Head of People & Culture - Austria & Switzerland (all genders)

Vienna | Full time

Your position

The main focus of this role is to turn business priorities, employee interests, and company standards into practical, high-impact people solutions, with around 80% of your work dedicated to Austria and 20% to Switzerland. You will lead an experienced P&C team, build trusted partnerships with key stakeholders, and connect local realities with regional and global directives.

You’ll navigate a complex stakeholder landscape where changing contexts and confidential topics are part of daily life: From strategic discussions with leaders to aligning with works councils, from tackling a sensitive employee case to connecting with your team. While working in a hybrid setup, regular visits to our Austrian sites are essential to stay connected and close to the business.

With a structured approach, clear communication, and sound judgment, you’ll drive change, shape people strategies, and influence critical decisions – ultimately delivering solutions that make a real difference for both the business and our people.

Your tasks

• Leading the P&C agenda for Austria and Switzerland, translating strategic goals into actionable plans
• Driving high-quality P&C delivery across locations, setting priorities, and ensuring transparency
• Building strong, constructive relationships with works councils and employee representatives while safeguarding compliance and fair governance
• Overseeing core people processes such as workforce planning, budgeting, succession, talent development, and organizational design
• Connecting local and regional P&C initiatives with Global Centers of Expertise, ensuring smooth implementation of global frameworks at local level

Your profile

• Significant experience as a senior HR leader with broad generalist expertise in multinational matrix organizations, ideally within an industrial or manufacturing environment

• A university degree in a relevant field (e.g., Human Resources, Business Administration) is a plus
• In-depth knowledge of Austrian labor law and experience in dealing with works councils and employee relations
• Proven ability to partner with senior business leaders and manage multi-stakeholder environments

Languages: English – fluent, German – fluent, other languages are considered an asset

Nice to have: Familiarity with Swiss labor law

Our offer

The annual gross salary for this full-time position is €125,000.00, with a competitive package based on qualifications, experience, and market values. 

Flexibility: Possibility of home office and flexible, trust-based working hours

Mobility: Annual public transport pass (Wiener Linien)

Health: Sponsorship of sporting events, platform for mental & physical health (Mavie) 

Plus: Our own café and daily food allowance for numerous restaurants (Europlaza), corporate benefits platform

In addition to these local benefits for Vienna, we also offer you many global benefits. 

Do you want to take the next step?

Please apply online in English, as applications by e-mail cannot be considered for data protection reasons. Here you can find all the details about our application process.

At RHI Magnesita, everyone is welcome! We embrace diversity in all forms and evaluate applications solely based on qualifications and experience. If you share our passion for shaping tomorrow’s world, we’d love to hear from you, even if you don’t meet all the requirements. We also actively encourage individuals with disabilities to submit their application.

Do you have more questions?

Nina Missethon (Head of Talent Acquisition - Europe & CIS)

E-Mail: talent.europe@rhimagnesita.com

Phone / WhatsApp: +43 699 1870 5465

About RHI Magnesita

As the global leader in refractories, we supply advanced products, technologies and services essential for high-temperature industrial processes in sectors such as steel, cement, and glass. With around 20,000 employees and production sites across the globe, we are committed to fostering innovation, sustainability, and market leadership. By leading the industry in reducing emissions and supporting our customers' transitions to greener solutions, we are shaping tomorrow’s world.

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