Senior Manager of People Operations

Planet; Berlin; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health plan

Wellness program and massages

Flexible time off

Recognition programs

Commuter benefits

Learning and tuition reimbursement

Parental leave

Offsites and happy hours

Volunteering benefits

Job summary

Planet seeks a Senior People Operations Manager to lead regional HR operations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa and Asia-Pacific, ensuring alignment with global frameworks and strategic objectives. The role will drive regional strategy, oversee operational compliance, and spearhead HRIS optimization and workforce data initiatives.

Reporting to the US-based Director, People Operations, you will collaborate with Talent Acquisition, People Business Partners, and Legal to scale processes,

Qualifications

• 6+ years of international HR/People Operations experience.
• Experience with HRIS platforms and workforce analytics.
• Fluent English and German.
• Experience with HR compliance and audits in multinational settings.
• Ability to lead across regions and manage vendor relationships.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Europe, MENA and APAC HR operations ensuring alignment with global frameworks.
• Drive regional strategy, compliance, and expansion initiatives.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition, Legal, and People Business Partners.
• Develop scalable SOPs and integrate AI/tools into workflows.
• Lead the Europe-based People Operations team and manage budgets.

Skills

People leadership

Budget management

Vendor management

HRIS and analytics

Regulatory compliance (SOX)

AI tools integration

Multilingual (EN/DE)

Cross-region collaboration

Tools

HiBob

HR analytics tools

Job description

• Planet’s People Operations team manages a wide variety of operational functions, including compliance, HRIS and hire-to-retire transactions, immigration, global mobility, people data and analytics, and payroll
• We are seeking an experienced Senior People Operations Manager to oversee people operations across Europe, MENA, and APAC while ensuring alignment with global frameworks and strategic objectives
• This role will drive regional strategy, oversee operational compliance, and lead key strategic initiatives such as global expansion and HRIS optimization. Ideal candidates are adaptable, collaborative leaders with a background in scaling regional HR operations
• This role will report to the US-based Director, People Operations and will partner closely with roles across the global People Team and beyond, particularly on the Talent Acquisition, People Business Partnership, and Legal teams
• Spearheads and manages the Europe-based People Operations team, setting operational standards and overseeing hire-to-retire processes
• Serves as the primary subject matter expert and escalation point for regional HR operations, complex legal compliance, and employment policies in Europe, MENA, and APAC
• Partners with cross-functional leadership—including Talent Acquisition, People Business Partners, and Legal—to align regional practices with global business goals
• Establishes and maintains strategic vendor relationships, including external legal counsel and Employers of Record (EORs)
• Drives continuous process improvements by designing scalable workflows, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and integrating AI tools across team workstreams
• Leads departmental initiatives supporting global expansion, HRIS optimization, and workforce data reporting

Benefits

• Comprehensive health plan
• Wellness program and massages
• Flexible time off
• Recognition programs
• Commuter benefits
• Learning and tuition reimbursement
• Parental leave
• Offsites and happy hours
• Volunteering benefits

• 4+ years of supervisory/people leadership experience
• Experience managing departmental budgets, vendor contracts, and external partner relationships
• Experience establishing operational objectives, procedures, and entity setups in new international markets
• 6+ years of relevant HR/People Operations experience across international regions
• Ability to persuade and align internal stakeholders in complex or sensitive situations while preserving positive working relationships
• Knowledge of employment law, HR operations, and compliance standards across EMEA and APAC regions
• Experience utilizing HRIS platforms (e.g., HiBob) and data spreadsheet tools for workforce analytics
• Fluency in English and German
• Experience with AI tools (e.g., Gemini) and integrating AI into operational workflows
• Experience in additional HR disciplines such as employee relations or HR business partnership
• Experience working within US-headquartered, publicly traded organizations subject to audit controls (e.g., SOX)
• Multilingual capabilities in Dutch, French, or other European languages