SOS Humanity is a non-governmental search and rescue organisation operating in the central Mediterranean with the rescue ship Humanity 1 and, in future, also with Humanity 2. Founded in Berlin in 2015, SOS Humanity has rescued almost 40,000 people from distress at sea. Our vision is a world in which everyone’s human rights are respected, and no one is forced to drown while fleeing across the sea.

We are currently looking for an:

HR Administration Manager (Sea/Shore) (m/f/d) (80-100%)

Your role:

As the HR Administration Manager, you will be responsible for all payroll and contract matters for both land- and sea-based personnel, playing a central role in the back office. Organisationally, you will be part of the administration team, while also working closely with the crewing department.

You will ensure that payroll and wage-related processes, contracts and social security matters are implemented in a structured, legally compliant and efficient manner. The position combines operational responsibility with the active development of processes and sits at the interface between administration and crewing. You will ensure smooth, transparent processes and contribute to the reliable continuation and further development of existing structures – with a strong focus on accuracy and clarity.

Your tasks:

• Responsibility for preparatory payroll accounting for land and sea personnel in cooperation with external payroll providers (DE & IT)
• Preparation, transmission and verification of payroll-related data and preparation of payroll statements for internal approval
• Contract management for approx. 45 land-based employees (including interns), freelancers, mini-job employees and around 50 crew members
• Management of recruiting processes for the Berlin office in close coordination with the team leads
• Support with all social security and registration processes in both national and maritime contexts
• Point of contact for authorities (e.g. social security institutions, tax offices, employment agencies)
• Coordination of visa and residence permit processes for international crew members
• Preparation and administration of employment-related certificates (e.g. references, volunteer certificates)
• Organisation of onboarding processes for the land-based team and coordination of our Federal Volunteers
• Maintenance, documentation and further development of HR and crewing-related processes
• Close cooperation with crewing, operations and management to ensure transparent, efficient and legally compliant processes

Your profile:

• Degree with a focus on human resources management or a comparable qualification in the HR field
• Experience in marine crewing or HR processes in a maritime and/or international context
• Knowledge of maritime labour law; social security law and/or seafarers accounting is a plus
• Experience in working with contracts, insurances and authorities – even in complex matters
• Very good written and spoken German and very good English (at least C1); Italian skills are an advantage
• Confident use of MS Office; knowledge of DATEV and MXSuite is an advantage
• Structured, careful and independent way of working with a high standard of quality and attention to detail
• Interest in sometimes challenging contract and insurance topics
• Team-oriented personality with a sense of responsibility and enjoyment of collaborating with different stakeholders
• Strong identification with the values and goals of SOS Humanity

We offer:

• A responsible and meaningful job in a dynamic non-governmental organisation with flat hierarchies
• Flexible working hours and the option of hybrid working
• A modern workplace in the heart of Berlin-Kreuzberg
• Starting salary in accordance with our internal salary structure: €3,300-3,600 gross/month, depending on professional experience and social factors, if applicable
• A subsidy for the Deutschlandticket or alternative mobility offers, as well as access to the Probonio benefits app
• Opportunities for further development, including an annual training budget  
• an initial one-year fixed-term contract – with the intention to extend

SOS Humanity is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable and respectful working environment. We actively support a society free from racism and discrimination and explicitly welcome applications from people who experience structural disadvantage or are underrepresented.

We look forward to receiving your detailed application (cover letter, CV, relevant references) by 25 March 2026 in a single PDF file to jobs.berlin@sos-humanity.org. Please include “HR Administration Manager, your possible start date” in the subject line of your email.

We reserve the right to contact and interview applicants before the deadline.