tools, with a willingness to learn and experiment with new systems.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal(fluency in English and German)
• Trustworthy personality with a high sense of responsibility, reliable and careful working style and discretion
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail, ensuring data integrity and quality service delivery
• Ability to multitask and prioritise effectively in a fast-moving environment
• Demonstrated discretion when dealing with confidential information
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills across diverse groups
• Self-motivated and results-oriented, with a customer-focused mindset
• Analytical thinking and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify root causes and implement solutions
• Experience supporting People operations across EMEA/ Global is advantageous

We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t perfectly align with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.