Senior Labour Relations Manager - Germany and Austria

Key Responsibilities  Relationship Management & Strategic Partnership  Build and maintain trusted relationships with Works Council representatives, employee delegates, Trade Unions and other external bodies  Serve as the primary liaison between ServiceNow leadership and the Works Council(s), ensuring clear and consistent communication  In partnership with the Senior Employee & Labour Relations Manager, develop and execute proactive engagement strategies that balance business needs with employee representation  Support stakeholder alignment across HR, Legal, Communications, and business leadership both within EMEA and Globally on labour relations matters  Statutory Compliance & Consultation  Ensure compliance with labour law and Works Council requirements across Germany and Austria  Negotiate Works Council agreements and employment-related initiatives that align with enterprise strategic objectives and employee interests  Lead and manage formal consultation processes and collective engagement initiatives, including the negotiation of collective agreements and works council agreements in applicable jurisdictions  Partner with Legal to assess employment law impacts and mitigate legal risk in labour relations matters  Organisational Change & Restructuring  Lead Works Council engagement and formal consultation on significant organisational changes, restructurings, and workforce decisions  Develop communication strategies and consultation plans that are legally compliant and respectful of employee voice  Provide labour relations counsel to HRBPs and business leaders navigating complex people decisions across Germany and Austria.  Policy & Process Development  In partnership with the Senior Employee & Labour Relations Manager, develop and maintain labour relations policies, processes, and frameworks aligned with applicable legal requirements  Conduct regular legal and regulatory landscape analysis to anticipate changes affecting our operations  Provide guidance on employee relations best practice and escalation protocols  Continuously improve processes and drive consistency in our approach to social dialogue and employee representation  Provide training and support to managers and other stakeholders on labor relations policies, procedures, and practices to ensure consistency and compliance across the organization  Support the implementation of new or updated people programs, policies, and practices  Required Qualifications & Experience  Experience in leveraging or critically thinking about how to integrate AI into work processes, decision-making, or problem-solving. This may include using AI-powered tools, automating workflows, analyzing AI-driven insights, or exploring AI's potential impact on the function or industry. 7+ years of progressive labour relations, employee relations, or HR experience  Deep expertise in Works Council laws and practice in Germany and Austria  Demonstrated experience leading large-scale organisational change and restructuring consultation processes  Strong understanding of collective bargaining, statutory consultation, and German (and Austrian) employment law  Excellent stakeholder management and negotiation skills, with ability to build trust across contentious issues  Fluency in English and German is essential; additional European languages are an advantage  Track record of advising senior leadership and HRBPs through complex labour relations challenges  Desirable Qualifications  Law degree or postgraduate qualification in labour law or human resources  Experience in multinational or matrix organisations with complex governance  Experience in technology or high-growth companies with USA headquarters  Certification in labour relations or HR (CIPD, SHRM equivalent)  Core Competencies  Strategic Thinking and Business Acumen: Ability to connect labour relations strategy to broader business objectives  Judgment & Decision Making: Ability to navigate ambiguity and make sound decisions under pressure  Relationship Management: Genuine interest in understanding different perspectives and building credible partnerships  Communication: Clear, direct communication with ability to translate complex issues for different audiences  Resilience & Care: Commitment to balancing business outcomes with genuine care for people affected by organisational decisions  Team Player: Ability to build strong relationships across HR and the business to be able to influence and advise and drive to the right outcomes  Reporting Line & Collaboration  This role reports directly to the VP of HR EMEA and will work closely with:  EMEA HR and Global HR Business Partners  Senior Employee & Labour Relations Manager  Senior Labour Relations Manager, France & Netherlands (peer role)  Employment Legal  Communications on stakeholder messaging  Business leadership  It all started when engineer Fred Luddy wrote code that automated a tedious task for his coworker, Phyllis. She cried tears of joy. That moment inspired Fred to build a company that could do that for everyone—freeing people from busywork so they could focus on meaningful work. Today, ServiceNow is the AI control tower for business reinvention. Our ServiceNow AI platform brings together any AI, any data, and any workflow— helping 85% of the Fortune 500® work smarter, faster, and better. We're building an AI-native culture where technology and talent are unstoppable together. A