Head of People & Talent (f/m/d)
Location
Hamburg | Berlin | Munich
Type
Full time
Department
Operations
Our Mission
Uplift Ventures shapes the future of moving goods.
Global supply chains are being rebuilt – from automation and AI to digital platforms and new business models. We don’t just observe these shifts – we turn them into ventures and opportunities for our core organization, Jungheinrich AG.
As the venturing unit of Jungheinrich, we work across the full venturing spectrum: Venture Building, Venture Clienting, and Venture Capital, combining all three to create a lasting strategic impact.
At the core of everything we do is one belief: Exceptional outcomes are built by exceptional people.
As Head of People & Talent, you will ensure we consistently identify, attract, and win the best entrepreneurial talent - from future founders to top operators across all our venturing activities.
What you’ll do
You will build and own Uplift’s talent engine — identifying and attracting the people who power our venturing activities across Building, Clienting and Capital.
Your role has four core dimensions:
Build the long-term talent community: Develop deep access to the most relevant founder, operator and investor ecosystems, nurture long-term relationships with exceptional individuals, and position Uplift as a top platform for entrepreneurial talent.
Run proactive sourcing & hiring: Drive active sourcing and high-quality hiring across all Uplift functions and lead the way in discovering the next generation of founders who will build category defining, VC-backable Ventures with us.
Develop conviction on talent: Build a strong understanding of what defines exceptional founders, operators and investors, and continuously sharpen our judgment through selection, hiring decisions and outcomes.
Own the people foundation: Take end-to-end ownership of the employee lifecycle – from onboarding to development, HR processes and infrastructure – ensuring Uplift scales as a high-performing organization.
You will:
Identify and test different channels to source and win top entrepreneurial talent
Build long-term relationships before talent is “on the market”
Own Uplift’s talent strategy end-to-end
Partner with the leadership team on hiring and org topics
Shape and represent Uplift’s employer brand
Build scalable hiring processes and HR infrastructure
Own operational HR (contracts, policies, payroll interface)
This role isn’t about running HR – it’s about owning the full employee lifecycle and building the talent engine that powers every Uplift venture.
This role is for you if
You understand what makes exceptional founders, operators and high-performing teams
You are able to assess potential without a clear track record
You have proven experience in active sourcing and winning top talent
You are a strong network builder with access to relevant ecosystems
You combine strategic thinking with hands-on execution
You are entrepreneurial, fast-paced, and take full ownership
You care about building a platform for talent, not just filling roles
You thrive in ambiguity and move fast while maintaining quality
Bonus:
Experience in startup, VC, or venture building environments
Strong personal network in founder, operator or investor ecosystems
Experience building talent platforms or communities
Familiarity with HR systems, labor law, or scaling processes
Strong AI/tooling fluency and willingness to experiment
Languages: Fluent in English and German
What we offer
A key role with direct impact on Uplift’s success across Building, Clienting and Capital
The opportunity to build a best-in-class founder & talent engine
Close collaboration with founders, operators, investors and Jungheinrich leadership
Full ownership and freedom to shape our people and talent strategy
A fast-paced, high-caliber environment with ambitious colleagues
Access to Uplift’s and Jungheinrich’s network and assets
Competitive compensation and flexibility
Home base in Hamburg, Berlin, or Munich