Area HR Business Partner (m/w/d)

BAT is evolving at pace into a global multi-category business. With products like VELO, VUSE and GLO we are on a mission to decrease the health impact of our industry

To achieve our ambition, we are looking for colleagues who are ready to Be The Change. Come, join us on this journey!

British American Tobacco Germany has an exciting opportunity for an Area HR Business Partner (m/f/d) in Hamburg!

• Serve as a strategic HR Business Partner to leaders and employees across the Central Europe Marketing function, translating business priorities into people strategies that strengthen organisational capability, accelerate leadership effectiveness and drive sustainable business growth.
• Lead the delivery of the annual people agenda, ensuring excellence in performance management, talent reviews, succession planning, reward programs and employee engagement initiatives.
• Drive the implementation of global and regional HR priorities, adapting solutions to local requirements while ensuring measurable business and people outcomes.
• Partner with leaders to successfully navigate organisational change, including workforce planning, impact assessments, stakeholder engagement, communication strategies and implementation activities.
• Support organisational development initiatives that enhance team effectiveness, workforce capability and long-term talent readiness.
• Use workforce analytics, people data and organisational insights to identify trends, mitigate risks and uncover opportunities, providing actionable recommendations that inform business decisions.
• Manage complex employee relations matters across Germany, including contract amendments, organisational changes, performance improvement plans, disciplinary processes, absence management and employee exits.
• Collaborate closely with Centres of Excellence and HR partners, including Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, Reward, Payroll and HR Services, to deliver seamless employee and manager experiences.
• Provide expert guidance on German labour law, employee relations and HR governance, balancing compliance requirements with business objectives and employee experience.
• Build trusted partnerships with employee representative bodies, supporting effective consultation processes that enable business transformation while fostering positive employee relations.

• Proven experience in HR Business Partnering, HR Advisory, HR Generalist or comparable people-focused roles within a complex, international matrix organisation.
• Strong expertise in German individual and collective labour law, with demonstrated success applying legal requirements to a broad range of HR and employee relations matters.
• Experience partnering with commercial, marketing or customer-facing functions to translate business priorities into practical and effective people solutions.
• Solid knowledge of core HR disciplines across the employee lifecycle, including recruitment, performance management, talent development, succession planning, reward, employee relations and offboarding.
• Experience collaborating with employee representative bodies, shared service environments and specialist HR teams is highly desirable.
• Experience supporting organisational change, transformation initiatives, employee engagement programs or talent strategies is advantageous.

Technical, Functional and Leadership Skills

• Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence, challenge and build credibility at all organizational levels.
• Strong consulting and advisory capability, exercising sound judgement while balancing business priorities, employee needs and compliance requirements.
• Excellent case management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, navigate ambiguity and resolve sensitive matters effectively.
• Outstanding communication skills in both German and English, with the ability to tailor messages, influence decisions and engage diverse audiences.
• Resilient, adaptable and highly effective in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Data-driven and analytical, with the ability to translate workforce insights into practical actions and measurable outcomes.
• Strong collaboration skills with a proven ability to work across teams, functions and geographies to achieve shared objectives.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive, respectful and high-performing workplace culture.

Education, Qualifications and Certifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, Law or a related discipline.
• Additional qualifications in German labor law, employee relations, HR management, organizational development or coaching are highly desirable.
• Fluent German and English language skills, both written and spoken.

• A range of attractive benefits such as full subsidy of the ‘Deutschland-Ticket', discounts with fitness centres and Corporate Benefits, diverse online and offline training and development opportunities to nurture your functional & leadership development, and so much more.
• The possibility to flexibly shape your working hours– remotely or at the office.
• Probably one of the best offices in Hamburg's city centre with a breathtaking Alster view, providing a state-of-the-art working environment and a dedicated Oasis area to switch off and celebrate successes together in regular after works and office parties.
• The opportunity to shape the transformation of an entire industry, we prioritise continuous improvement within a transformative environment, preparing for ongoing changes.
• Your journey with us isn't limited by boundaries; it's propelled by your aspirations. Join us at BAT and become a part of an environment that thrives on internal advancement, where your career progression isn't just a statement – it's a reality we're eager to build together. Seize the opportunity and own your development; your next chapter starts here. Find out more by visiting our Hamburg career page.