Senior People and Culture Manager

ABOUT THE ROLE Build and run the people function for a fast-growing AI and machine learning startup. This senior individual contributor role spans recruiting, people operations, culture, and employer branding, supporting a Berlin-based team through a period of rapid growth. WHAT YOU'LL DO - Own recruiting operations and hiring strategy, including pipeline management, sourcing, screening, and hiring process design. - Design and deliver onboarding programs that help new hires succeed in a fast-paced environment. - Build people processes, policies, and frameworks to support a growing team. - Develop employer branding and recruitment marketing to attract talent in a competitive market. - Steward company culture and support engagement and retention. - Manage HR administration and support compliance with German employment regulations. 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 a broad people function as a senior individual contributor, without direct reports. - End-to-end recruiting operations expertise, including sourcing, screening, pipeline management, and hiring process design. - Experience designing onboarding and people processes, and building employer branding or recruitment marketing programs. - Knowledge of German labor law and employment practices, or willingness to rapidly develop that expertise with legal support. - Familiarity with HRIS, ATS, and HR administration tools, plus experience supporting culture and people operations in a fast-paced tech startup. - Comfort operating in an intense, high-performance environment with ambiguity and changing priorities. 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.