Head of People (m/f/d)

Join us in rebuilding B2B retail and ending waste!

Did you know that 20% of all produced clothes are never worn? Become part of the smatch team to address this major ecological issue of excess stock mismanagement and change the course of the retail industry with us! By joining our B2B Retail Marketplace team as Head of People you will create a real and lasting impact for the environment while working hand-in-hand with the founders to unlock the $3tr retail excess stock market and experience a scaling venture from day 1!

About The Role

We’re looking for a Head of People to join our team and make a meaningful impact on our organization’s growth and culture. As the first dedicated people role, this hire will actively build and shape our People department from the ground up, implementing processes and initiatives that support our team’s success and company goals. The Head of People will be a crucial part of the leadership team, focusing on creating a supportive, productive environment where our employees can thrive and perform at their best. Through strategic workforce planning, structured HR processes, and a people-first approach, this role is a foundation for smatch’s continued growth and success.

Key Responsibilities

• People & Talent Management: Lead recruitment, hiring, and onboarding to ensure a seamless candidate and employee experience. Naturally, this will be a key responsibility in the next 6-18 months.
• Culture Development: Drive a positive company culture through employee engagement, development, and support initiatives. As the team grows from a handful of people to an actual organization, your contribution will be crucial.
• Compensation & Benefits: Design competitive salary bands and benefits packages, regularly aligning them with market standards and company growth.
• HR Policies & Compliance: Establish clear HR policies, ensuring compliance with relevant laws and supporting the company’s growth and funding needs.
• Conflict Resolution & Employee Support: Act as a trusted resource for employees, mediating conflicts and fostering a supportive work environment.
• Organizational Development: Contribute to organizational strategy, identifying workforce needs and participating in leadership discussions to shape growth.
• Employee Lifecycle Management: Oversee the full employee lifecycle from recruitment to offboarding, developing frameworks for growth and development opportunities. We strongly believe in developing smatchies inhouse and you will shape their development journey
  
  

About You

This role is ideal for a people-centric leader with a strategic mindset and practical approach, comfortable building HR foundations in a dynamic, growth-focused setting.

• Proven experience in People, HR, or Talent roles, ideally within a startup environment
• Demonstrated track record of scaling teams and developing HR functions
• Strong interpersonal skills with a people-first approach to leadership
• Proficiency in HR processes, compensation, benefits, and regulatory compliance
• Ability to operate strategically and execute operationally in a fast-paced environment
• Flexible, adaptable, and comfortable with ambiguity
• Proficiency in English and German
• Based in or willing to relocate to Hamburg
  
  

What’s In It For You

• Competitive Salary: Receive a competitive salary package appreciating your impact at smatch with the benefit of participating in future value development.
• Dynamic Team Environment: Join a cross-functional, international, and diverse team. Participate in a variety of our monthly fun events, creating an enjoyable and connected workplace culture.
• Professional Growth Opportunities: Benefit from an annual personal development budget and from the hyper-growth trajectory, also regarding personal learning and increasing responsibility.
• Generous Vacation Package: Enjoy 27 vacation days annually, with an extra day for each year of service, up to 30 days, ensuring a strong work-life balance.
• Flexible Work Arrangements: Take advantage of flexible home office options and working hours that fit your lifestyle and personal needs.
• Active Lifestyle Benefits: Stay active and healthy with our partnership with UrbanSportsClub, offering a reduced rate for a variety of sports.
  
  

About Us

The smatch team has set out to change the course of the retail industry by finding smarter, more sustainable ways to deal with excess stock: Our private, asset-light B2B marketplace for stock connects retailers and brands who want to discreetly switch channels of commerce partners. smatch’s DNA is a combination of tech, sustainability, and retail: we leverage real-time deep data insights with deep retail expertise to offer a new way to manage excess stock instead of destroying it.

Our founders have deep retail and growth experience, led a multi-billion dollar IPO and a successful startup exit. With previous careers at leading strategy consulting firms, our founders have a strong background in building and commercialising and are looking for you as the skilled colleague for outstanding operations.