HR Manager Employee Support Centre (gn)

HR Manager (internal title Team Manager) (gn) – Employee Support Centre (ESC) - People and Culture

Do you want to help make the world a better place with your managing a team effectively as well as delivering on all business aspect required? We’re seeking a HR Manager (internal title Team Manager) based in Berlin to provide expert guidance and direction on HR policy implementation and manage local communication.

The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and inclusive democracies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people. We are active in more than 120 countries, making us the world’s largest private funder of independent groups working for justice, democratic governance, and human rights.

The People and Culture (P&C) team works with the organisation to create a culture and workplace that embodies and promotes organizational values, enabling the delivery of societal impact. The P&C team is structured as a collection of departments, to include HR Advisory; Centre of Expertise; Projects, Systems & Analytics; and Employee Support Centre.

The Employee Support Centre (ESC) undertakes onboarding/off boarding, benefits and compensation administration, HR audits and compliance (including GDPR), contract administration and payroll provision in London and the US. The Employee Support Centre will be the home of the “tiered” query management model for which development will commence, in tandem with the People, Systems and Analytics team, in 2023. Employees will be able to access high-quality information and assistance on a wide range of human resources issues through a knowledge platform. Where the knowledge platform does not provide sufficient information or an adequate response, individuals will be referred for further assistance from staff of the Centre, who will revert to other specialists as needed in complex cases. This team will also be the custodians of all the data entry and changes in Workday for London, the US and Berlin. The team will also oversee global mobility. 

The role of Team Manager is a People Manager role that leads the ESC in Berlin in improving practices and providing advice. The position focuses on operational and strategic execution as follows:

• Managing the Berlin ESC team effectively to ensure delivery of BAU (contracts, on/off boarding, data recording, etc) and maintenance of high service levels; Coordinate closely with other People functions (HRP, labor & employee relations, HRIS) and other operational departments to ensure effective delivery
• Overall responsibility (when implemented) for managing Service Now locally as the state-of-the-art platform ensuring data and content are always up to date; ensuring timely, efficient, and optimal services to Berlin employees and other HR colleagues
• Providing expert guidance and direction on HR policy implementation and work with the Director, Employee Support Centre in policy design and implementation; own the employee handbook and ESC related policies including the hybrid approach to work; act as the interface with labor relations in communicating policy proposals
• Manage ESC local communications; provide HR live updates to staff on relevant information sessions thereby keeping staff engaged and informed
• Oversee accommodations, exceptions, and other related processes
• Deliver all aspects of employee pensions and employee benefits and manage the relationships with numerous service providers; signpost as required regarding issues of taxation
• Preparing and maintaining a yearly ESC team budget
• Validating Workday entries and accountable for ensuring the data accuracy in the system, due to payroll impact. 

• Have a proven track record of managing staff/experience supervising, along with sound  mentoring skills
• Have substantial experience (including transferable skills), of working in an Employee Support Centre
• Have excellent command of English and German both written and verbally
• Have a good understanding of German Labor Law to determine when the ESC needs to interface with labor relations (Berlin) on matters such as contract management, working hours, federal vacation act, sick leave, parental leave etc.
• Be results driven with a comprehensive approach to managing all HR processes from end to end
• Have experience in running a Global mobility function including immigration law and taxation in multiple jurisdictions
• Have a sound understanding of compliance, managing a team budget, and good writing,  analytical and presentation skills
• Proactively establish working relationships with managers and staff so that concerns are resolved in a timely and where possible, least contentious way
• Take a consistent approach in the application of HR policy to benefits, whilst being mindful of escalating where appropriate
• Demonstrate thoughtful leadership in interacting effectively with colleagues within HR in the resolution of specific problems and issues
• Commitment to continuous learning and growth in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, antiracism and social justice.
• Commitment to listening and working with humility; ways of working that are respectful to all people; and that support space and voice for all diverse perspectives in our workplace.

Desirable (but not required):

• Membership of a recognised HR Professional body with the aim of continuous professional development in mind
• HR certification or working towards

• Ample opportunities to learn and grow, from annual professional development allowances to onsite trainings and learning conversations with visiting experts.
• Top-notch benefits and perks designed for your well-being and a healthy work-life balance. With some variability according to location, this includes generous time off, flexible work arrangements, employer-paid health insurance, generous retirement savings plan, progressive paid parental leave, reproductive and family planning support, sabbatical opportunities, and much more.
• A commitment to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that enables everyone to bring their full self to work and make a positive impact on the world.