Senior Expert Employee Relations (all genders)

Evotec; Hamburg; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days holiday

Annual bonus

Deutschlandticket public transport

Canteen on site

Professional development

Job summary

Evotec is seeking a Senior Expert Employee Relations to advise on German labor law, co-determination, and complex employee relations matters. You will partner with HR, leadership and Works Councils to ensure compliant, pragmatic approaches across Germany.

You will lead negotiations, translate legal requirements into practical HR policies, and support organizational change initiatives while maintaining strong stakeholder relationships.

Qualifications

• University degree in Law, Human Resources, Business Administration or related field, ideally with a focus on German labor law.
• Several years of professional experience in Employee Relations, Labor Relations, HR and/or Employment Law.
• Extensive practical knowledge of German labor law including BetrVG, co-determination and terms of employment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Evotec’s subject matter expert for German labor law and co-determination, guiding HR and leaders.
• Build and maintain relationships with Works Councils and employee bodies across Germany.
• Advise on complex employee relations matters, including performance, grievances, and terminations.
• Lead negotiations with Works Councils, balancing legal requirements and business goals.
• Ensure compliance with labor law, co-determination, and company policies; mitigate risks.
• Monitor legislation changes and translate them into practical HR guidance.

Skills

German labor law

Employee relations

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Change management

Education

Law degree with focus on labor law

Job description

Senior Expert Employee Relations (all genders)

Full-time and permanent

Key Responsibilities

Employee Relations, Labor Law & Works Councils

• Serve as Evotec’s subject matter expert for German labor law and co-determination matters, providing strategic guidance to HR, leadership and business stakeholders.
• Build and maintain trusted, constructive relationships with Works Councils and employee representative bodies across Germany, acting as the key interface between HR, management and employee representatives.
• Advise HR colleagues and business leaders on complex employee relations matters, including performance and conduct issues, grievances, conflict resolution, organizational change and terminations.
• Lead and support negotiations with Works Councils and employee representatives, developing pragmatic solutions that balance legal requirements, employee interests and business objectives.
• Ensure compliance with German labor law, co-determination requirements, collective regulations, Works Agreements and company policies, while proactively identifying and mitigating employment-related risks.
• Monitor changes in legislation and case law, translating legal requirements into practical policies, processes and guidance for HR and business stakeholders.

Global HR Programs & Change Initiatives

• Partner with HR Business Partners, Centers of Excellence, Legal and business leaders to assess, localize and implement global and local HR initiatives in compliance with German labor law and co-determination obligations.
• Act as the Employee Relations lead for Germany in global HR projects, defining implementation, stakeholder engagement and Works Council strategies while balancing legal compliance, business objectives and project timelines.
• Provide risk-based recommendations and manage Employee Relations workstreams for organizational transformations, restructurings and other strategic people initiatives.
• Monitor implemented initiatives and proactively address emerging employee relations, labor law and co-determination risks.

Required Qualifications

• University degree in Law, Human Resources, Business Administration or a related field, ideally with a focus on German individual and collective labor law.
• Several years of professional working experience in Employee Relations, Labor Relations, Human Resources and/or Employment Law.
• Extensive practical knowledge of German labor law, including the Works Constitution Act (BetrVG), co-determination rights, employment contracts, employee relations matters, terminations and organizational change.
• Significant experience working with Works Councils and employee representative bodies, including independently preparing, leading and concluding negotiations.
• Proven ability to manage complex employee relations matters and provide pragmatic, risk-based recommendations.
• Strong stakeholder management, influencing and negotiation skills with the ability to balance legal requirements, employee interests and business needs.
• Ability to translate complex legal requirements into practical HR policies, processes and business guidance.
• Strong analytical, conceptual and problem-solving skills combined with a diplomatic and solution-oriented approach.
• Ability to act as a trusted advisor to HR Business Partners, senior leaders and management teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in German and English.

Ideal Qualifications

• Experience in an international and/or matrix organization.
• Experience within the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, life sciences, technology or a similarly complex industry.
• Experience working with multi-site Works Council structures, including General Works Councils (Gesamtbetriebsrat) and Group Works Councils (Konzernbetriebsrat).
• Experience supporting organizational transformations, restructurings and workforce change initiatives.
• Experience negotiating Works Agreements related to compensation, working time, performance management, IT systems, data protection and organizational change.
• Experience localizing and implementing global HR policies and programs within the German labor law framework.
• Experience collaborating with external employment law counsel, employer associations and labor courts.
• Additional expertise in mediation, conflict management or negotiation.
• Strong project management skills and experience leading cross-functional initiatives with senior stakeholders.

Our Offer

• A position within a vigorous and exciting professional environment promoted by an open culture and a spirit of community.
• A diverse, international workforce with a dynamic working environment that fosters creativity, innovation and teamwork.
• The opportunity to shape and influence Employee Relations strategy in a global organization undergoing continuous transformation and growth.
• Close collaboration with international HR, Legal and business leaders across the Group.
• 30 days of annual holiday, flexible working hours and an in-house canteen.
• Capital-forming benefits, holiday allowance, annual bonus depending on performance and a monthly allowance for public transportation (Deutschlandticket - JobTicket Premium).
• Excellent opportunities for professional and personal development within an innovative and international company.

FR : Dans le cadre de sa politique Diversité, Evotec étudie, à compétences égales, toutes les candidatures dont celles des personnes en situation de handicap.

EN: In the frame of our Diversity policy, Evotec considers, with equal competences, all applications including people with disabilities.

IT: In compliance with fundamental ethical and professional principles and with Legislative Decree 198/2006, Evotec is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a safe, diverse, and inclusive workplace built on mutual respect. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified candidates and employees based on their skills, experience, and professional qualifications. In line with our ethical and professional principles, all employment-related decisions, including recruitment and selection processes, are made fairly and without any form of discrimination. All qualified candidates will be considered for employment regardless of race, color, sex, age, disability, genetic information, gender expression, gender identity, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law.