Head of People & Business Operations, EMEA

Handshake; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is looking for a Head of People & Business Operations in the UK to shape their EMEA operations. The role combines strategic and hands-on responsibilities in HR and Business Operations, focusing on enhancing employee experience while driving operational excellence. This impactful position requires a proven track record in high-growth environments and strategic insight, aimed at scaling teams effectively.

Qualifications

• Experience across People/HR or Business Operations in high-growth SaaS environments.
• Strong communication and influencing skills.
• Comfort with legal and financial topics.

Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of the People function in EMEA, including HR and Talent Acquisition.
• Act as the operational lead for G&A in EMEA.
• Serve as a key member of the EMEA Leadership Team.

Skills

HR Best Practices

Communication

Commercial Acumen

Stakeholder Management

Influencing Skills

Education

Experience in HR, Business Operations, or G&A roles

Deep knowledge of employment law

Experience in high-growth SaaS or tech environments

Job description

About Handshake

Handshake is the leading early career network, helping millions of students and graduates discover meaningful careers. We’re on a mission to democratise opportunity by connecting talent with employers, no matter where they come from or who they know. In EMEA, we’re scaling fast, building a team, platform, and brand that can help reshape the future of work for a new generation.

The Role

We’re looking for a Head of People & Business Operations to lead our G&A function in EMEA. This is a high-impact, full-stack role with end-to-end accountability for all things People, Talent, Office & Employee Experience, Business Operations, and coordination across Finance & Legal matters. You’ll serve as a strategic advisor to the GM of EMEA and play a key leadership role in building a strong, scalable foundation for our EMEA business.

You’ll bring both strategic and operational depth, able to zoom out and shape our people roadmap while also rolling up your sleeves to execute core processes and solve day-to-day challenges.

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in ambiguity, moves quickly, and is passionate about building high-performing, values-aligned teams.

Key Responsibilities

People & Culture

• Lead all aspects of the People function in EMEA, including HRBP, HR Ops, Talent Acquisition, and office management.
  

• Develop and execute strategic people initiatives - talent planning, performance management, culture transformation, and leadership development.
  

• Serve as a coach and thought partner to leaders across the region on organisational design, employee engagement, and talent development.
  

• Partner closely with US based People & Talent functions to localise and implement key programs.
  

Business Operations & G&A

• Act as the operational lead for G&A in EMEA, ensuring alignment between People, Legal, and Finance priorities.
  

• Liaise with legal counsel on employment matters, compliance, immigration, and regulatory requirements.
  

• Oversee local budget management, vendor contracts, and support on cross-functional projects tied to business performance.
  

• Own office operations and employee experience, ensuring a vibrant and well-run hybrid workplace.
  

Strategic Leadership

• Serve as a key member of the EMEA Leadership Team, helping drive business strategy, cross-functional alignment, and execution.
  

• Lead or co-lead key regional initiatives such as entity set-up, M&A integration, or new market expansion as required.
  

• Build repeatable systems, playbooks, and infrastructure to help Handshake scale sustainably across the region.
  

What We're Looking For

• Experience across People/HR, Business Operations, or G&A roles, ideally in high-growth SaaS or tech environments.
  

• Proven track record in both strategic and hands-on roles, with experience scaling teams and operations in a growing business.
  

• Deep knowledge of HR best practices, employment law (UK and/or EU), and experience working across international teams.
  

• Strong commercial acumen and comfort navigating legal and financial topics.
  

• Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills.
  

• High degree of ownership, bias for action, and comfort with ambiguity.
  

• (Bonus): Experience supporting a regional GM or leadership team.
  

• (Bonus): Proficient in German