Head of People (m/w/d)

ctrl QS is entering its next phase with a clear strategic direction: we are sharpening our positioning around scalable, repeatable solution offerings and deliberately weaving AI and automation into day-to-day digital operations where it creates measurable impact. At the same time, we double down on what made ctrl QS successful in the first place: hands-on execution, high delivery standards, and a people-first approach that helps clients’ teams adopt change so technology investments translate into results.

As Head of People (m/w/d), your role is to make this direction scalable through people and leadership. You translate strategy into practical People Management standards, guiding principles, and clear guardrails that fit our services model, values and culture. You build on our established HR frameworks (performance, roles, compensation, core HR processes etc.) with consistency and sense for optimization and enable leaders to lead well in a high-expectation, delivery-driven environment. This requires someone who listens first, understands our DNA and success factors, and evolves what works with care and pragmatism.

In parallel, ctrl QS is undergoing a mission-critical transition from founder-led leadership (after 17 years) to a management-led setup. Helping the organisation navigate this shift successfully, in close collaboration with the CEO and leadership team, is a core part of the mandate.

What you´ll do

You own and lead ctrl QS’s people and culture agenda as a strategic growth driver, and you make it real through hands-on execution close to the business.

Key responsibilities include:

• Partner with the CEO, C-level and management team on people priorities that support our strategic direction and value creation plan
• Help steer the transition from founder-led to management-led by building leadership clarity, consistent ways of working, and strong decision routines
• Build on our established HR framework (performance management, salary processes, role descriptions and core HR ops) and run it with high quality and reliability
• Define and embed People Management standards, guiding principles and guardrails that fit our delivery-driven services model, our culture and our values
• Enable leaders to lead well: provide pragmatic guidance,coaching and tools, especially in performance, feedback and team development
• Own workforce and staffing steering together with the business, ensuring we can deliver at high standards while staying economically disciplined
• Lead change through proactive planning, engagement and execution, with clear communication in an international environment
• Ensure labor law compliance and pragmatic risk management, without turning HR into a “policy function”
• You will lead the People Team with the sub-functions HR Operations, Staffing and Workplace Experience
  

What you can offer

You bring substance, judgement and the ability to operate in a high-expectation, delivery-driven services environment.

We think this role fits you if you have:

• Proven HR leadership experience in a people-based services context (agency, consultancy, tech-services, platform-services or similar)
• A strong track record of running performance and people processes that are fair, clear and taken seriously by leaders and teams
• You are truly open-minded and can listen deeply, understand an organisation’s DNA, and build on what works rather than “copy-pasting” past playbooks
• Confidence operating close to the business, including delivery and account reality, not at arm’s length
• A pragmatic operating model mindset: you can translate strategy into standards, routines and execution that actually stick
• Excellent communication skills and solution orientation: diplomatic, clear, and comfortable guiding through ambiguity
• The ability to balance performance orientation (quality and speed) with a supportive, collaborative, people-centered approach
• Very good English, German is a plus - not a blocker.

• A mission-critical role with real impact on how ctrl QS scales into its next phase
• A company that already works well, with high delivery standards, long-term enterprise client relationships, and a committed team
• Close collaboration with CEO, C-level and management team, with clear expectations and meaningful decision space within aligned guardrails
• A hybrid working setup with Berlin as home base (regular in-person presence expected for collaboration and connection)
• An international, people-centred environment that values clarity, quality and getting things done

About ctrl QS
ctrl QS is a hands-on partner for multinational enterprises and global market leaders that run digital experience platforms across many markets, teams and stakeholders. They help clients roll out digital capabilities at scale, run and continuously improve day-to-day digital operations, and enable people so tools and change stick.

Ctrl QS works inside enterprise DXP and CMS environments and connected MarTech stacks, and is deliberately weaving AI and automation into operations where it creates measurable impact. It is not a creative or media agency, and are not a body-leasing model. The company operates close to delivery reality, where quality, speed and trust matter.

ctrl QS is a team of 150+ people from 30+ nationalities. Our home base is our Berlin office, with a smaller hub in Munich. They work in a hybrid setup (remote and in-office), with regular in-person time to support collaboration, culture and strong team connectivity. Since 2021, private equity investor Odewald KMU has been invested in ctrl QS.