Localization Manager (German) · London · Hybrid · Base + Equity

4 Days in office per week

A fast-scaling UK consumer fintech is expanding into European markets and needs someone to build the localisation function that gets them there.

They already partner with some of the world's biggest travel and loyalty brands. Germany is the first major market, the infrastructure needs building from scratch, and they need the person who builds it.

The foundation

Fluent German is essential. There is no German-speaking capability in the business right now and this market is the immediate priority.. The roadmap goes further than Germany and this person will own it as it grows.

The opportunity

This is a first hire in a new function. There is no process to inherit, no TMS set up, no vendor relationships in place. You are walking in and building it.

You own the localisation infrastructure end to end and manage a curated network of specialist freelance transcreation writers who handle the German copy under your direction. You brief them into the brand, you own the quality, you manage the output.

You will sit across product, marketing, and commercial teams, acting as the connective tissue between them and every external linguist and vendor who works within the framework you create.

What you will own

• The end-to-end localisation programme: strategy, tooling, workflows, governance
• TMS setup and ongoing management, including translation memories, glossaries, and style guides
• A network of vetted freelance transcreation specialists for German copy, briefed into the brand and managed for quality and consistency
• Localisation QA across every touchpoint: app, website, partner co-brand content, marketing materials
• UX copy review in Figma alongside the product team
• Post-launch audits and performance monitoring of localised assets
• Vendor relationships, NDAs, rate negotiation, and quality frameworks

The background we are looking for

• Fluent German, native or near-native level
• Proven experience owning a localisation function, ideally as a first hire or in a build-from-scratch environment
• Strong TMS experience, Transifex or similar, including setting up workflows and translation memories from scratch
• Experience managing external linguists, agencies, or freelance networks and maintaining quality at volume
• A sharp editorial eye: you may not be writing the copy yourself but you need to know when it is right and when it is not
• Used to working across product, marketing, and commercial teams without needing to be managed closely

The package

• Base salary + equity
• Hybrid, London, 4 days a week

This is a confidential search. If this sounds like you, get in touch directly.

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