Senior Labour Relations Manager

Mpb Europe Limited; Berlin; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holiday allowance

Urban Sports discount

Retirement plans

BVG discount

Employee discount

EAP

MPB Learning Lab

Parental leave

Staff events

Financial assistance

Milestone gifts

Dog friendly office

Job summary

MPB is seeking an experienced Senior Labour Relations Manager in Berlin to own our collective employee relations, manage the Works Council relationship, and steer complex individual ER cases with sound judgement.

You will lead negotiations on Betriebsvereinbarungen, partner with the People function, and design pragmatic processes for co-determination, while supporting wider Berlin office projects. Fluency in German and English is essential, and occasional travel to our UK HQ is required.

Qualifications

• Experience leading or playing a key role in a Works Council relationship in Germany, including negotiation and building trust over time.
• Strong working knowledge of German employment law and the Works Constitution Act (BetrVG).
• Experience negotiating and drafting Betriebsvereinbarungen.
• Sound judgment with stakeholder management and risk balancing while delivering pragmatic solutions.
• Fluent in German and English.

Responsibilities

• Manage relationship with the Betriebsrat and lead negotiations on Betriebsvereinbarungen.
• Be the main ER expert on co-determination and German labour law.
• Coach HR partners and escalation points; lead Works Council discussions when needed.
• Support wider Berlin office projects when Works Council workload allows.

Skills

Labour relations

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

German employment law

BetrVG

Works Council

Job description

Senior Labour Relations Manager
Location:Berlin
Department: Revenue
Position type:Full-time. Hybrid

The role

We're looking for an experienced Labour Relations Manager to own our collective employee relations work in Berlin — the Works Council relationship, co-determination, and the more complex individual cases that need real judgement. Reporting into our VP Revenue, Central, and from there into our CRO, the Senior Labour Relations Manager will be the person the business turns to on German employment law and Betriebsrat matters.

What you will be doing

You'll manage the relationship with our Betriebsrat, lead negotiations on Betriebsvereinbarungen, and become our main point of expertise on co-determination. Just as importantly, you'll build the way MPB engages with the Works Council in the first place — the templates, the tracking, the rhythm — so every proposal that reaches them is well prepared and consistent, not reactive.

You'll be a trusted advisor and escalation point for our Senior People Business Partner and People Advisor, who own day-to-day ER casework with their client groups. You'll partner with them on the complex and sensitive matters, coach them on judgement calls, and lead discussions with the Works Council yourself when it counts. You’ll support wider Berlin office projects when Works Council workload allows.

This suits someone who genuinely enjoys labour relations: the legal detail, the relationship-building with the Works Council, and negotiating agreements that work for both sides.

What we are looking for

• Experience leading or playing a key role in a Works Council relationship in Germany, including negotiation and building trust over time

• Strong working knowledge of German employment law and the Works Constitution Act (BetrVG)

• Experience negotiating and drafting Betriebsvereinbarungen

• Sound judgment, strong stakeholder management skills, and the ability to balance legal risk, employee relations considerations, and business priorities while providing pragmatic and timely solutions.

• Strong relationship-building skills across Works Council members, senior leaders, HR Business Partners, and legal counsel

• Strategic advisor with the ability to align employment law guidance with broader business strategy and organizational goals.

• Fluent in German and English — both essential for this role

• Willing and able to travel to our UK headquarters 2-4 times a year

Nice to have

• Experience designing ER frameworks, policies, or playbooks from scratch

• Experience coaching team members on Works Council requirements

• A background that includes handling BEM case management or absence management support

• Comfort supporting broader People/office projects outside core ER work

Our Values; applied

Better, Connected: We work collaboratively and embrace diversity

Empowering and Empowered: We celebrate ownership and initiative

Insight-driven: We act based upon data and reflection

Agents of Change: We innovate and promote sustainability

Focussed on Excellence: We aim high, and work smart

Passionately Ambitious: We encourage creativity and strive to improve through innovation

About MPB

We are MPB, the largest global platform for used photography and videography equipment. Our platform transforms the way that people buy, sell and trade in photo and video kit. MPB is a destination for everyone, whether you’ve just discovered your passion for visual storytelling or you’re already a pro.

We recognise the benefit of inclusive practices to better build a diverse community here at MPB. Our commitment to ensuring inclusion fuels and connects us as one with the diverse community of visual storytellers that we serve.

MPB customers come from all walks of life, and so do we. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of family makeup, race, sexuality, religion, gender identity, disability or age. At MPB, every employee has the opportunity to make an impact and grow.

Benefits
We support our staff and their careers in every way we can and we offer the following benefits:

• You’ll get 20 days of statutory holiday, plus 8 additional days from us—with the option to buy up to 5 more each year + 2 days of volunteering leave + 1 day a year to focus on your well-being

• Urban Sports Membership discount

• Retirement & pension plans

• BVG ticket discount (50%)

• MPB Employee discount and uplifts

• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

• Learning Management System (the "MPB Learning Lab")- You’ll have access to thousands of free courses to up-skill in any areas you'd like, personal or professional

• Enhanced paid parental leave

• Summer and winter employee events

• Financial assistance scheme

• Milestone Gifts - €150 Amazon voucher to celebrate the arrival of your new baby; €150 Amazon voucher for you and your partner when you tie the knot or enter into a civil partnership

• Dog friendly office