HR Director DACH (m/w/d)

HR Director DACH (m/w/d)

We are Coty, a leading global cosmetics company. As a fragrance provider, we are the global market leader and number three in make-up. Our comprehensive portfolio, comprising countless renowned brands, is sold in over 150 countries. We believe in beauty with a progressive vision and in brands that inspire our customers – wherever they are in the world.

Successful brands in the luxury and lifestyle sectors form part of our local portfolio. Our colleagues (m/f/d) at HUGO BOSS, CALVIN KLEIN, GUCCI, BURBERRY, CHLOÉ and many more are looking forward to welcoming you!

Look forward to:

- Work smart – up to 50% remote working, trust-based working hours and flexible working arrangements

- Team – A positive working atmosphere and culture, characterised by diversity, collaboration and fun

- International environment – Working in an international workplace and corporate environment with flat hierarchies and exciting projects

- Working environment – Modern workplace design and a new office!

- Parking & transport links – Free company car parks, a central location and good links to public transport

Role Purpose
The HR Director, DACH is a strategic member of the regional leadership team, responsible for shaping the organizational capabilities, leadership, talent and culture required to deliver Coty's business ambitions across 2 Business Units (Prestige & Consumer) and 3 countries: Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Operating in a dynamic and evolving consumer beauty environment, the role leads the people agenda across approximately 500 employees, partnering closely with business leaders to accelerate organizational change and effectiveness, workforce agility and sustainable business performance.
The HR Director translates business priorities into impactful people strategies, ensuring Coty has the organizational structure, leadership and talent required to adapt, grow and compete in a rapidly changing market. Through change management, the role helps shape the future of the DACH organization and directly contributes to business success.
Leading a lean HR team of five, this leader operates from boardroom to shop floor, co-creating solutions with leaders and employees, driving organizational change, building new capabilities, and fostering an engaged, agile and high-performing workforce that delivers sustainable business results. The role also ensures a pragmatic and compliant approach to employee and labour relations, maintaining constructive relationships with employee representatives and safeguarding Coty's licence to operate across the region.

Scope & Dimensions
• Geographic remit: Germany, Austria and Switzerland across three legal and labour-law jurisdictions.
• Employee population / HR team: Approximately 500 employees; leadership of five HR professionals.
• Business environment: Dynamic, matrixed consumer beauty organization undergoing continuous transformation and evolution.
• Stakeholders: Regional and functional leadership teams, Centres of Excellence, HR Services, Reward, employees and employee representative bodies across DACH.
• Remit: Organizational change & effectiveness, HR business partnership, talent, culture, leadership, employee engagement, HR operations, governance, compliance and employee relations.

Key Accountabilities

Stake holder Co-Creation & Collaboration
• Co-create people solutions with business leaders, functional partners, CoEs and employee representatives.
• Operate with agility, pace and pragmatism in a fast-moving, matrixed beauty business.
• Translate complex topics into simple, compelling narratives for audiences from works council to executive committee.
• Build trust-based relationships through visible presence and close proximity to the business and its people.

Business Transformation & Change Management
• Serve as HR architect and driver of major transformation, reorganization and change programmes across DACH.
• Lead the people workstream end-to-end — OD, workforce planning, consultation, transition and cultural change.
• Build change strategies that engage leaders and employees, sustain momentum and embed new ways of working.
• Convert operating-model, footprint and productivity strategy into executable people plans with measurable outcomes.

HR Business Partnering, Talent & Operations
• Own the DACH people strategy, using data to inform workforce, cost, productivity and people-risk decisions.
• Drive talent, DE&I, engagement, culture and leadership effectiveness.
• Ensure compliant HR operations across the three countries with HR Services, CoEs and Reward.
• Safeguard data privacy, health & safety and governance.
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing HR team of five.

Employee & Labour Relations (DACH)
• Act as Coty’s most senior ER/LR authority in DACH, personally leading complex, sensitive and high-stakes employee and labour relations matters.
• Lead relationships and negotiations with works councils, trade unions and social partners across Germany, Austria and Switzerland — negotiating works agreements, reconciliation of interests and social plans as required.
• Ensure full compliance with German, Austrian and Swiss labour law, co-determination and collective bargaining frameworks; anticipate legislative change.
• Advise and coach leaders on disciplinary, grievance, restructuring, transfer and exit processes — balancing commercial objectives with legal risk and Coty’s values.
• Manage labour litigation and external counsel; minimise labour-relations risk and reputational exposure.

The ideal Coty Fit:

Skills
• Language: fluent German (native or full professional proficiency) and fluent English — non-negotiable.
• Transformation & change: proven, track record of leading or participating in business transformation and change programmes (restructuring, reorganization, integration and cultural change) to sustained results.
• Stakeholder co-creation: strong record of co-creation and collaboration, with the agility to work at pace and the articulation to influence at all levels; a visible, business-close leadership style.
• Leadership: experience leading and developing HR teams; comfortable operating both strategically and hands-on within a lean structure.
• Commercial acumen: understands the business drivers behind performance, brings both an internal and external market lens, and makes pragmatic decisions that support business outcomes while managing risk.
• ER / LR depth: demonstrable expertise across DACH — hands-on with German co-determination, works councils, collective bargaining; Austrian and Swiss labour law and employee representation will be a plus

Experience
• At least 15 years of HR experience, including the last 5 years in a leadership position in the DACH region.
• Experience in Coty-adjacent industries such as B2C, beauty, consumer products, retail or other fast-paced consumer-facing environments is highly valued.
• International experience would be a plus.

Qualifications
• Degree in HR, Law, Business, Psychology or a related field; a postgraduate qualification is an advantage.

How to apply:

Have we sparked your interest?

If so, we look forward to receiving your full application, stating your earliest possible start date and your salary expectations.

Your direct point of contact for this role is Christopher Johnson.

ABOUT US

Coty is one of the world’s largest cosmetics companies and boasts a renowned portfolio of brands in fragrance, make-up, and skincare and body care. Coty is the world’s leading supplier of perfumes and ranks third in the make-up sector, distributing products in over 150 countries worldwide. Coty and its brands are also committed to a range of social initiatives and strive to minimise their environmental impact.

For further information about Coty Inc., please visit our website at www.coty.com/ .

At Coty, we value diversity. We are committed to equal employment opportunities, regardless of skin colour, ethnicity, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status or disability. At Coty, we value diversity. We are committed to equal employment opportunities, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status or disability.