Melanie Petersen

Founder

Deep Elite Search · Leipzig, Sachsen, Deutschland

Present

Founder of Deep Elite Search, a boutique talent advisory and search firm specialized in Deep Tech talent markets. Focus areas include: • Talent strategy for Deep Tech companies and innovation-driven organizations • Identification and recruitment of highly specialized scientific and technical profiles • Complex talent searches beyond traditional recruiting platforms, including scientific communities and research networks • Talent mapping for emerging technology domains • Advisory on building high-impact teams in highly competitive talent markets Fractional TA Leader Geographic focus: DACH and international mandates

Founder

Hooray Event GmbH · Leipzig und Umgebung, Deutschland

Founded and built a bootstrapped D2C e-commerce company specializing in premium party decorations and creative inspiration for celebrations. Key achievements: • Built and scaled an online shop for premium party decorations featuring international brands such as Meri Meri • Developed a content-driven brand through blog and social media • Achieved ~25% annual organic growth in the first three years • Built a social media audience including 17k Instagram followers and up to 800k monthly Pinterest views • Managed all aspects of the business including strategy, sourcing, marketing, content creation, operations and logistics

Head of Human Resources - Unister Holding

Unister GmbH · Leipzig, Sachsen, Deutschland

Led the HR department of one of Germany’s fastest-growing digital companies at the time, with responsibility for HR strategy, Talent Aquisition & Strategy, HR operations and HR development across the group. Leadership scope: • Leadership of HR teams including HR development and payroll (up to 20 employees) • Direct reporting line to the CEO Key responsibilities included: • managing complex restructuring programs • leading HR processes during insolvency proceedings • implementing change management initiatives during the continuation and investor sale of the travel division The role required extensive multi-stakeholder management involving management, employees, insolvency administration, public institutions and potential investors.

Head of Human Resources - Travel Division

Unister GmbH · Leipzig und Umgebung, Deutschland

Built a data-driven HR organization for the largest and most revenue-generating division of the company (approx. 900 employees) as part of a corporate carve-out. Key achievements: • built independent HR structures for the travel division • introduced HR KPI tracking including Talent Funnel, Time-to-Hire and recruiting channel performance • reduced Time-to-Hire from up to six months to two to three months • established an internal executive search capability, enabling C-suite hiring without external agencies • reduced external recruitment agency costs to zero • implemented interview training programs for first-time hiring managers • improved candidate experience ratings on Kununu

Director Employer Relations/Career Service

HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management

Responsible for building and expanding the corporate network and career services for one of Germany’s leading private business schools. Key responsibilities: • building strategic relationships with companies including DAX corporations, consulting firms and investment banks • advising students and alumni on career strategy and placement • developing new services for companies, students and alumni • managing corporate partnerships and sponsorship programs Key achievement: Initiated the Startup Career Fair, together with the Chair of Strategic Management, strengthening the school’s profile as an entrepreneurship-focused institution. The event remains one of the most successful recruiting events on campus. Expansion of Career Consulting Services also to Alumni and Part-Time Students of all Programms, including Doctoral Students.

Acting Head of International Department

IHK zu Leipzig · Leipzig, Sachsen, Deutschland

Responsible for strategic and operational leadership of the international department, including team leadership, budget planning and management of the Euro Info Centre.

Head of Euro Info Centre

IHK zu Leipzig · Leipzig, Sachsen, Deutschland

• advisory services for companies on internationalization • participation in the development of the Saxon foreign trade strategy • project development and acquisition of EU funding • management of international cooperation projects During this time I built a strong European network of project partners and secured mid six-figure EU funding supporting international cooperation projects for SMEs in the Leipzig region.

Project Manager – International Relations Department

IHK zu Leipzig · Leipzig, Sachsen, Deutschland

Responsible for advising regional companies on EU policies and funding opportunities and managing international cooperation projects funded by the European Commission.

Educational Program Manager

faw - Fortbildungsakademie der Wirtschaft gGmbH · Leipzig, Sachsen, Deutschland

Managed a newly developed training program for university graduates titled “Multimedia Management for Graduates”, designed to prepare participants for careers in online marketing and web design. Responsibilities included program management, teaching, development of training concepts and public relations, Stakeholer Management.

Legal Trainee

European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA) · Maastricht, Limburg, Niederlande