10. Februar 2026

How do you successfully launch global HR systems? What makes international projects so exciting? And why is the healthcare sector the perfect place to launch your career? Manuel Haegele holds the job title Manager People Systems Portfolio Management at Fresenius SE. In this interview, he reveals how he got to this point and what his work at Fresenius involves.

My official job title is “Manager People Systems Portfolio Management” and it covers a wide range of different tasks. People Systems refers to the systems used within the HR department. And Portfolio Management mainly involves managing different projects concerning introducing HR software, in particular Workday and ServiceNow.

ServiceNow is a ticketing tool with knowledge bases. It is intended to be the first port of call for employees when they have a question – for example concerning remuneration, parental leave, maternity leave and other similar topics. You can search the tool as you would a search engine, find articles providing information, or ask direct questions. We used to have a very fragmented system whereby employees had to phone HR, look in the intranet or ask a colleague. But the intention is that ServiceNow will become a platform that employees can use to find all the information in one place. I work in the project management office, which means I support the project management team behind the scenes. I write minutes and organize meetings and workshops, etc. I try to keep everything knitted together, track milestones and check for risks or dependencies within each project.

I like how varied it is. Each day brings new challenges and it is up to us to find a solution. My degree was in Human Resource Management with a focus on International Human Resource Management and Digitalization – and that's exactly what I do now: I work with colleagues from across the world and it goes without saying that technology plays a big role in my work. Put simply, I get to work on the topics that interest me.

I also really like the fact there is a ServiceNow University where you can further your education completely free of charge with really well-made e-learning courses, videos and interactive elements. It’s great that I can keep learning on the job. I am also really improving my foreign language skills. I hadn’t worked much in English previously. The department has only really been up and running this year; we are still in the development phase and there is a lot of potential.

Our team consists of my boss Mary Johnson from the USA and then me, in portfolio management. Then there is a Workday system architect. Most of the meetings are international – I get to work with people from Germany, England, Poland and the USA. My manager is very passionate and highly motivated to drive our projects forward. She really wants to make a difference. She is also very direct and open, which I like. If I need feedback or a second opinion, she will tell me directly. I really enjoy working with so many highly motivated and intelligent people, and I love feeling valued by my manager and my colleagues.

I first completed an apprenticeship as an industrial clerk at an automotive supplier and then worked for half a year as a personnel administrator. This sparked my interest in working in HR which led me to obtain my university entrance qualification and to pursue a dual study program in Business Administration with a focus on Human Resources Management at the DHBW Lörrach. Fresenius was my first choice because I wanted to get away from both the automotive sector and from my hometown. I wanted to work in a larger corporation, partly because of the job security and the higher chance of being offered a permanent position. The dual study program allowed me to work in different departments, so I saw the company from lots of different perspectives. I worked in the HR departments of the different Fresenius business units and even spent two weeks as a nurse at Helios in Berlin. It was really interesting to see how Fresenius actually generates revenue.

First and foremost, Fresenius is a company looking to make a positive difference. In the healthcare industry, our aim is to improve the life of people who are struggling. Even though the HR department isn’t directly involved in developing lifesaving products, I help by hiring the people who do this work. The healthcare sector is also a secure, non-cyclical industry – this is important to me and particularly valuable at the moment. At the same time, it is undergoing a period of transition so it will never be boring. Fresenius gives me job security, cool benefits and the canteen also serves really good food. I like my colleagues – the atmosphere at work is enjoyable.