Claudia Maurer - Interim HR Director DACH

Althengstett, Germany

Experience

Dec 2024 - Jun 2025

7 months

Stockholm, Sweden

Interim HR Director DACH

Essity Group

One of the market leaders in hygiene and health products (including ZEWA, Tempo, TENA, and Tork) with about 34,000 employees worldwide, of which about 5,400 are in the DACH region.
Bridging the vacancy as the previous incumbent moved to another internal position in October 2024 and the new incumbent will not return from the USA until July 2025.
Managing a team of 35 employees (HR Business Partners / Talent Acquisition and Compensation & Benefits).
Continuing the trust-based collaboration with the various employee representatives.
Local implementation of company-wide HR projects (Pay Transparency, Employer Branding Plan, DEI Policy, etc.) in collaboration with the corporate headquarters in Stockholm.

Jun 2024 - Oct 2024

5 months

Paris, France

HR IT Consultant for HR IT optimization

Akiem SAS

European market leader as a supplier of turnkey solutions for providing locomotives and passenger trains, with about 450 employees in 8 European countries.
Collaborated with the internal project manager to analyze the existing HR IT landscape and derive recommendations for action.
Built a trust-based relationship with the payroll service provider SD Worx.
Collected proposals for an alternative HR IS and suggestions for future optimization of HR system processes.
Due to budget restrictions, the project was initially concluded after the analysis phase.

Feb 2024 - Jun 2024

5 months

Althengstett, Germany

Tendering and awarding

Planungsbüro Ralf Maurer

Supported the architectural firm due to the illness-related absence of the responsible office manager.
Focused on tendering and awarding the relevant construction trades for energy-efficient renovation of existing buildings and high-quality new builds.
Monitored the timely execution of measures regarding funding from KfW and BAFA.

Nov 2023 - Jan 2024

3 months

Herzogenaurach, Germany

Interim Director Payroll Germany

Adidas AG

Holding company and German retail and distribution locations of a DAX corporation.
Analyzed the processes and systems related to the monthly payroll with an average of 10,000 pay runs.
Focused on deviations in payroll services from regulatory processes to ensure compliance with established workflows, legal requirements, internal controls, and SLAs.
The project was handed back to the originally commissioned consultant, who had fallen ill, after two months.

Jan 2023 - Sep 2023

9 months

Stuttgart, Germany

HR Consultant for optimizing global payroll processes

Drees & Sommer SE GmbH

Collaborated with the HR Operations team on process optimizations following the 2022 process analysis.
Optimized communication processes and channels with the respective local service providers as well as the partially used Ivanti ticketing solution.
Supported the transition to a new payroll service provider in Spain.
Introduced, trained, and created a user manual for complex analyses using the EPI Use Query Manager.
Launched the selection process for an HR services solution with document management, electronic files, workflow design, and electronic signatures.
Optimized collaboration with SAP regarding SF Preferred Service and the responsible Customer Success Partner.

Apr 2022 - Dec 2022

9 months

Stuttgart, Germany

HR Consultant Analysis of Global Payroll Processes

Drees & Sommer SE GmbH

Leading European consulting, planning and project management company for private and public clients as well as investors with over 5,100 employees at 59 locations in 18 countries worldwide.
Analysis of the different payroll processes of each country unit (excluding Germany) in cooperation with HR Operations.
Development of recommendations for possible optimizations.
Advising company management and creating an implementation plan.

Oct 2021 - Jan 2022

4 months

Böblingen, Germany

Interim Manager, Head of HR DACH

Woerwag Pharma GmbH & Co. KG

Managing and advising the HR team at the headquarters and in the DACH region of a medium-sized, family-owned pharmaceutical company.
Supporting departments in personnel planning for 2022.
Conceptual revision and implementation of processes in HR support and administration.
Conceptual and technical overhaul of the interface and collaboration with the external payroll service provider.

Dec 2020 - Sep 2021

10 months

Germany

HR IT Consultant / Sub-project Lead

LGI International GmbH

Providing consulting services for the planned change of the HR system landscape for a global logistics service provider.
Managing the selection process to replace the existing HR IT landscape from longlist to shortlist to the final new provider Workday.
Creating a roadmap for implementation.
Collaborating with relevant employee representative bodies.
Responsible project manager for the international rollout as part of the implementation project, from the prepare to the architect phase.

Sep 2020 - Jun 2021

10 months

Germany

HR IT Consultant

DMK Deutsches Milchkontor Bremen

Providing consulting services in connection with the ongoing HR digitization project of Germany's largest dairy cooperative.
Supporting the sourcing phase for an HR service delivery tool for the HR shared service center as part of the digitization initiative.
Decision made for UKG/PeopleDoc.
Advising and coaching the project management during the implementation project.

