People Operations Manager

Hullbot; Sydney; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Hullbot is seeking a People Operations Manager to own the operations backbone of our People function. You’ll partner with leadership to shape strategy and build scalable processes, while directly supporting managers and employees with day-to-day guidance.

This hands-on generalist role covers onboarding, employee relations, performance processes, and global compliance as Hullbot grows across geographies.

Qualifications

• Solid generalist background in People Operations and HR processes.
• Experience partnering with leadership and managers on people decisions.
• Familiarity with payroll, HRIS, and EOR systems is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Build and own People Operations infrastructure including HRIS and payroll workflows.
• Shape People function strategy in partnership with leadership.
• Advise managers and employees on people matters with sound judgment.
• Develop manager tools, training, and guidance for performance and growth.
• Handle employee relations with discretion and escalate as needed.
• Design and run performance reviews and onboarding programs.

Skills

HR generalist

People Operations

Onboarding & off-boarding

Employee relations

Performance management

Payroll integration

HRIS implementations

Tools

HRIS platforms

Payroll systems

EOR platforms

Job description

At Hullbot we're on a mission to decarbonise the global maritime industry. We're delivering autonomous underwater robots that inspect and clean ship hulls. Hullbot's systems are actively deployed in locations around the world, maintaining hulls free of biofouling, reducing fuel use and cutting emissions.

United by a shared ambition to create environmental impact on a global scale, we move fast and solve complex technical challenges together. If you want to work on real solutions with measurable impact, solving one of the world's biggest environmental challenges, Hullbot is the place to do it.

The Role

Hullbot is looking for a People Operations Manager who is equally comfortable building systems and supporting people — someone who can own the operational backbone of People while also showing up as a trusted partner for managers and employees.

This is Hullbot's first dedicated People role. The foundations are being laid now, and you'll have real ownership over getting them right. It's a hands-on generalist position — equally operational and people-facing — working closely with the leadership team to make sure Hullbot's people infrastructure, hiring processes, and manager capability keep pace with the company's growth.

If you like variety, autonomy, and the satisfaction of building things for a company that is having a positive impact on the environment, we’d love to talk.

What You'll Do

• Build and own People Operations infrastructure: HRIS, EOR systems, payroll integration, onboarding and off-boarding workflows
• Shape and drive the strategy for the People function, working in close partnership with the leadership team
• Act as a trusted partner to managers and employees — providing day-to-day guidance on people matters and helping the business make good people decisions
• Build out the manager toolkit — practical resources, training, and conversation guides that help managers navigate performance, feedback, and team development
• Handle employee relations matters with professionalism and sound judgment, escalating where appropriate
• Design and run performance review cycles, embedding clear expectations and a culture of accountability
• Design and run onboarding programs that give new starters clarity on the mission, their role, and what success looks like in their first 90 days
• Ensure people data is accurate and provides a complete picture of all employees and contractors globally
• Own Hullbot's people compliance globally — coordinating working rights, visas, contracts, and regulatory requirements as the company enters new geographies

What We're Looking For

• Solid generalist background spanning People Operations, onboarding, business partnering, and employee relations, ideally in an early startup, scale-up, or fast-growing company
• Working knowledge of employment law and compliance; experience across more than one jurisdiction is a plus
• Hands-on experience with implementing HRIS platforms and familiarity with EOR systems
• Strong attention to detail and a knack for building processes that are simple, consistent, and scalable
• People-first approach: you ensure each people decision factors in the human within the context of the business
• Good judgment and able to handle sensitive situations with discretion and care
• Clear, proactive communicator who adjusts well to different audiences

You'll Thrive Here If You…

• Enjoy variety, switching between operational tasks and people-facing ones in the same day
• Take ownership of your work and follow through to solve problems
• Prefer practical, right-sized solutions over complexity
• Care about the mission and want the company to be a genuinely great place to work
• Are energised by building and designing new things

Bonus Experience

• Supporting a company's expansion into new geographies (visas, EOR, local compliance)
• Experience in a technical, hardware, or deep-tech business
• Involvement in coaching or supporting managers through complex ER situations

Why Hullbot?

• Real ownership and influence in a small, tight-knit team
• Fast iteration and a collaborative environment
• Opportunities for rapid learning and personal development