Team Lead HR Operations (f/m/d)

As our Team Lead HR Operations, you are the operational anchor and execution driver of our People engine across German and global entities. You balance empathetic team leadership with ultimate end-to-end accountability for operational delivery, adherence to service SLAs, high data quality standards, and continuous process evolution.

You lead a team of currently three (2 HR Operations Specialists, 1 HR Coordinator), with a focus split across Team Leadership & Governance (40%), Hands-On HR Operational Execution (40%), and Process Optimization & AI Adoption (20%).

This role is designed for someone with the ambition to elevate HR Operations toward a modern, global-first, and zero-backlog setup. You lead by working alongside your team in daily operations (payroll runs, legal contract architecture, onboarding & offboarding best practices) while enforcing robust SOPs, always keeping the internal knowledge base up-to-date, setting clear performance expectations, and navigating constructive change discussions. In close collaboration with your team, cross-functional partners (IT, Finance, Office, Legal, Business), and internal SMEs, you operationalize automated workflows and AI implementations to ensure our process infrastructure scales smoothly as the company grows further.

What you will do:

Team Leadership & Operational Oversight (40%)

• End-to-End Ownership: Hold ultimate accountability for the accuracy, timeliness, and legal compliance of all HR Operations workflows across all global entities, tailoring according to the differentiating needs of companies in startup vs. scaleup mode. Define, monitor, and enforce clear response times and resolution SLAs for employee inquiries and internal requests, fostering a fast, solution-oriented, and reliable service culture. Set and maintain high standards for the team.

• Workload & Performance Management: Actively oversee task distribution, monitor team capacity, and manage individual performance. Coach and mentor direct reports, encouraging them to question the status quo and grow their technical and operational capabilities. Address skill gaps, provide direct feedback, and support development.

• Knowledge Architecture: Oversee the creation and continuous maintenance of operating procedures and internal documentation across all operational routines to eliminate single points of failure and ensure seamless knowledge transfer.

• Global-First Execution: Ensure international HR lifecycle processes are executed with the same quality, accuracy, and premium employee experience as German operations.

• Escalation & Change Navigation: Act as the primary escalation point for team or employee issues, while constructively managing resistance during process changes.

Core Hands-On HR Operations (40%)

• Cross-Functional Work: Drive tight operational alignment with group-intern (TA, IT, Finance, …) and Business stakeholders, to execute frictionless "click-to-xx" workflows, e.g. "Day-1-ready" hardware/system access setups incl. Coordination of appointments and information to hiring managers.

• Payroll Execution: Steer the monthly German and international payroll preparation, data validation, and vendor coordination.

• Contract & Mobility: Oversee and issue standard employment contract/document creation, and facilitate global mobility and relocation procedures.

• Data & HRIS: Manage process-related updates in Personio; maintaining clean master data & e-files, and ensuring meaningful reporting for internal stakeholder and management.

Smart Workflows & AI Integration (20%)

• Continuous Improvements: Work with the team to identify operational bottlenecks and execute structured improvements that eliminate manual work.

• Operational AI Adoption: Drive the practical adoption of AI tools within the team, ensuring new systems are actively embedded in daily routines, document creation, and employee inquiries rather than remaining theoretical.

Exemplary Projects & Ownership

• HR Operations Blueprinting & Inventory: Conduct end-to-end checks of our HR workflows, and further potential for tool integration, mapping out bottlenecks, eliminating redundancies, and executing a follow-up plan to streamline daily operations and support organizational growth with minimal administrative overhead.

• Next-Level Payroll Revamp: Makeover of our German and international payroll preparation, integrating meaningful software tools and automated validation checks to eliminate manual entry and reach maximum payout accuracy.

• Relocation & Immigration Revamp: Take over our global mobility support and manage external service providers for a seamless relocation experience.

• AI-Powered Operations: Co-Lead practical implementation initiatives leveraging AI processing and automation opportunities into daily HR tasks.

Who you are:

• Hands-On HR Ops Mastery: 6+ years of direct experience in HR Operations, HR Administration, and Payroll.

• Leadership & Performance Management: First leadership experience (team lead, interim lead, or strong mentoring role) in a fast-paced environment (scale-up, dynamic, ideally SaaS from 500 to 2000+ employees).

• Operational Accountability: Proven ability to hold outcome responsibility while staying actively engaged in execution.

• Project Track Record: Experience executing operational projects (payroll revamp, audit, tool implementation).

• Education & Domain Expertise: Degree or HR qualification; strong knowledge of German labor law, payroll execution, and mobility.

• HRIS Expertise: Heavy-user (ideally Admin) in HRIS (Personio preferred) and tool integration, driven by a #ZeroManualWork orientation.

• Future-Proof Mindset & AI Literacy: A strong intrinsic interest in emerging technologies and a proactive mindset toward leveraging AI tools and their integration to automate routines, optimize workflows, and continuously elevate role efficiency.

• Languages: Business fluent in English (B2/C1) and German (B2).

Fuel for the Journey: Benefits to Support Your Ambitions

• Invest in Your Future: Regular feedback and our development program support your growth, helping you expand your skill set and achieve your career goals.

• Easy Arrival to applike: From signing to settling in Hamburg, we’ve got you covered. Need a visa? No problem. Ready to build your new life and career at applike in Hamburg? We support every ambition - from learning German to a relocation bonus that helps you settle in and make Hamburg feel like home.

• Live Your Best Life, at Work and Beyond: We work in a hybrid setup with 3 core office days, plus flexible working hours. Enjoy 30 vacation days, 3 weeks of remote work per year, and free access to an in-house gym with lots of different fitness classes and mental health support through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

• Thrive Where You Work: Enjoy the Alster Lake view from our central office with top-notch equipment, fun open spaces, and a large variety of snacks and drinks.

• Join the Community! Participate in regular team and company events, including hackathons and social gatherings. We work together, and we celebrate together, too.

Our mission is to create an inspiring work environment for amazing people to achieve extraordinary things. Be part of it!

Skip writing cover letters. Tell us about your most passionate personal project, your desired salary, and your earliest possible start date. We are looking forward to your application!

We welcome applications from people who will contribute to the diversity of our company.

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