People & Culture advisor (general HR operations and compensation & benefits)

Location: Vienna, Austria 

Duration: 1 year, with possibility for extension 

Position type: Full time 

SOS Children's Villages, founded in 1949, is the world's largest non-governmental organization focused on supporting children and young people without parental care, or at risk of losing it.  

Child neglect, abuse and abandonment is everywhere. Families are at risk of separation. Locally led, we work in more than 130 countries and territories to strengthen families who are under pressure so they can stay together. When this is not in a child or young person's best interests, we provide quality care according to their unique needs.  

Together with partners, donors, communities, children, young people and families, we enable children to grow up with the bonds they need to develop and become their strongest selves. We speak up for each child's rights and advocate for change so all children can grow up in a supportive environment. 

Mission 

Our People and Culture (P&C) function drives the development and maintains quality management in the areas of P&C to support the achievement of the organization’s mission and strategic objectives, with a focus on ensuring efficient HR administration, fair and sustainable compensation structures, and employee satisfaction.   

Our future P&C Advisor is responsible for overseeing HR administrative processes and managing compensation & benefits programs to ensure equity and financial sustainability, including monthly payroll and contract management. The role focuses on maintaining HR operations, driving improvements in HR systems and workflows, and advising leadership on Austrian labor law and compensation strategies. In addition, the incumbent will be the main point of contact for our Austrian staff council.    

Tasks and Responsibilities 

HR Administration:  

• Oversee the full spectrum of HR administrative processes, including contract management, employee documentation, and handling all administrative tasks associated with employee onboarding, exits, and HR record-keeping. Ensure all processes comply with organizational policies and local legal requirements. Drive process improvements and implement HR systems upgrades to enhance operational efficiency 

• Support implementation of health & safety and travel regulations 

• Prepare and provide staff statistical figures

• Support the global contract coordination with global employment agencies and /or tax consultant agencies 

Compensation & Benefits:  

• Conduct monthly payroll, ensuring compliance with local tax regulations 

• Contribute to maintain fair, transparent, and sustainable compensation and benefits structures across the organization. As part of a global P&C network, contribute to ensuring compensation trends, internal equity are considered and aligned, and propose adjustments to the compensation framework to meet P&C goals as needed. Provide operational guidance on compensation policies 

Labor and staff council relations 

• Support communication between employer and staff council, ensuring clear and effective communication, communicating decisions, and feedback 

• Conflict Resolution: Contribute with expertise to mediate conflicts and disputes between employer, staff and council members, promoting a harmonious and productive work environment 

• Company agreements: Support experts in negotiating required company agreements in line with local labor law requirements 

Classification and grading upon request 

• Contribute with local expertise and experience to a global classification team 

Requirements 

• Education: Degree in Social Sciences, preferably with a focus in Human Resources Organizational Development or a related area OR Certified higher education with focus on HR administration, payroll and labor law with relevant work experience 

• Work experience: 5+ years of experience in HR administration, payroll, compensation, including contract management and minimum 2 years in operational Austrian payroll 

• Knowledge of Austrian labor law and payroll 

• Analytical skills and preciseness 
• German at mother tongue level 

• Strong communication skills in English

• Good organisation and time management skills  

• Technical skills (SharePoint, D365, HRIS)  

• Desirable: Power BI, creating visuals and presentations, such as knowledge of SAP HR modules would be an advantage 

• Values based competencies: kindness, continuous learning, inclusiveness, initiative and good collaboration skills 

• Results-orientation 

• Willingness to work from Vienna, Austria as working location 

• Willingness to travel to Innsbruck on a regular basis. Onboarding will take place in Innsbruck only 

• A valid Austrian working permit or eligibility to work within the EU 

We offer 

• A diverse range of interesting tasks in a leading INGO multicultural working environment 

• As a responsible employer we provide a range of training schemes and encourage educational enhancement  

• A salary that will be commensurate with experience and qualifications 

• 14 salaries/year 

• Flexible working hours after onboarding period 

• Overtime – does not get lost and can be taken as hours off 

• Home-office possibility of 75% at home address in Austria after onboarding period 

• Possibility to work from abroad max 25% of your working time after onboarding period 

• Training possibilities 

• Possibility for future horizontal career moves and promotion 

What We Stand For  

 
SOS Children’s Villages is committed to creating and maintaining a caring and protective environment, which promotes its core values, prevents and addresses child abuse and exploitation. We strongly condemn all forms of child abuse and exploitation, be it within or outside of our organization, and always respond to any case of proven, alleged or attempted abuse within our sphere of influence according to its nature. Efforts ensure that mechanisms are in place to raise awareness, aid prevention, encourage reporting and ease of response. They range from human resource development actions such as training and counselling to measures such as suspension, dismissal, and legal action.  

SOS Children’s Villages is committed to creating and maintaining a safe working environment for our staff, the children and young people, and the communities that we work for. The organization prohibits harassment, exploitation and abuses by or of any employee, supervisor, manager, child, young people, community, contractor, applicant, or other individual with whom SOS Children’s Villages employees come into contact by virtue of their work. All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our prevention and protection against Sexual Harassment, Exploitation and Abuse policy.  

In addition, SOS Children’s Villages apply a zero-tolerance concerning any fraud situation. The organization does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.  

Successful candidates will have to submit a criminal record certificate, current within the last three years. In accordance with the organisation’s child protection policy, these positions will be subject to criminal record checks.  

How to apply? 

If you are interested in this position, please submit your detailed application in English before 10th August 2025 via  https://careers-sos-kd.icims.com . 

Please note that the initial contract for this role is for a term of 1 year, with the prospect of extension after this time. 

Please note that applications will be reviewed and suitable candidates will be contacted for interviews after application deadline on an ongoing basis. The position will remain open until filled. 

SOS-Children’s Villages International, www.sos-childrensvillages.org/