Interim Director of Human Resources (9 months)

About the Brand

Karl Lagerfeld is driven by Karl’s mantra: “Embrace the present and invent the future.” Always contemporary and forward-looking, the House of KARL LAGERFELD shares the creative vision and design aesthetic of its iconic founder, Karl Lagerfeld.

We are the only fashion house that carries Karl’s name on its door and we strive to live up to this responsibility in everything we do, every day, with the utmost joy and passion.

Our headquarters in Paris and in Amsterdam are home to a highly diverse and driven team of KARL family members that hail from over 50 countries. Together, we aim to create meaningful stories and product concepts that connect to Karl’s world and iconic attributes.

Women’s & Men's ready-to-wear, bags, small leather goods, swimwear and underwear are managed directly from our Amsterdam headquarters, while other categories, including footwear, fragrances, eyewear and more, are developed with best-in-class licensing partners.

We connect with our consumers on multiple levels, ensuring that our online and offline approach goes hand in hand. We thrive to maximize consumer engagement via more than 200 KL stores worldwide, our premium wholesale partners, and our strong digital footprint, spearheaded by our flagship store, which reaches 96 countries. Our digital channels currently represent more than 30% of our overall full-price business.

We are a dynamic, fast-growing and inclusive company built on professionalism and strong values. At KARL LAGERFELD we’re committed to working toward the highest standards of sustainability and integrity across all areas of our business. In 2019, KARL LAGERFELD joined as a founding member of the Fashion Pact, a global sustainability initiative seeking to transform the fashion industry through objectives in three areas: climate, biodiversity and ocean protection.

Your Role

As the Interim Director of Human Resources, you will provide strategic leadership to drive organizational efficiency and align HR initiatives with our ambitious growth, automation goals, and ensure (SOX) compliance. This pivotal role demands a leader who can balance operational expertise with visionary thinking, guiding high-impact projects that transform workforce planning, streamline processes, and future-proof our talent strategy. You will reengineer HR frameworks to ensure seamless alignment with business objectives. You will manage the Talent Acquisition, HR Ops, HRBP, Payroll, and HRIS teams. Your leadership will ensure compliance, nurture talent pipelines, and support strategic transitions to sustain long-term organizational success. You will report to the CFO.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute HR strategies that align with the company’s global goals, emphasizing talent acquisition, retention, organizational development, and compliance for our HQ & Retail operations and employee base.
• Project Implementation: Lead cross-functional projects, such as training and development programs; further role out of ADP implementation features (Lyrics, time-and-attendance, standardized performance reviews); set up standardized monthly reporting decks; align company goals to employees' individual objectives.
• Employee Experience: Enhance engagement through innovative policies, to establish programs like Onboarding, and feedback systems that reflect our brand’s values.
• Organizational Design & Effectiveness: To optimize performance and alignment, provide strategic guidance on team design, role clarity, and reporting lines. Partner with business leaders to ensure the organization remains adaptive to changing market demands and expansion priorities.
• Compliance & Innovation: Ensure adherence to Dutch and EU labor laws as well as compliance with SOX (in consultation with our Internal Audit department). Oversee investigations, audits, and risk assessments related to HR.
• HR Operations & Help Desk: Oversee all HR operational functions, including employee records management, onboarding, offboarding, HRIS administration, and policy implementation. Lead the HR Help Desk function, ensuring timely, accurate, and empathetic support for employee inquiries and issues.

What We’re Looking For:

• Experience: 10+ years in HR leadership roles, preferably within fast-paced, global organizations (fashion/luxury retail experience is a plus).
• Strategic Mindset: Proven success in translating business objectives into actionable HR strategies.
• Project Leadership: Track record of delivering complex, multi-stakeholder projects on time and within budget.
• Tech-Savviness: Understanding of HRIS systems and the importance of data-driven decision-making.
• Language: Fluency in English; additional languages are advantageous.
• Availability: Mid-September (32/36 hours)

Your key attributes:

• Commercially minded, with strong business acumen and stakeholder management skills
• High emotional intelligence, with the ability to build trust and influence across all levels
• Agile, adaptable, and energized by solving complex organizational challenges
• Data-driven and results-oriented, with a bias for action and continuous improvement

Why #TEAMKARL?

• Learning and development courses/training
• Opportunity to make an impact
• Remote working arrangements
• Relocation allowance
• Bonus holidays
• Working in the heart of Amsterdam
• Brand discounts
• And exclusive sample sales only for #TEAMKARL

JOIN #TEAMKARL

The collective vision of KARL LAGERFELD is to be the most connected global designer brand, inspiring consumers through luxury collections and immersing them in the World of KARL. If you are interested in joining #TEAMKARL, we invite you to submit your application today.

At #TEAMKARL, everyone can give their opinion, grow in their career, and be part of a genuinely caring and inclusive team. We welcome people from all backgrounds, with different perspectives, ideas, and experiences to work with us.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING JOB POSTINGS

Please be advised that all legitimate job opportunities at KARL LAGERFELD are published exclusively on our official careers page and on selected partner platforms that redirect directly to our career site. We strongly recommend that applicants only apply through our verified channels and remain vigilant against unofficial job offers.

KARL LAGERFELD will never request any form of payment during the recruitment process.

If you come across suspicious job postings or receive unexpected communication about a position, please contact us immediately at career@karllagerfeld.com