Senior People and Culture Manager

About the Role

This is a full-ownership, individual contributor role building the people function from the ground up at a fast-growing AI/ML startup in Berlin. You will partner directly with the founder to scale the team rapidly, spanning recruiting, onboarding, culture, employer branding, and HR operations.

What You'll Do

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• Own end-to-end recruiting operations, including pipeline management, sourcing, screening, and hiring process design to support aggressive headcount growth.
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• Design and execute onboarding programs that set new hires up for success in a high-intensity environment.
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• Build core people processes, policies, and frameworks to support a rapidly scaling team.
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• Cultivate and steward company culture aligned with shared values and a high-performance work environment.
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• Develop employer branding and recruitment marketing strategies to attract top talent in a competitive market.
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• Manage HR administration and ensure compliance with German labor law and Berlin employment regulations.

What We're Looking For

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• 5 or more years of experience in people or HR roles, with at least 3 years building or leading a people function at an early-stage or high-growth startup.
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• Proven ability to run a people function independently as a senior individual contributor, without direct reports.
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• Strong expertise in German labor law and employment regulations, or a clear willingness to upskill quickly with legal support.
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• Experience designing onboarding programs and people processes during rapid scaling phases.
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• Demonstrated ability to build employer branding and maintain a high hiring bar during periods of fast growth.
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• Proficiency with HRIS, ATS, and HR administration tools.
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• Comfort thriving in ambiguous, high-intensity startup environments where moving fast and wearing multiple hats is the norm.
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• Familiarity with tech startup ecosystems and venture-backed company dynamics is a plus.
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• Experience with international or multi-location team compliance is a plus.

Compensation & Benefits

Base salary of €60,000 to €70,000 annually. Visa sponsorship is not available for this role.

Location

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