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Head of HR: tasks, salary and jobs

The Head of HR is the top management position in a company's HR department. This role has overall responsibility for the development and implementation of the HR strategy and plays a central role in achieving business objectives. The Head of HR works closely with management to ensure that the company has highly qualified employees, a strong employer brand and efficient HR processes.

  • Education: Business administration, HR management or related fields, often supplemented by specific HR further training.
  • Hard skills: Development of HR strategies, change management, talent management and HR analytics.
  • Soft skills: leadership qualities, communication skills, negotiation skills and analytical thinking.
  • Salary: The annual salary is typically between €120,000 and €250,000, depending on company size and responsibility

The Head of HR has strategic responsibility for all HR-related topics in the company. They play a key role in the implementation of the corporate strategy and ensure that the HR department is optimally aligned with the business objectives. Typical tasks include:

  • Developing and implementing the HR strategy: the Head of HR drafts long-term HR plans that are aligned with the overall business objectives.
  • Employer branding: ensuring that the company is perceived as an attractive employer in order to attract and retain top talent.
  • Change management: support with organizational change, restructuring and transformation.
  • Talent acquisition & management: developing programs for employee recruitment, development and succession planning.
  • Compensation & benefits: creation of incentive systems to increase employee satisfaction and performance.
  • HR Analytics: Analysis and use of data to optimize HR planning and performance.
  • Management of the HR department: managing and developing the HR team and ensuring efficient HR processes.

While the HR Business Partner acts as a bridge between HR and the operational business units, the responsibility of the Head of HR is on a more strategic level. The Head of HR shapes the overall strategy of the HR department and bears overall responsibility for HR management in the company.

In comparison, the Head of Operations focuses more on operational tasks within the HR department, such as managing payroll or HR services, while the Head of HR has more comprehensive strategic responsibility.

To be successful as a Head of HR, you need a combination of sound specialist knowledge in HR management and comprehensive leadership skills. The most important hard skills include:

  • HR strategy development: ability to develop HR strategies that are aligned with business objectives.
  • Change management: experience in leading change processes.
  • HR Analytics: Skills in analyzing HR metrics to make data-driven decisions.
  • Labor law: Extensive knowledge of labor law regulations and their application.

Soft skills include:

  • Leadership skills: The Head of HR not only leads a team, but also manages the entire HR department strategically.
  • Communication and negotiation skills: Necessary for working with managers and employees.
  • Ability to work in a team: Close cooperation with other departments and management is essential.

There are various ways to become Head of HR, which often include the following stages:

  • Degree: a degree in business administration, HR management or a related field is usually the basis. Many Heads of HR also have a Master's degree.
  • Professional experience: many years of experience in HR management, often in senior positions such as HR Business Partner or HR Manager.
  • Further training: Specialized training in HR, for example in change management or HR analytics, helps to meet the technical requirements of the role.
  • Management experience: Advancement to Head of HR requires strong leadership skills and the ability to lead teams successfully.

A lateral entry is also possible if you have management experience and have acquired the necessary specialist knowledge through further training in HR management.

The salary of the Head of HR varies depending on the industry, company size and responsibilities. As a rule, the annual salary is between €120,000 and €250,000, although top salaries are possible in international companies.

As Head of HR, the next step can be to take on international HR responsibilities as Global Head of HR. Alternatively, there is the option of switching to strategic HR specializations such as Head of HR Development or Interim Head of HR. This not only offers new challenges, but also enables the use of extensive HR experience in specialized projects, for example in M&A processes or large-scale company transformations.

What does a Head of HR do?

The salary is typically between €120,000 and €250,000 per year, depending on company size, industry and experience.

What makes the Head of HR different from other HR positions?

While the Head of HR has strategic responsibility for all HR areas, positions such as HR Business Partner or Head of Operations focus on specialized HR tasks.

Are you looking for a new professional challenge as Head of HR? Discover exciting opportunities in our network and apply directly to top employers.