(Junior) HR Operations Manager at Waterdrop in Hamburg, Hamburg, DE

Drink More Water, together we grow.

Here at waterdrop®, we make drinking more water fun, convenient and most importantly, full of flavour! Discover the world of innovative and eco-friendly hydration solutions with our fruity little cubes – Microdrinks – that save up to 98% plastic compared to drinks in 500ml plastic bottles. * Our centrally-located headquarters offers a vibrant environment, featuring an on-site restaurant and gym, not to mention the opportunity to connect with prospective colleagues from all over the world. With a successful online presence, 40+ stores around the world, dedicated B2B partners and over 22,000+ retail and branded stores, we can’t wait to take this journey to the next level – with you!

As a (Junior) HR Operations Manager, you will support and execute our people strategy with a strong focus on operational HR. You will accompany employees throughout the full lifecycle: from onboarding to offboarding, across our retail environments. You will take on responsibilities in contract management, payroll support, and employee administration while ensuring smooth and efficient HR processes. You will also support senior stakeholders and contribute to process optimization, automation initiatives, and the maintenance of HR systems (HRIS). With a proactive and collaborative mindset, you will help deliver a high-quality employee experience and continuously improve our HR operations.

Your responsibilities at waterdrop®:

• Support the full employee lifecycle across our retail teams, including onboarding, offboarding, and day-to-day HR administration
• Prepare and manage employment documents such as contracts, amendments, reference letters, and termination agreements with a high level of accuracy
• Support payroll preparation by ensuring all employee data and relevant changes are complete and submitted on time in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders
• Maintain accurate employee data in HR systems (HRIS) and ensure data quality, consistency, and proper documentation
• Act as a first point of contact for employees and managers, providing day-to-day HR guidance on topics such as employment law, employee relations, performance management, and development opportunities
• Contribute to the continuous improvement, standardization, and automation of HR processes to increase efficiency and enhance the employee experience
• Track and manage work permits and employment eligibility, including monitoring expiration dates and ensuring timely follow-ups
• Participate in local HR projects focused on employee engagement, process optimization, and organizational development
• Ensure compliance with local labor laws, internal policies, and data protection standards, and support audits and policy updates

Your strengths and qualifications:

• Completed degree in HR, business administration or a related field, or a commercial apprenticeship with a focus on HR
• First professional experience in operational HR or HR administration in Germany, ideally 1–2 years
• Good working knowledge of German labor law and a basic understanding of payroll and social security
• Experience working with an HRIS, ideally HiBob, and confident handling of Excel or Google Sheets
• Business-fluent German and English, written and spoken
• Structured, accurate and discreet way of working, especially with confidential data
• Hands-on mentality and the motivation to improve processes, not just follow them

What we offer you:

• Be part of a mission that is changing the way people hydrate, making it healthier, more sustainable and more inspiring.
• Enjoy a hybrid work setup with our office in Hamburg and flexible remote days.
• Stay active with your Urban Sports Club membership.
• Travel across Germany by public transport with your Deutschlandticket, covered by us.
• Benefit from generous discounts on our products.
• Join an international, ambitious team with a strong sense of collaboration.
• Take real ownership of your area, bring in your ideas and enjoy genuine trust from day one.

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We work in a changing world which offers great opportunities for people with diverse backgrounds and experiences. We seek to attract and employ the best people from the widest talent pool because creating value through diversity is what makes us strong as a business and enables us to solve important problems and deliver added value. We encourage an inclusive culture where people can be themselves, are valued for their strengths and are empowered to be the best they can be.

Wanna Drop in? Send your application documents through our online application system. We are looking forward to reading from you soon!

*Based on packaging weight comparison: waterdrop® pod incl. lid (0.44 g) vs. average 500 ml single-use PET bottle (23.09 g).