HR Generalist – EMEA
Sector: Plastics
Function: HR
Location: Germany (Hybrid) Office based in Bahlingen 3 days a week
Ref: JE/65023
INTERNATIONAL RECRUITMENT & HR EXPERTS ACROSS THE PLASTICS, PACKAGING, SPECIALITY CHEMICALS, LIFE SCIENCES, BIOPOLYMER, FOOD ADDITIVES & INGREDIENTS, ENERGY AND RECYCLING SECTORS SINCE 1975.
Based in:
Germany (Hybrid) Office based in Bahlingen 3 days a week
The Role:
Spectrix is seeking an experienced HR Generalist – EMEA to provide operational HR support across a diverse international workforce. This is a hands-on role, partnering with managers and employees across multiple European countries to deliver pragmatic HR solutions while ensuring compliance with local employment legislation.
The successful candidate will have a strong grounding in HR operations across the EMEA region, with particular expertise in German employment law, labour relations and works council engagement. They will be comfortable operating within a fast-paced international business and will ideally have previous experience working for a US-owned multinational organisation, balancing local legal requirements with a global HR framework.
Responsibilities:
• Provide day-to-day HR support to managers and employees across multiple EMEA countries.
• Act as the primary HR contact for Germany, providing expert guidance on employment legislation, employee relations and labour law.
• Build effective relationships with managers, supporting them on performance management, disciplinary matters, grievances, absence management and employee development.
• Partner with German Works Councils and employee representatives, ensuring effective consultation and compliance with co-determination requirements.
• Support organisational change initiatives, restructures and workforce planning activities across the region.
• Ensure HR policies and procedures remain compliant with local employment legislation across EMEA.
• Work closely with payroll, finance and external legal advisers to ensure compliance and operational efficiency.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, employee lifecycle activities and offboarding processes.
• Maintain accurate employee records and HR documentation.
• Assist with HR reporting, audits and compliance activities.
• Support the implementation of global HR initiatives whilst adapting them appropriately for local legislative requirements.
• Promote best practice HR processes and continuous improvement across the region.
The Candidate:
Candidate Profile
The successful candidate will demonstrate:
• Proven experience in a broad operational HR Generalist or HR Business Partner role.
• Strong expertise in German employment law and labour relations.
• Significant experience working with German Works Councils (Betriebsrat) and unionised environments.
• A solid understanding of employment legislation across multiple European countries.
• Experience supporting international HR operations within an EMEA structure.
• Excellent employee relations experience, including disciplinary, grievance, performance and restructuring matters.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence managers at all levels.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong communication skills in both German and English.
Essential Experience
• Extensive operational HR experience within an international organisation.
• Expert knowledge of German labour law and employee relations.
• Demonstrable experience working with German Works Councils and collective consultation processes.
• Broad knowledge of employment legislation across the wider EMEA region.
• Experience supporting multi-country HR operations.
• Fluent German and English.
Personal Attributes
• Pragmatic, commercially minded and solutions focused.
• Hands-on and operational, with a willingness to be involved in day-to-day HR activities.
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail.
• Able to balance business needs with legislative compliance.
• Collaborative, approachable and able to build credibility quickly.
• Comfortable working across different cultures and time zones.
Please understand that due to the expected high number of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted directly
For reasons of better legibility, the simultaneous use of the language forms male, female and diverse (f/m/d) is avoided. All personal designations apply equally to all genders.
Candidates must have the legal right to work and reside in the country where the position is based.
Proof of eligibility to work will be required as part of the application process.
Throughout 2026 & 2027 you can meet with Listgrove at the following exhibitions:
Interpack, France Innovation Plasturgie, Interplas UK, Plast Milan, Fakuma, ArabPlast, NPE 2027.
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