Apr 2020 - Aug 2020

5 months

Germany

HR Management Consultant

Dorsch International Consultants GmbH

Providing consulting services for the ongoing transformation project of a global engineering and construction services group.
Drafting job descriptions from conceptual development to approval by senior management.
Creating a roadmap for implementation.
Collaborating with relevant employee representative bodies.
Managing HR activities during the acquisition and integration of a newly purchased company (transfer of operations and integration into the existing system landscape).

Oct 2019 - Jan 2020

4 months

Stuttgart, Germany

Interim Head of HR

Widex Hörgeräte GmbH / WSA Gruppe

Local project lead for transitioning HR processes from the Stuttgart site to the German headquarters in Erlangen.
Support of the transfer of all locally supported HR processes to the central HR Shared Service Center.
Support of the transformation process and serve as HR contact for employees and managers on site.
Prepare communications, design and run workshops on the new processes and systems like SuccessFactors and myProtime.

May 2019 - Jan 2020

9 months

Böblingen, Germany

Interim Manager for SuccessFactors Implementation

Woerwag Pharma GmbH & Co. KG

Functional project lead for implementing additional SuccessFactors modules.
Performance management process for the headquarters in Böblingen and the first management level worldwide.
Preparation for the global implementation in 2020.
Compensation with system-based management of the annual salary review cycle.
Variable pay as a calculation module for yearly target achievement.
Preparation for the implementation of the Learning Suite in 2020.

Sep 2018 - Apr 2019

8 months

Stuttgart, Germany

Interim Manager Payroll Stabilization

McKesson Europe AG

Analysis of existing processes and systems around payroll for the subsidiary in the UK with about 23,000 employees.
Analysis of the current process and system landscape for payroll and time management.
Development of recommendations for process improvements and an HR IT strategy.
Support of the procurement process for potential co-sourcing of payroll.

Jul 2017 - Aug 2018

1 year 2 months

Böblingen, Germany

Interim Manager HR Business Partner and Project Management

Woerwag Pharma GmbH & Co. KG

Covered a vacancy for the HR Business Partner role in Germany, taking full responsibility for all topics from recruiting to talent development.
Four-month sick leave cover for the payroll specialist, handling all preparatory tasks for payroll processing.
Support in implementing a grading model including job evaluation.
Support in redesigning the current bonus and incentive scheme.
Implementation of the SAP SuccessFactors Recruiting module in addition to Employee Central.
Design and implementation of new recruiting methods, including redesigning framework agreements with staffing agencies.
Co-project lead for training as part of the implementation of Compliance@Woerwag.

Jan 2015 - Feb 2017

2 years 2 months

Interim Manager Head of Change Leadership

McKesson Europe AG / Stuttgart

Responsible for building the European Change Leadership function as part of the SAP/ERP implementation for country units in Norway, the UK, France, and Germany.
Development and implementation of standard processes and tools for a global change leadership toolbox.
Focus on communication, stakeholder engagement, change readiness, organizational development, and training for project team members and end users.
Implementation of a network of local change agents and super users.
Building the central change team from internal staff and external consultants.
Project planning for the entire Change Leadership workstream.
Overall responsibility for the successful implementation of all Change Leadership activities on time, in quality, and on budget.
Onboarding of the new Head of Change Leadership.

Feb 2014 - Dec 2014

11 months

Stuttgart, Germany

Interim Senior HR Project Manager

McKesson Europe AG

Sub-project lead in several strategic HR projects.
HR sub-project lead as part of the global ERP implementation.
Design of a development program (PEP) specifically tailored to employees of the ERP implementation project.
Sub-project lead for selecting the global consulting partner for Change Leadership within an RFP process.
Support of the Transition Services Agreement (TSA) in the carve-out from the Haniel Group.
Documentation of processes for all HR topics to be carved out, such as payroll and pension obligations.
Support in finalizing the service agreement for payroll during the transition phase.

Mar 2013 - Nov 2013

9 months

Moers, Germany

Interim HR Business Partner

SPX Flow Technology GmbH

Establishment of the newly created HR Business Partner role for a German subsidiary of a US corporation.
Took over previous finance tasks.
Implemented and optimized standard HR processes and executed company-wide HR requirements like performance management and talent development.
Implemented a new time tracking system Time3010 from AZS, including approval workflows and training.
Collaborated with internal and external service providers in recruitment and temporary staffing.
Worked with HR teams in the group in the USA and UK on local implementation of framework policies.
Cooperated with controlling on annual planning for headcount and personnel cost budgets.
Supported the transfer of payroll processing from the local tax advisor to the service provider ADP.
Built a trusting relationship with the newly elected works council.
Searched for, selected, and onboarded the new HR Business Partner.

Jan 2011 - Dec 2011

1 year

Karlsruhe, Germany

Interim HR Director

Frequentis Comsoft GmbH

Realignment of the HR department, including analysis of existing processes and development of action recommendations.
Developed an implementation plan with executive management and repositioned HR as an internal point of contact.
Supported the establishment of the works council and built a trusting collaboration.
Introduced a variable compensation model for managers and updated individual contracts.
Concluded a works agreement on working hours and vacation, including adjustments to time management.
Implemented an employee review process, including process design, forms, and training for managers.
Participated in the industry salary survey Lurse High Tech Survey.
Developed HR key metrics including monthly monitoring and risk analysis.
Led the final implementation of the Sage HR system with modules for payroll, personnel administration, and applicant management.
Introduced software for handling health and safety trainings (UWEB2000).
Searched for, selected, recruited, and onboarded the new Head of HR.

