People Operations Partner, Germany

About Universal Quantum 

At Universal Quantum, we are building the next generation of quantum computers — machines capable of solving problems once thought impossible. Our technology has the potential to transform industries from healthcare to aerospace, materials science, and beyond. 

This role will help shape the employee experience and operating foundations of UQ as we scale globally. As a trusted partner who is also deeply hands-on in the day-to-day realities of a fast-moving startup, you will play a key role in helping our people processes, culture and compliance scale effectively, with a particular focus on Germany. 

What You’ll Accomplish 

Build scalable global people operations foundations 

• Own and improve core People Operations processes across the employee lifecycle, from onboarding and contracts through to HRIS and team support 

• Support onboarding experiences that help new joiners feel welcomed, connected and set up for success from day one 

• Own and improve people systems and workflows, including HiBob administration, reporting and compliance  

• Ensure employee documentation, policies and operational processes are organised and scalable as we grow internationally  

Lead Germany HR operations and compliance 

• Bring a pragmatic, commercially-minded approach to compliance, balancing thoughtful risk management with the pace and realities of a scaling startup 

• Support Germany payroll, benefits and time-tracking processes in partnership with external providers 

• Ensure our People practices align with local employment law and best practice  

• Act as a trusted and approachable partner for our Germany team, building strong relationships and helping employees and leaders navigate challenges, grow professionally and work effectively together  

• Stay close to changes in German employment regulations and continuously improve how we operate  

Help shape and strengthen our culture 

• Help scale and unify culture across global teams and locations 

• Drive culture initiatives, social events and engagement activities that bring people together and strengthen connection across UQ  

• Partner with leaders to support employee development, learning initiatives and team effectiveness 

• Build trusted relationships across UQ and contribute to an environment where people feel supported, challenged and empowered to do their best work 

Thrive in a fast-moving startup environment 

• Work closely with leadership to solve problems and improve how teams operate and scale 

• Balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution, moving comfortably between big-picture discussions and day-to-day operational work 

• Bring structure, sound judgement and a calm, pragmatic approach to ambiguous or fast-changing situations 

The 3 Most Critical Attributes We’ll Use to Compare Candidates 

1. Trusted operator with strong judgement: You build trust quickly with employees and leadership through strong judgement, empathy & a calm, pragmatic approach.  You are comfortable handling sensitive situations and navigating ambiguity with discretion and cultural intelligence. 
2. Hands-on builder who thrives in startup environments: You enjoy creating structure where little exists and are equally comfortable influencing strategy or handling detailed operational work by yourself.  You move quickly, take ownership naturally and are excited about building scalable, high-quality people processes.  You understand that in a lean startup, no task is too small.    
3. Culture shaper who brings people together: You care deeply about creating an environment where people feel connected, supported & able to do their best work.  You bring energy, warmth and a collaborative mindset to how teams operate, helping strengthen relationships across offices and functions as we scale globally.  You enjoy being visible, approachable & actively involved in the day-to-day experience of your colleagues, particularly for our growing Germany team.     

Must Have Skills 

• 4+ years of experience in People Operations, HR Business Partnering, People Partner or HR Generalist roles  

• Comfort operating in a high-growth startup environment, working at pace under ambiguity and with evolving processes 

• Fluent English and German communication skills, both written and verbal  

• Strong working knowledge of German employment law, HR compliance & operational HR practices 

• Experience supporting international or global teams  

• Hands-on experience managing HR operations, including contracts, onboarding, employee lifecycle administration & HRIS   

• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills  

• Experience with HRIS platforms, including workflows, reporting or system administration  

• Excellent organisational skills, with strong attention to detail & operational discipline  

Nice to Have Skills 

• Experience supporting payroll and benefits administration in Germany (in partnership with external providers)  

• Experience building or improving global onboarding & employee experience programs  

• Experience working within deep tech, scientific or engineering-led organisations  

• Knowledge of global employment practices and laws beyond Germany  

• Experience partnering with leadership teams during periods of rapid organisational growth  

• Competitive salary
• Meaningful equity participation
• Flexible holiday allowance (28 days minimum)
• Job ticket / Deutschlandticket
• Direct insurance pension with 50% employer contributions
• Group life insurance
• Supplemental health insurance
• 2.000 euros annual personal development budget
• Relocation allowance

We are committed to nurturing diversity and inclusion
At Universal Quantum, we're passionate about working with and for all kinds of minds. As a proud signatory of the , we have made a number of formal commitments to help to hold ourselves accountable to both our team and peers. This includes pledging to collaborate and share best practices with others, to continuously develop plans to drive inclusion across our business, and to collect and share our diversity data annually. We welcome team members from all backgrounds, and work to create an environment where everyone can flourish freely.