Senior People and Culture Manager

About the Role

Build and run the people function for a fast-growing AI startup in Berlin. This senior individual contributor role supports company growth across recruiting, onboarding, culture, and HR operations.

What You'll Do

• Own recruiting operations, including hiring strategy, sourcing, screening, pipeline management, and hiring process design.

• Design and deliver onboarding programs for new employees.

• Build people processes, policies, and frameworks to support a rapidly growing team.

• Develop employer branding and recruitment marketing to attract talent in a competitive market.

• Support employee engagement, retention, and a high-performance culture.

• Manage HR administration and address compliance with German labor law.

What We're Looking For

• At least 5 years of experience in people or HR roles, including 3 or more years building or leading a people function at an early-stage startup or in a comparable high-growth environment.

• Experience independently owning the people function as a senior individual contributor, without direct reports.

• Strong end-to-end recruiting expertise, alongside experience building onboarding, HR operations, and people processes during rapid growth.

• Experience with employer branding, recruitment marketing, employee engagement, and culture initiatives.

• Knowledge of German labor law and employment practices, or willingness to rapidly build expertise with legal support.

• Proficiency with HR information systems, applicant tracking systems, and HR administration tools.

• Comfort working in a fast-paced startup environment with demanding expectations and ambiguity.

Compensation & Benefits

Base salary: €60,000 to €70,000 annually. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Location

Hybrid role based in Berlin, Germany, with at least four days per week in the office.