People Operations - Sr. Advisor

Maersk; Hamburg; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Maersk is seeking a People Operations Senior Advisor to deliver expert HR operational support across Germany and DACH entities. You will act as trusted advisor to employees, managers, and partners, ensuring compliant, efficient HR service delivery.

You will manage complex lifecycle activities, handle life-cycle documentation, and collaborate with Works Councils. Proficiency in German labour law and HR systems, especially Workday, is essential.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of HR Operations or People Advisory experience, with Germany focus.
• Strong knowledge of German labour law and works council processes.
• Experience handling employee lifecycle activities and HR data integrity.
• Fluent German and English; excellent stakeholder communication.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage complex employee lifecycle activities including onboarding and offboarding.
• Provide HR policy guidance to employees and managers.
• Coordinate works council consultation and HR documentation.
• Execute HR transactions in Workday with data quality focus.
• Drive process improvement and support HR projects and transformations.
• Collaborate with Payroll, Legal, Finance, and other stakeholders.

Skills

German labor law

Works council

Workday

Time & Attendance

Stakeholder management

German language

English language

Attention to detail

Job description

The People Operations Senior Advisor is responsible for delivering expert HR operational support across the employee lifecycle for Germany and other DACH entities. Acting as a trusted advisor to employees, managers, People Partners and internal stakeholders, the role ensures compliant, efficient and employee-centric HR service delivery while driving process excellence and continuous improvement. The position requires strong expertise in German labour law, works council processes, HR systems, employee lifecycle administration and HR operations within a complex multinational environment.

Key Responsibilities

Employee Lifecycle Management

Independently manage complex employee lifecycle activities, including onboarding, internal transfers, contractual changes, leave administration, and offboarding. Prepare and issue employment-related documentation such as employment contracts, amendments, reference letters, certificates, termination documentation and other HR correspondence. Ensure compliance with local labour law requirements, collective agreements and internal company policies.

HR Advisory & Employee Support

Serve as a trusted point of contact for employees, managers and stakeholders on a wide range of People Operations topics. Provide guidance on HR policies, employment conditions, benefits, working time, leave arrangements, parental leave and other employee-related matters.

Labor Law & Works Council Collaboration

Coordinate and execute works council consultation and information processes. Prepare documentation and correspondence related to labour relations activities. Ensure adherence to legal requirements, company policies and governance standards across all employee transactions.

HR Operations & Systems Management

Execute and oversee HR transactions in Workday and other HR systems with a strong focus on data quality and compliance. Maintain accurate employee records and ensure the integrity of HR master data.

Process Improvement & Project Work

Drive continuous improvement, standardization and automation of HR processes. Participate in local, regional and global People projects and transformation initiatives. Support the implementation of new HR technologies, policies and operating models.

Stakeholder Management

Collaborate closely with People Partners, Payroll, Legal, Finance, Employee Relations, Works Councils and other internal stakeholders. Build strong partnerships to resolve complex issues efficiently and deliver a high-quality employee experience. Provide coaching and guidance to less experienced team members where appropriate.

Required Experience & Qualifications

3-5 years of experience in HR Operations, People Advisory or Employee Lifecycle Administration. Strong knowledge of German employment law and works council processes. Experience supporting employee populations in Germany and ideally across the DACH region. Solid knowledge of Workday or comparable HR systems and Time & Attendance platforms. Strong attention to detail and ability to manage complex cases independently. Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills. Fluent German and English language skills.

Maersk is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace, and we embrace different styles of thinking. Maersk is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants without regard to race, colour, gender, sex, age, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy or parental leave, veteran status, gender identity, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with all legal requirements. We are happy to support your need for any adjustments during the application and hiring process. If you need special assistance or an accommodation to use our website, apply for a position, or to perform a job, please contact us by emailing [e-mail].

A.P. Moller - Maersk is an integrated container logistics company working to connect and simplify its customer's supply chains. As the global leader in shipping services, the company operates in 130 countries and employs roughly 100,000 people. With simple end-to-end offering of products and digital services, seamless customer engagement and a superior end-to-end delivery network, Maersk enables its customers to trade and grow by transporting goods anywhere - all over the world.

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