People Operations Specialist EMEA at Blockstream

Blockstream [Upgrade to PRO to see link] was founded in 2014 by Dr. Adam Back [Upgrade to PRO to see link] 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.