People Strategist International IT (m/f/d)

METRO.digital; Düsseldorf; Hybrid; EUR 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

People development programs

Job summary

METRO.digital is seeking an experienced International People Strategist to partner with leaders across its global IT organization. You will embed end-to-end people processes, build trusted relationships, and develop a cross-country network to translate global frameworks into locally compliant solutions.

The role requires 5+ years in HR, strong German labor law knowledge, and expertise in organizational design, talent and performance management, and change initiatives.

Qualifications

• Degree in Human Resources, Psychology, Business Administration, Law, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of relevant HR experience, including several years as an HR Business Partner in an international or matrix organization.
• Demonstrated experience advising senior leaders and translating priorities into pragmatic people solutions.
• Strong knowledge of German labor law and employee relations; experience across jurisdictions is an advantage.
• Proven capability in organizational design, workforce planning, talent and performance management, and change management.
• Confidence working with people data, KPIs, and HRIS/HCM systems to support evidence-based decisions.
• Strong business acumen, stakeholder management, consulting, and coaching skills with the ability to influence across cultures.
• Pragmatic, solution-oriented, and comfortable navigating ambiguity and competing priorities.
• Very good fluency in English (written and verbal); German preferred; additional languages are an advantage.
• Willingness to collaborate across time zones and travel internationally when required.

Responsibilities

• Establish and embed People & Culture processes, relationships, networks, and ways of working to implement the Target Operating Model within the international IT organization.
• Design, establish, implement, and continuously improve People & Culture processes across the employee lifecycle with clear ownership.
• Provide hands-on operational support as well as strategic People & Culture contributions to leaders, employees, and organizational units.
• Collaborate with P&C country functions to translate international frameworks into practical solutions reflecting local needs and requirements.
• Coordinate with corporate P&C functions to deliver integrated solutions across the IT organization.
• Support leaders and local P&C teams on organizational design, workforce planning, talent, performance, and engagement, enabling local ownership.
• Drive consistent implementation of global People & Culture frameworks across the organization and align across countries and functions.
• Use data, KPIs, and business insights to identify trends, monitor effectiveness, assess risks, and derive improvements.
• Support culture initiatives and change programs to ensure a consistent employee and manager experience across countries and companies.
• Ensure compliance with labor laws, co-determination requirements, internal policies, and governance standards.

Skills

HR Business Partner

Change management

Stakeholder management

People analytics

Cross-cultural collaboration

Education

Degree in HR/psychology/business/law

Tools

HRIS/HCM systems

Job description

As METRO.digital evolves, we are reshaping the way we work through our Target Operating Model (TOM).

TOM describes the desired state of our organization’s operational capabilities and functions. It provides a vision for the future state of the business, explaining how the company needs to operate to deliver its strategy and achieve its business goals efficiently. The TOM outlines how various elements like processes, technology, governance, and people should interconnect and interact to deliver value. It serves as a roadmap for implementing organizational change and transformation.

About the Team

We think globally and act locally. Since October 1, our international IT organization has been operating under the new Target Operating Model (TOM). This international IT organization, spanning 21 countries and multiple companies, is the dedicated scope of the International People Strategist. As part of our international People & Culture team, you will establish and embed end‑to‑end people processes for this IT organization, build trusted relationships with its leaders and local P&C teams, and develop an effective cross‑country network. You will connect global frameworks with the specific requirements of the international IT organization and its country organizations, contributing across the full spectrum of People & Culture work, from hands‑on operational implementation to strategic initiatives.

Beyond day‑to‑day tasks, our work creates stability, builds trust, and strengthens our culture, enabling our people to thrive and our business to grow.

How you will make an impact?

As People Strategist for International IT, you are the dedicated P&C Business Partner for our international IT organization, across all METRO countries and companies. Your scope covers the leaders, employees, and organizational units within this international IT organization. You play a key role in embedding the new Target Operating Model by establishing and continuously improving People & Culture processes throughout the employee lifecycle, building trusted relationships, and developing an effective network across the IT organization, its countries, companies, and functions. The role combines hands‑on operational work, process ownership, cross‑functional coordination, and strategic People & Culture contributions for the international IT organization. Working closely with its leaders, local P&C teams, and Corporate expert functions such as Compensation & Benefits, Recruiting, Talent Development, and Learning, you translate global approaches into practical, consistent, and locally compliant solutions for the IT organization.

Your Responsibilities:

• Establish and embed the People & Culture processes, relationships, networks, and ways of working required to make the new Target Operating Model effective within the international IT organization;
• Design, establish, implement, and continuously improve People & Culture processes across the entire employee lifecycle for the international IT organization, ensuring clear ownership and effective execution;
• Provide hands‑on operational support as well as conceptual and strategic People & Culture contributions to the leaders, employees, and organizational units within the international IT organization, depending on business and organizational needs;
• Partner with P&C country functions to translate international frameworks into practical solutions for the international IT organization that reflect local business needs, legal requirements, and organizational maturity;
• Coordinate closely with Corporate People & Culture expert functions, including Compensation & Benefits, Recruiting, Talent Development, Learning, and other relevant teams, to deliver integrated solutions for the international IT organization;
• Support leaders within the international IT organization and their local P&C teams on organizational design, workforce planning, talent, performance, succession, engagement, and employee relations, while enabling appropriate local ownership;
• Drive the consistent implementation of global People & Culture frameworks across the international IT organization and facilitate alignment among its countries, companies, functions, and matrix structures;
• Use people data, KPIs, and business insights from the international IT organization to identify trends, monitor process effectiveness, assess risks, and derive actionable improvements;
• Support organizational change and culture initiatives within the international IT organization and contribute to a consistent employee and manager experience across its countries and companies;
• Ensure that People & Culture solutions for the international IT organization comply with applicable labor laws, co‑determination requirements, internal policies, and governance standards, in collaboration with the relevant local and Corporate stakeholders.

Required key competencies and qualifications:

• Degree in Human Resources, Psychology, Business Administration, Law, or a related field;
• At least 5 years of relevant HR experience, including several years as an HR Business Partner in an international or matrix organization;
• Demonstrated experience advising senior leaders and translating business priorities into pragmatic people solutions;
• Strong knowledge of German labor law and employee relations; experience working across additional jurisdictions is an advantage;
• Proven capability in organizational design, workforce planning, talent and performance management, and change management;
• Confidence working with people data, KPIs, and HRIS/HCM systems to support evidence‑based decisions;
• Strong business acumen, stakeholder management, consulting, and coaching skills, with the ability to influence across cultures and organizational boundaries;
• Pragmatic, solution‑oriented, and comfortable navigating ambiguity, competing priorities, and complex change;
• Very good fluency in English (written and verbal), German preferred;
• Additional languages are an advantage;
• Willingness to collaborate across time zones and travel internationally when required.

What we offer at METRO.digital?

• Hybrid and agile work: thrive in a flexible, multicultural environment.

At METRO.digital, we promote work‑life balance through a hybrid working model. You’ll be part of self‑organizing, multicultural teams that collaborate in an agile setup.

• People development: when you grow so do we!

We want you to become the best version of yourself with individual and company‑wide programs and trainings for people development. Focused among other on development, leadership, appreciation ... it´s time to upskill your career.

• Support with individual solutions: we are people‑caring!

We offer support whenever you need it - at every stage of your professional journey.

Want to know more about all our benefits? Discover more here.