HR & Admin Associate (Bogota Office)

Arches; Colombia; On-site; COP 91,803,760 - 128,525,264; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Opportunity for professional development

Mentorship from experienced leaders

Exposure to international business operations

Job summary

A dynamic startup in Colombia is seeking a dedicated HR & Admin Associate to help set up and manage core HR and administrative operations in their new Bogotá office. You will play a critical role in supporting office setup, vendor coordination, employee engagement, and compliance with Colombian labor laws. The ideal candidate should possess 1-5 years of relevant experience, excellent organizational skills, and proficiency in both English and Spanish. This position promises a pathway toward future HR leadership roles in a rapidly growing environment.

Qualifications

• 1–5 years of experience in HR, administration, or office operations.
• Highly organized, reliable, and detail-oriented.
• Ability to handle confidential information professionally.

Responsibilities

• Support office setup and ongoing operations.
• Coordinate expat visa and work permit processes.
• Run HR engagement sessions to collect employee feedback.
• Coordinate and conduct interview qualifications.

Skills

Organizational skills

Detail-oriented

Professional English communication

Professional Spanish communication

Sense of ownership

Job description

This is a foundational role in Arches’ newly established Bogotá office. As our HR & Admin Associate, you will work directly with the Office Manager to set up and stabilize core HR, administrative, and office operations from the ground up.

You will support everything from office setup and vendor coordination to recruitment, employee engagement, and expat visa processes. As the office scales from ~15 to 50+ employees, this role will be central to ensuring operational readiness, compliance, and a strong employee experience in a startup-style, fast-changing environment.

This position is ideal for someone who thrives in ambiguity, enjoys building structure from zero, and wants to grow into a long-term HR or People Operations role.

Location: 100% on-site in our Bogota Office.

What You\'ll Do

Administration, Office Setup & Operations (40%)

New Office Setup

• Support initial office setup and ongoing office operations.
• Coordinate office supplies, equipment, and facility-related needs.
• Work closely with local vendors and service providers.

Expat & Immigration Support

• Support visa and work permit processes for expatriate employees.
• Coordinate with external immigration vendors and ensure proper documentation.
• Track visa timelines and compliance requirements.

Compliance & Documentation

• Support company incorporation-related administration.
• Learn and apply Colombian labor law and employment regulations.
• Maintain accurate, compliant, and confidential HR and administrative records.

HR Engagement & Employee Experience (30%)

• Run regular HR engagement sessions and structured catch-ups to collect employee feedback.
• Act as a trusted first point of contact for HR-related questions.
• Identify early risks related to morale, workload, or work environment and escalate with solutions.
• Support initiatives to build a strong, collaborative, and inclusive office culture from day one.

Recruitment & Talent Acquisition (30%)

Hiring Support

• Coordinate and conduct initial interview qualifications.
• Support hiring managers throughout the recruitment process.

Offers & Onboarding

• Prepare offer letters and support employment contracting processes.
• Coordinate onboarding logistics and ensure a smooth new-hire experience.

Talent Sourcing & Branding

• Support talent sourcing efforts across Colombia and the wider region.
• Contribute ideas to improve employer branding and candidate experience.

What We\'re Looking For

Required

• 1–5 years of experience in HR, administration, office operations, or startup operations.
• Professional English and Spanish communication skills.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and reliable.
• Strong sense of ownership, diligence, and follow-through.
• Ability to handle confidential information with professionalism.

Preferred

• Previous internship or project experience in HR, recruitment, or administration.
• Familiarity with Colombian labor law and employment regulations.
• Experience or exposure to a new office setup or early-stage company operations.

What You\'ll Gain

Professional Development

• Hands-on experience building HR and administrative functions from the ground up.
• Mentorship from experienced office management and HR leaders.
• Exposure to international business operations and cross-cultural collaboration.
• Opportunity to grow into People Operations roles.
• Long-term career path toward HR leadership as the office expands.

Growth Trajectory

• Potential to transition into a full-time HR role upon successful completion of internship.
• Opportunity to grow into HR leadership positions as our office expands.
• Be part of a founding team.
• Work with a diverse, international team across multiple time zones.
• Contribute to meaningful work that supports critical business decisions globally.
• Join a rapidly growing company backed by strong funding and momentum.