Nov 2005 - Dec 2008

3 years 2 months

Executive Vice President Human Resources International

T-Systems GEI GmbH

Direct management of 4 employees and functional leadership of 16 local HR business partners.
Managed a division with approx. 5,000 employees in 16 countries during the integration of gedas AG.
Supported the global integration process with information events for management.
Built a local HR business partner organization in 4 country clusters.
Implemented standard HR processes (recruiting, people development, compensation & benefits, reporting) on a global basis.
Structured and implemented a global reporting process for HR metrics.
Recruited international management.
Established a global performance management system and implemented overarching targets.
Project managed the implementation of a global skills and resource management system.
Introduced a process for strategy-oriented personnel development.
Served as HR sub-project lead in several M&A projects for acquisition and divestment of business units.

Nov 2001 - Oct 2005

4 years

Pune, India

Senior HR Project Manager

T-Systems GEI GmbH

Provided functional leadership for up to 15 project team members.
HR sub-project lead for the establishment of the offshore subsidiary in Pune, India.
Set up the local HR business partner organization, recruiting, HR policies, standard processes, and HR IT (implementation of local SAP HR).
Supported the establishment of additional offshore and nearshore sites in Brazil, Hungary, and Russia.
Led negotiations and concluded the SAP HR group works agreement for the sub-group with 25,000 FTE.
Negotiated and implemented a global works agreement for the IT learning management tool.
Employer representative for the IT working group of the central works council.
Supported the introduction of the T-Systems in-house collective agreement in cooperation with the Verdi union.

Oct 2000 - Oct 2001

1 year 1 month

HR Project Manager People Development

T-Systems GEI GmbH

Technical leadership of up to 7 project team members.
Conceived and implemented a specialist career model for project and service management, consulting, and sales as an alternative to a leadership career path.

Apr 1996 - Sep 2000

4 years 6 months

HR Business Partner

debis Systemhaus GEI GmbH

Disciplinary leadership of 3 employees.
Overall HR responsibility for a business unit focused on SAP consulting with approx. 500 employees.
Designed and supported employer branding and recruiting activities during approx. 20% annual staff growth.
Developed and implemented an onboarding program for new employees.
Responsible for executing the new IG Metall supplementary collective agreement, including initial job classification and contract conversion.
Introduced performance appraisal and goal-setting systems and trained managers.
Advised management on reorganizations and business transfers under § 613a BGB.
Point of contact for talent development from potential assessment to individual development discussions.

Oct 1991 - Mar 1996

4 years 6 months

HR Clerk

debis Systemhaus GEI GmbH

Handled general HR administration tasks.

Jul 1990 - Sep 1991

1 year 3 months

HR Clerk

Queens Moat Houses Management GmbH

Handled general HR administration tasks.
Responsible contact for trainee support and coordination with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce (IHK).

Jul 1987 - Jun 1990

3 years

Sindelfingen, Germany

Trainee Commercial Assistant in Hotel and Catering

Holiday Inn Hotel Sindelfingen

Apprenticeship as a commercial assistant in hotel and catering.

Recruitment Consultant

Execution of multiple projects in sourcing, selection, and recruitment of specialists and executives.
Primary focus on HR and IT.

Consultant

IT service provider specializing in banking & insurance

Project assignment to analyze the personnel-related cost structure for possible synergies and savings potential.
Optimization of the personnel expense ratio through reduction of personnel costs.
Extensive data analysis and identification of potential savings effects, along with evaluation of monetary and time impacts.
Definition of optimal values, including setting project target figures for locations, administration, HR metrics, and staff structure.
Derivation of detailed action recommendations with an implementation plan.

Consultant

Precision engineering company

Project assignment to accompany the HR organization on its journey to a strategic realignment towards the HR business partner model.
Advising HR leadership on stakeholder management, as well as informing and involving all units.
Development of a shared vision for further work.
Highlighting of opportunities and risks, as well as strengths and weaknesses of the organization.
Support in building the new process map and HR competency model, including conducting in-house training.

Summary

Since 09/2009 freelance interim manager with the following focus

Interim Head of HR / Business Partner in corporate groups at levels 2 and 3
Interim HR Director in medium-sized companies
Interim project manager in complex HR projects (e.g. implementation of HR IT systems, realignment of HR organizations and processes)
Consulting on HR controlling and risk assessment as well as HR process analysis, optimization, and design

Since 02/2012 interim manager DDIM® and thus also bound to the DDIM members' code of conduct in all projects.

Depending on the client's needs, also available part-time. Detailed references for all projects available upon request.