People Operations Manager

About the Role

Desert Digital OÜ is looking for an experienced People Operations Manager to lead and optimize our global people operations while supporting a rapidly growing international workforce.

This role is ideal for an HR professional with strong expertise in European employment legislation, HR operations, employee lifecycle management, and cross-border workforce compliance. You will partner closely with leadership, managers, and employees to build scalable people processes, ensure compliance across multiple jurisdictions, and foster an exceptional employee experience.

The successful candidate is comfortable working in an international environment, is open to frequent travel across the European Union for business meetings, HR initiatives, and organizational projects, and enjoys balancing strategic initiatives with operational excellence.

What You'll Do

Manage end-to-end employee lifecycle processes including onboarding, offboarding, promotions, transfers, and employee documentation.

Ensure compliance with EU employment laws, labor regulations, GDPR requirements, and HR best practices across multiple jurisdictions.

Partner with leadership to develop and implement people strategies that improve employee engagement, retention, and organizational effectiveness.

Advise managers on employee relations, performance management, disciplinary matters, and policy interpretation.

Lead HR operational projects, process improvements, and automation initiatives to increase efficiency and scalability.

Develop, maintain, and continuously improve HR policies, employee handbooks, and internal procedures aligned with European employment legislation.

Coordinate international workforce administration, mobility, and cross-border employment processes.

Collaborate with Finance, Legal, and external HR partners to ensure payroll accuracy, compliance, and reporting.

Analyze people metrics, workforce trends, and HR data to support strategic decision-making.

Drive employee engagement initiatives, organizational development programs, and culture-building activities.

Support talent acquisition by partnering with hiring managers throughout recruitment and onboarding.

Manage HR systems, documentation, audits, and compliance reporting.

Act as a trusted advisor for employees and leadership while maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.

What We're Looking For

4–6+ years of progressive experience in People Operations, Human Resources, HR Business Partnering, or HR Operations within an international organization.

Strong working knowledge of European Union employment laws, labor regulations, GDPR, and HR compliance.

Experience supporting distributed and multicultural teams across multiple countries.

Proven ability to manage complex HR projects while balancing operational priorities.

Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.

Strong communication skills with fluency in English (additional European languages are considered an advantage).

Experience working with HRIS, ATS, and HR technology platforms such as BambooHR, HiBob, Personio, Workday, Deel, Rippling, or similar systems.

Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.

High level of integrity, discretion, and attention to detail.

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, or a related discipline.

HR certifications (CIPD, SHRM, PHR, or equivalent) are considered a plus.

Willingness and ability to travel frequently across the European Union for business meetings, employee engagement initiatives, and strategic HR projects.

What We Offer

Opportunity to shape and influence People Operations within a growing international company.

Competitive compensation positioned above market rates, complemented by performance-based bonuses.

International exposure working with diverse teams across Europe and global markets.

Flexible remote/hybrid work environment with a healthy work-life balance.

Frequent international travel opportunities across the European Union.
Professional development budget, certifications, and continuous learning opportunities.

Career progression into Senior People Operations, HR Business Partner, or Global People Leadership roles.

Collaborative, inclusive, and people-first company culture.
Compensation

Salary Range:

€55,000–€75,000 annually (depending on experience, location, and expertise), plus performance bonus and travel benefits.

Exceptional candidates with extensive EU employment law expertise and international HR leadership experience may be considered for compensation above this range.

Location

Remote/Hybrid (European Union preferred)

Candidates located outside the EU with demonstrated expertise in EU employment legislation and availability for regular travel to Europe are encouraged to apply.