People Operations Specialist EMEA

Blockstream Corporation; Ticino; On-site; CHF 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Blockstream is seeking a hands-on People Operations Specialist for the EMEA region, reporting to the Head of HR EMEA. Based in Lugano with a hybrid schedule, you will oversee employee experience, HR operations, and compliance across multiple countries, driving process improvements and automation.

You'll partner with cross-functional teams, manage HRIS records, payroll coordination, and policy development, while maintaining high standards of confidentiality and accuracy in a fast-paced,

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in People Operations, HR administration, and employee lifecycle management.
• Experience supporting payroll, contracts, HR systems, and HR workflows.
• Experience working across multiple countries and jurisdictions within EMEA.
• Knowledge of Swiss and broader EMEA employment law and HR practices.
• Proficiency in HRIS systems and Google Workspace; Ashby a plus.

Responsibilities

• Be a trusted point of contact for employees across the EMEA region.
• Support HR-related questions, policies, processes, and documentation.
• Lead onboarding activities and create a welcoming employee experience.
• Coordinate payroll, benefits administration, and vendor communication across EMEA.
• Support HR compliance activities across multiple jurisdictions, especially Switzerland and EMEA.
• Manage contracts, letters, and HR documentation workflows.
• Assist with policy development, handbooks, and internal procedures.
• Drive modernization and automation of HR processes using AI tools.

Skills

People Operations

HR administration

Payroll & contracts

HR systems

Cross-country EMEA

Attention to detail

English & Italian communication

Tools

Ashby

Google Workspace

HRIS

Job description

Blockstream was founded in 2014 by Dr. Adam Back and a group of fellow cryptographers and engineers who are passionate about Bitcoin and its potential to change the world. Today, Blockstream is the leading Bitcoin company, providing cutting-edge infrastructure solutions for enterprises, institutions, and individual Bitcoin users. We develop industry-leading Bitcoin self-custody solutions, Bitcoin-based financial products, second-layer scaling technologies, and enterprise-grade blockchain infrastructure.

We’re looking for a People Operations Specialist, EMEA , to join our People team, reporting to the Head of HR EMEA. This is a hands-on, full-spectrum HR role spanning administrative excellence, employee experience, compliance, and HR business partnering across a fast-paced, multi-country environment.

You’ll bring structure, attention to detail, and strong execution to everything from day-to-day HR operations to process improvement and automation. Comfort with AI tools and a curiosity for modernizing how HR is delivered are a big plus.

If you thrive in a collaborative, fast-moving, and build-phase environment and want to be part of a mission-driven company at the forefront of Bitcoin innovation, we’d love to hear from you.

What You’ll Be Doing (Responsibilities)

Employee Experience & HR Support

• Be a trusted and responsive point of contact for employees across the EMEA region
• Support employees and managers with HR-related questions, policies, processes, and documentation
• Lead onboarding activities and create a seamless and welcoming employee experience
• Support employee relations topics with professionalism, care, and consistency
• Coordinate engagement initiatives, wellness activities, and internal people programs across multiple countries

HR Operations & Administration

• Maintain highly accurate and confidential HRIS records and employee documentation
• Coordinate payroll, benefits administration, and vendor communication across EMEA countries
• Support HR compliance activities across multiple jurisdictions, with strong focus on Swiss and broader EMEA HR operations
• Manage contracts, letters, employment documentation, and HR administrative workflows
• Support the development and maintenance of HR policies, handbooks, and internal procedures
• Ensure strong operational accuracy and attention to detail across all HR activities

HR Process Improvement & Automation

• Support modernization and automation of HR processes and workflows
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency through technology and AI-driven tools
• Assist with the implementation and optimization of HR systems and operational processes
• Bring curiosity and interest in how technology can improve employee experience and HR delivery

Talent & Development

• Support recruiting activities including job postings, candidate communication, interview coordination, and screening
• Assist with performance review cycles, goal setting, and employee development initiatives
• Coordinate training and learning opportunities across teams
• Gradually grow into broader HR business partnering exposure and responsibilities over time

What We Look For In You (Required Qualifications)

• 5+ years of experience in People Operations,
• Strong familiarity with HR operations, HR administration, HR processes, Learning and Development and employee lifecycle management
• Experience supporting payroll, contracts, HR systems, and operational HR workflows
• Experience working across multiple countries and jurisdictions within EMEA
• Knowledge of Swiss and broader EMEA employment law and HR practices
• Excellent organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail
• Strong work ethic and ability to manage both strategic exposure and highly administrative tasks with equal professionalism
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build trust across the organization
• Curiosity and familiarity with technology, AI tools, and HR process automation
• Proficiency in HRIS systems and Google Workspace (Ashby experience is a plus)
• Excellent English and Italian verbal and written communication skills

Nice To Haves (Preferred Qualifications)

• Experience in tech, fintech, SaaS, or blockchain/cryptocurrency environments
• Strong multi-country HR experience across EMEA
• German and/or French language skills are highly preferred
• Experience improving or automating HR operational processes
• Exposure to scaling organizations or fast-growth environments

This position requires regular interaction with employees, managers, candidates, and external partners across multiple countries and time zones. The People Operations Specialist EMEA will play a key role in ensuring smooth HR operations, operational excellence, compliance, and a positive employee experience across the region.

Schedule: Monday-Friday, office-based in the centre of Lugano and hybrid 2 days per week.