EMEA HR Director

twentysix; Hilversum; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Monks is seeking an HR Director to lead strategy and operations for Germany and contribute to the EMEA HR leadership team. The role focuses on aligning with global HR vision while addressing local market nuances and culture.

You will partner with country leadership to elevate the employee experience and drive impact through data-driven HR delivery. Ideal candidates bring 10+ years in HR leadership, deep German labour law expertise, and a proven track record in organizational design and change

Qualifications

• 10+ years of HR leadership experience in multinational settings.
• Deep knowledge of German labour laws and compliance.
• Proven ability to lead HR strategy, org design, and change management.
• Experience with HR analytics and HR systems, especially Workday.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management; fluent German & English.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the HR strategy for Germany, aligned with EMEA/global frameworks.
• Partner with country leadership and regional stakeholders to drive people initiatives.
• Lead organizational design and change management during growth or transformation.
• Oversee payroll, benefits, data integrity, and HR systems in Germany.
• Advise on complex employee relations and ensure compliance with labor laws.
• Implement employee listening, wellbeing, and DEI initiatives using data insights.
• Explore AI-enabled HR tools to enhance HR delivery.

Skills

10+ years HR experience

German labor laws

Strategic HR leadership

HR analytics

Workday

Excel

Stakeholder management

Fluent German & English

Change management

Tools

Workday

Excel

Job description

About the Role

As an HR Director, you’ll lead our HR strategy and operations in Germany while playing a pivotal role on the EMEA HR leadership team, driving our people strategy, supporting business growth, and ensuring full alignment with our global HR vision while addressing local market and cultural nuances. We are looking for someone who is passionate about seeking new opportunities to create impactful work, partnering directly with country leadership to elevate the employee experience, navigate complex change, and leverage modern tech and AI tools to transform HR delivery across Germany and the broader EMEA region.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the HR strategy in Germany to support local business growth, ensuring seamless alignment with broader EMEA and global HR frameworks.
• Partner with country leadership and key regional stakeholders to provide strategic HR guidance and drive people initiatives that directly support business objectives.
• Lead organisational design and change management programs to foster agility, high performance, and strong employee engagement during periods of transition.
• Oversee all operational HR processes in Germany, ensuring compliant, accurate execution across payroll, benefits, data integrity, and systems like Workday.
• Serve as a trusted advisor on complex employee relations matters, maintaining compliance with local labor laws, managing disputes, and driving performance management.
• Implement local employee listening, wellbeing, and engagement strategies, using data analytics to inform decision-making and enhance the overall employee experience.
• Champion Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) by embedding equitable practices across recruitment, talent development, and daily culture.
• Explore and leverage AI and AI-enabled tools to advance HR initiatives, streamline workflows, and drive data-driven decision-making.

About You

The essentials

• 10+ years of progressive HR experience, including proven leadership in a regional or country-level HR role within a multinational environment.
• Deep expertise in German labor laws, employment practices, and regulatory compliance, paired with strong navigating capabilities across global HR processes.
• Proven track record in strategic HR leadership, organisational design, change management, and driving employee engagement through growth or transformation.
• Proficiency in HR systems and analytics, particularly Workday and advanced Excel, with a strong ability to leverage data for strategic insights.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with a resilient, empathetic, and collaborative approach to partnering with business leaders.
• Fluency in German & English.

Not a must, but a plus

• Broader EMEA HR experience, particularly across mainland Europe, the Nordics, or MEA.
• Hands-on exposure to AI-enabled HR tools and automated workflows.
• Experience navigating fast-paced, high-growth, or agency environments with tight timelines and dynamic team structures.

At Monks, we believe in fostering an environment where a diversity of perspectives can thrive. We proactively work to design hiring processes that promote equity and inclusion while mitigating bias. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome and encourage qualified applicants, from all backgrounds, who are excited to contribute to our mission.

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About Monks

Monks is the global, digital-first, data-driven, unitary operating brand of S4 Capital plc. With a legacy of innovation and specialized expertise, Monks combines an extraordinary range of global Marketing and Technology Services to redefine how brands interact with the world. Through Monks.Flow, its flagship AI ecosystem for marketing orchestration, Monks transforms marketing into a growth engine, collapsing timelines and connecting brands to culture in real time. By deploying bespoke intelligent agents across disciplines and delivering culturally relevant, high-impact creative and digital solutions, Monks solves key critical business challenges across the entire brand enterprise to help brands sustain long-term impact.

Monks was named a Contender in The Forrester Wave™: Global Marketing Services, ranks among Cannes Lions' Top 10 Creative Companies (2022-25) and remains the only partner featured in AdExchanger’s Programmatic Power Players list every year (2020-24). Named Adweek’s first AI Agency of the Year (2023) and The One Show’s inaugural AI Pioneer Organization, Monks was also awarded Business Intelligence Group’s 2025 Excellence in Artificial Intelligence Award in both the Organizational and AI Product categories. As a trusted partner to cutting-edge innovators in tech, Monks earned titles such as Optimizely Experimentation Partner of the Year (2025), runner-up for the Adobe Firefly Partner Award (2024), and Workato’s AI Visionary Customer Impact Award (2024). Additionally, Monks achieved a record-breaking number of FWAs and continues to hold the most of any partner.

We are an equal-opportunity employer committed to building a respectful and empowering work environment for all people to freely express themselves amongst colleagues who embrace diversity in all respects. Including fresh voices and unique points of view in all aspects of our business not only creates an environment where we can all grow and thrive but also increases our potential to produce work that better represents—and resonates with the world around us.