Labour Relations Expert - EMEA

About the team

This team supports HR compliance and employee relations, with a focus on making sure people practices align with legal and regulatory obligations. A major part of the work involves partnering with employee representative bodies and serving as the communication bridge between those groups and the company. In locations where employee representative bodies exist, the team helps the business remain compliant, strengthens internal communication, and safeguards employee rights to support a fair, open, and constructive workplace.

Role overview

This position offers strategic support to the business in planning and running projects involving works councils. The role ensures compliance with regional legal requirements related to works council matters, handles day-to-day interactions with local works councils, and coordinates with EMEA regional works councils on strategic topics.

Key responsibilities

The role includes shaping works council strategy, building effective relationships with employee representatives, advising business and HR partners, collaborating across functions, and managing routine works council administration.

• Work with global business stakeholders, employment legal specialists, and HR teams to create and roll out works council strategies and initiatives.
• Identify the matters most important to works council management and design communication approaches around them.
• Research emerging trends and effective practices in works council policy, process design, and related employment topics.
• Attend meetings with on-site works councils and develop trusted relationships with regional leaders and works council members.
• Act as the main contact point for works council matters and help lead negotiations on issues such as IT changes, performance management, employee movement processes, and company-wide policies.
• Prepare documents, reports, and other materials used to address employee concerns with works councils.
• Guide business leaders and HR business partners on co-determination and works council topics, including labour law questions.
• Design and support HR compliance training where needed.
• Partner with global cross-functional teams on HR and works council projects.
• Support the delivery of global and regional HR initiatives as the EMEA coordinator.
• Manage operational works council tasks, including new hire and transfer processes across multiple sites.
• Handle day-to-day works council requests, such as training queries, data and information requests, resource and expert expense matters, and process/system updates and refinements.

Company overview

TikTok is a leading platform for short-form mobile video, built around the mission of inspiring creativity and bringing joy. The company operates globally with headquarters in Los Angeles and Singapore and offices across major cities including New York, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.

Why join

The organization emphasizes curiosity, humility, resilience, collaboration, and an “Always Day 1” mindset. It values innovation, continuous learning, and making an impact in a fast-growing technology environment.

Diversity and inclusion

The company is committed to an inclusive workplace where people are valued for their skills, experience, and perspective. It aims to reflect the diversity of the communities it serves and welcomes a wide range of voices and backgrounds.

Qualifications

Applicants should bring significant HR experience, strong communication and negotiation ability, confidence in mediation and strategic writing, and the flexibility to operate in a fast-moving, cross-functional setting. Experience with employment law, employee relations, industrial relations, and works council matters is preferred, along with a solid understanding of labour law trends in the EMEA region.

Additional information

This role is focused on labour relations, works council management, and HR compliance for the EMEA region. It is based in Hamburg and is designed for an on-site working arrangement.