Head of People, Operations

Aim high, go beyond

At Open Cosmos we are solving the world's biggest challenges from space, providing businesses, governments and researchers access to more readily available information than ever before - ready for the challenge? Then read on…

Working in our People Team

The People Team is at the heart of life at Open Cosmos. Covering HR, Talent Acquisition, and Office Management, the team attracts great people, supports them through every stage of their journey, and creates a workplace where everyone can thrive. Their work keeps Open Cosmos a great place to work and our teams engaged, supported, and focused on mission success.

As Head of People, Operations you will be responsible for ensuring the People Team operates efficiently, compliantly, and at scale for Open Cosmos' global workforce of Open Cosmonauts. This role owns the operational backbone of the People Team, encompassing people systems, reporting and analytics, employee administration, onboarding operations, benefits, engagement survey insight, and global mobility.

What will you be doing?

• Lead and evolve People Operations across systems, data, reporting, onboarding, benefits, payroll support, surveys and global mobility

• Design and deliver joined-up, automated reporting and dashboards that turn People data into clear, actionable insight for leaders and the board

• Partner closely with the VP, People and Head of Talent Acquisition to deliver high-quality MI and workforce insights

• Ensure all People systems, data and processes are secure, GDPR-compliant and future-ready

• Lead engagement, onboarding and offboarding operations, translating feedback into meaningful improvements

• Oversee contracts, payroll inputs, benefits administration and employee lifecycle changes with accuracy and care

• Manage visas and global mobility, working with external partners to ensure compliance across international travel and employment

• Develop a high-performing People Operations and Analytics team, driving continuous improvement

What You'll bring

You'll bring the capability and mindset to build strong, scalable People Operations, with confidence working across systems, data, processes and people.

You'll demonstrate:

• The ability to design, improve and run People Operations processes that are accurate, compliant and scalable across multiple countries

• Strong analytical thinking, with the skill to turn People data into clear, meaningful insight that supports decision-making

• Confidence using HR systems, reporting tools, automation and data visualisation to simplify complexity and improve efficiency

• A strong understanding of GDPR and data security, and the judgement to handle sensitive People information appropriately

• Clear and engaging communication skills, with the ability to explain complex information simply to a wide range of stakeholders

• The aptitude to work closely with senior leaders, contributing insight, recommendations and structured reporting

• The ability to lead and develop others through engagement, clarity and high standards

• A calm, structured approach when navigating ambiguity, change and growth

• Strong attention to detail, paired with the ability to see the bigger picture

For this role you can be based in any of our locations:

• Harwell, UK

• Barcelona, Spain

• Porto, Portugal

• Athens, Greece

To apply, you must have the legal right to work in your chosen location.

Please submit your application and CV in English

Why Open Cosmos?

Work at the cutting edge of space technology with customers around the globe.

A mission-driven company making space accessible to help solve real-world challenges.

A diverse, ambitious, and supportive team.