HR Partner team Lead, Germany and Austria - FTC ~12 months

PURPOSE

IQVIA is recruiting for an interim Director, Human Resources, to lead a team of ~25 HR Business Partners and HR Specialists who are responsible for ~3,700 employees across Germany and Austria. Reporting to the Vice President, global HR Partner team, this role will provide strong and engaging leadership, expertise, advice, HR business partnering, and works seamlessly with other HR teams to provide an overall joined-up HR delivery.

A key part of this role is to drive continuous improvement across the region, working with other senior HR leaders and business stakeholders, working a global and matrixed structure to assure business delivery and results.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Leads a team of HR professionals to deliver efficient and effective HR business partnering services to all business units in Germany and Austria.

• Drives HR leadership across multiple legal entities and locations, ensuring a consistent employee experience while managing local requirements.

• Provides direction and coaching to the HR Partner team for the effective execution of global and local people strategies, plans and programs.

• Is the point person for HR leads of the Regional and Global Business Units, and specialist HR teams/Centres of Excellence, to ensure local HR business partnering addresses business and HR priorities.

• Provides a consultative service to local business leaders on all areas of HR and drives implementation and embedding of best practice for their organisations (e.g., building effective talent pipelines, leadership development, succession planning).

• Provides consultation and guidance on employee relations issues and monitors adherence to local policies and local employment laws.

• Leads strategic engagement with Works Councils and employee representative bodies across Germany and Austria, including consultations, negotiations, implementation of co-determined initiatives, and ensuring compliance with collective bargaining agreements, works agreements and local labour regulations.

• Leads on the identification and implementation of HR policy and process improvements for the country including opportunities for offshoring and technology leverage; liaises with the HR Partner team leadership on global projects and programs.

• Leads local harmonization, integration and organizational transformation initiatives following acquisitions, restructuring activities and changes in operating models.

• Takes ownership of the people aspects of business initiatives, e.g., for real estate changes, and leads on local organizational effectiveness activities. Delivers local M&A due diligence and integration activities.

• Is the final escalation point for HR operational issues in the country.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Law, Psychology or a related field, combined with substantial progressive HR experience, including leadership responsibility in a senior HR Business Partner, HR Lead or HR Director role.

• Excellent leadership and team leadership skills

• Strong business and commercial understanding of organisational dynamics

• Strong organization development, process effectiveness, project management and change management expertise

• Excellent knowledge and experience of German and Austria employment legislation

• Ability to effectively shape and execute overall strategic direction

• Client-centric

• Creative, innovative and focused on adding value to the business

• Curious, flexible, able to work in a face-paced environment

• Excellent problem-solving, judgment and decision-making skills in highly complex situations

• Excellent communication and presentation skills

• Strong coaching and counselling skills

• Very effective influencing skills

• Highly structured approach

• Strong HR information systems understanding. Actively uses AI to deliver impact.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, managers and clients

• Able to use insightful data to inform decisions

• Ideally, prior experience of acquisitions (due diligence through integration)

• Very high degree of discretion and confidentiality

• Excellent attention to detail

• Fluent German and English language skills, both written and spoken

• Good computer skills, including Microsoft Office applications and HRIS applications

IQVIA is a leading global provider of clinical research services, commercial insights and healthcare intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries. We create intelligent connections to accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative medical treatments to help improve patient outcomes and population health worldwide. Learn more at

IQVIA is committed to integrity in our hiring process and maintains a zero tolerance policy for candidate fraud. All information and credentials submitted in your application must be truthful and complete. Any false statements, misrepresentations, or material omissions during the recruitment process will result in immediate disqualification of your application, or termination of employment if discovered later, in accordance with applicable law. We appreciate your honesty and professionalism.