Director of People (m/f/div)

Overview

Join to apply for the Director of People (m/f/div) role at DEPT in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

VP of People DACH (Context)

For DEPT Germany and Switzerland, we are looking for a VP of People who, together with the People team (four colleagues based in Zurich, Hamburg, Cologne and Berlin), will create the best employee journey, so that our Depsters feel engaged with our organisation, culture and mission.

Job Purpose

As VP of People, you will be a business partner for the German and Swiss business teams. You will report to the SVP of People EMEA and ensure a People plan that aligns with DEPT’s global strategy. You will interact with various stakeholders and, with your expertise, provide advice and coaching on all aspects of People topics for both the business and your People team. You will be the HR point of contact for the leadership team, your team, and all Depsters in Germany and Switzerland. You will be a trusted adviser to the SVP of DACH (Head of Market, Geschäftsführer*in) and work closely with them to foster the DEPT culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with the leadership teams of Germany and Switzerland to bring DEPT’s vision on people-related topics (culture, succession planning, learning & development, health & wellbeing, etc.) to life
• Lead local projects such as the yearly employee satisfaction analysis, and facilitate initiatives that come from these projects
• Lead and further develop a (senior) People team (4 direct reports) in Germany and Switzerland
• Collaborate with the EMEA People team on regional and global projects, including compensation and benefits strategy, DE&I, B-Corp, Learning & Development, etc.

What We Are Looking For

• Experienced People Lead, preferably within a digital agency / the tech industry
• Excellent and accurate knowledge of HR legislation for this market, policies, processes, and tools
• Strong ability to strengthen culture
• Strong stakeholder management skills
• Ability to adapt quickly in a creative and rapidly changing environment
• Punctual, proactive, positive attitude, and able to work independently
• Brings fresh thinking and energy with a can-do mentality
• Clear communication and ownership mindset
• Working proficiency in both German and English
• Direct availability to start working in Germany

We Offer

• Reputation for doing good. DEPT is a Certified B Corp since 2021 and has been named a Great Place To Work since 2022 in the Netherlands, plus agency awards
• Opportunity to work with varied clients and celebrate successes together
• Flexible work location: work from an office, abroad for 13 weeks a year, or home with provided equipment
• DEPT/YOU Learning Menu and DEPT/YOU Special Programs for skill development
• Health contributions through OpenUp platform, gym and wellness discounts, and healthy lunches
• Discount on lease bike and NS Business Card for comfortable commuting

Who We Are

We are pioneers at heart, digital natives, and a new model of agency with a deep skillset in tech and marketing. We hire curious, self-driven, talented people who never stop innovating. Our culture is big enough to cope and small enough to care, with presence in 30+ countries and a focus on growth, autonomy, and solving client problems wherever you are in the world.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace with equal opportunity. We actively recruit, develop, nurture, and retain diverse talent. We encourage everyone to apply and are open to reasonable adjustments in recruitment and employment processes.