Senior Manager, Employee and Labor Relations

Coca-Cola · Berlin

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Job Description Summary:

Senior Manager, Employee & Labour Relations (Germany)

Location: Germany
Function: People & Culture / Employee & Labour Relations
Reports To: Senior Director, Employee & Labour Relations
Scope: Germany

Position Summary

The Senior Manager, Employee & Labour Relations (Germany) serves as the company's lead subject matter expert and strategic advisor on German labour relations and co-determination matters. The role is accountable for developing and executing the Works Council strategy for Germany, ensuring effective engagement with employee representatives while enabling the successful delivery of business priorities, organisational change initiatives, and workforce strategies.

Operating in Germany the candidate will report into the Sn. Director Employee & Labour Relations and will partner closely with Director Employee & Labour Relations, People & Culture, Legal, and business leadership to identify and address relevant labour relations considerations in a practical, proportionate and legally compliant manner. The role will act as the central coordination point for all significant Works Council activities in Germany and support the organisation in navigating local co-determination framework while contributing to constructive and sustainable relationships with employee representatives.

Key Responsibilities

Works Council Leadership & Labour Relations Strategy

• Lead the overall Works Council strategy for Germany.
• Act as the primary Employee Relations partner on all local Works Council and co-determination matters.
• Develop engagement and consultation strategies that support business objectives while maintaining constructive employee representative relationships.
• Anticipate labour relations risks and develop proactive mitigation strategies.

Operational Delivery

• Independently manage assigned German employee and labour relations matters from initial assessment through consultation, negotiation and implementation.
• Assess co-determination implications and translate them into practical consultation plans, timelines, risk assessments and stakeholder actions.
• Coordinate the preparation of Works Council materials, negotiation positions, briefing documents and internal approvals.
• Prepare and conduct consultations and negotiations with local Works Council within an agreed mandate.
• Draft and negotiate works agreements and other collective arrangements in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

Consultation & Negotiation related to Organisational Change initiatives

• Provide support for restructuring initiatives, organisational transformations, workforce changes, and strategic business initiatives.
• Design and coordinate consultation plans and negotiation strategies.
• Partner with business leaders to ensure consultation obligations are appropriately considered in project planning.
• Support negotiations and implementation of Works Agreements.
• Provide strategic guidance throughout complex consultation processes.

Strategic Business Partnership

• Provide trusted, practical advice to senior leaders and P&C stakeholders on employee and labour relations risks, in alignment with the Director ER/LR.
• Partner with P&C leaders to ensure alignment between labour relations strategy and people priorities.
• Support business decision-making by providing practical and commercially focused labour relations advice.

Risk Management & Compliance

• Monitor developments in German labour law, Works Constitution Act requirements, and co-determination practices.
• Identify emerging labour relations risks and recommend appropriate mitigation plans.
• Partner with Legal to ensure compliance with statutory consultation and information obligations.
• Support the resolution of complex labour relations disputes and escalations.

Capability Building

• Coach and develop P&C teams and business leaders on Works Council engagement and labour relations practices.
• Build organisational capability to effectively operate within Germany's employee representation framework.
• Promote consistent and compliant labour relations practices across Germany.

Additional Regional Employee Relations Responsibilities

In addition to leading the Germany Works Council agenda, the role will provide support to the broader European Employee Relations function on selected regional priorities, projects and complex employee relations matters.

Regional Employee Relations Support

• Partner with the European Employee Relations team on strategic labour relations and employee relations initiatives across the region.
• Support cross-border organisational transformation projects, restructurings and workforce change initiatives where labour relations expertise is required.
• Contribute to the development of ER policies, playbooks, frameworks and governance processes across Europe.
• Support complex investigations, disciplinary matters, grievance processes and high-risk employee relations cases, as required.
• Participate in European Employee Relations projects aimed at improving operational effectiveness, compliance and employee experience.
• Support labour relations risk assessments and due diligence activities associated with acquisitions, divestitures and other strategic business transactions.
• Act as a member of regional project teams supporting enterprise-wide people initiatives, policy changes and transformation programmes.
• Contribute to the preparation of materials, briefings and risk assessments for senior leadership, legal teams and governance forums.

Stakeholder Management

• Partner closely with:
  • European Employee Relations Team
  • People & Culture Leadership (regional and local)
  • Country Leadership Team
  • Legal Counsel
  • Business Leaders
  • Local and National Works Councils
  • External labour law advisers where required

Qualifications & Experience

Required Experience

• Significant experience in Employee Relations, Labour Relations, Industrial Relations, or Employment Law.
• Extensive experience working within the German co-determination framework.
• Proven track record managing Works Council consultations and negotiations.
• Experience supporting organisational transformations, restructurings, and workforce change programmes.
• Experience influencing senior leaders and navigating complex stakeholder environments.
• Strong project and programme management skills.
• Practical experience working with French employee representative bodies, including Social and Economic Committees (CSEs), is an advantage.

Education

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Degree in Law, Human Resources, Industrial Relations, or related field preferred.
• Advanced qualifications in employment law or labour relations desirable.

Technical Expertise

• Deep understanding of:
  • German Works Constitution Act (BetrVG)
  • Co-determination requirements
  • Consultation and information obligations
  • German employment law
  • Collective labour relations practices
  • Organisational change processes

Language Requirements

• Fluent German and English required.
• French is a plus.

Skills:

Location(s):

City/Cities:

Travel Required:

Relocation Provided:

Job Posting End Date:

Our Purpose and Growth Culture:

We are taking deliberate action to nurture an inclusive culture that is grounded in our company purpose, to refresh the world and make a difference. We act with a growth mindset, take an expansive approach to what’s possible and believe in continuous learning to improve our business and ourselves. We focus on four key behaviors – curious, empowered, inclusive and agile – and value how we work as much as what we achieve. We believe that our culture is one of the reasons our company continues to thrive after 130+ years. Visit Our Purpose and Vision to learn more about these behaviors and how you can bring them to life in your next role at Coca-Cola.

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