Senior People Operations Partner

Quantum is now, and it's built here.

Oxford Ionics, now part of IonQ, is pioneering the next generation of quantum computing. Using our world-leading trapped-ion technology, we're building the most powerful, accurate and reliable quantum systems to tackle problems that today's supercomputers cannot solve. Joining Oxford Ionics means becoming part of a global IonQ team that is transforming the future of quantum technology - faster, at scale, and with real world impact.

IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] is the world's leading quantum company delivering solutions to solve the world's most complex problems. IonQ's newest generation quantum computers, IonQ Tempo and IonQ Forte Enterprise, are the latest in cutting-edge systems that have been helping customers and partners such as Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA achieve 20x performance results. The company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance in 2025.

We are a team of scientists, engineers, and operators who believe that quantum computing will fundamentally change the way humanity solves its greatest challenges. People are at the heart of that mission, and our People Operations team is the engine that enables IonQ's teams to thrive globally.

What to expect:

We are looking for a Senior People Operations Partner to join our People Operations team in our Oxford office. In this role, you will be the senior People Operations partner for the UK hub, helping to build the processes, systems and operational foundations needed to support a growing, international organisation. You will be the primary partner for employees and leaders in the UK and across the broader EMEA and APJ region. 

You will report to the Director EMEA and APJ People Operations and will sit as part of the EMEA People Operations leadership team. Initially, your focus will be on strengthening the UK hub, which now has around 130 people, while also contributing to the wider EMEA People Operations structure. You will work closely with colleagues supporting Switzerland, the wider EMEA region and APJ, helping to create a consistent, high-quality people experience across our international teams.

This is a hands-on, delivery-focused role. We are looking for someone who enjoys building from the ground up, can bring structure to a greenfield environment, and is comfortable owning the detail as well as advising leaders. You will also directly manage the People Operations Coordinator, supporting their development while ensuring strong operational delivery across the employee lifecycle.

What you'll be responsible for:

In this position, you will take ownership of day-to-day People Operations delivery for the UK, helping to build scalable processes and improve the quality, accuracy and consistency of our people data. You will provide practical guidance to employees and managers, support employment law and policy questions, and help the team prepare for wider systems and process improvements, including future HR systems migration work. 

You’ll have the opportunity to shape how People Operations works at Oxford Ionics as part of the broader IonQ organisation, creating the foundations that allow our people, managers and teams to work effectively as we continue to scale. 

Your key responsibilities will be split across the following areas:

People Operations and Process Excellence

• Design, implement, and continuously improve People Operations processes, ensuring they are scalable, compliant, and deliver a high-quality employee experience.
• Lead or own assigned People Ops programmes and projects, such as policy reviews, HRIS optimisation, onboarding redesign, employment changes, leave administration, benefits management, and employee support - from initiation through to adoption.
• Lead preparation and review of monthly payroll inputs for assigned countries, owning the quality and accuracy of all People Ops submissions to Finance and external payroll providers.
• Manage the end-to-end employee lifecycle in Dayforce (HRIS) and HiBob, including new hire records, employment changes, and offboarding, and ensure data integrity across all systems.
• Identify opportunities to automate manual HR processes and champion the adoption of new ways of working within the People Operations team.
• Produce regular and ad hoc people data reports and insights for the relevant business stakeholders.

Compliance, Risk, and Governance

• Maintain deep working knowledge of employment law and HR compliance across assigned countries, serving as the internal authority on matters of risk, obligation, and best practice.
• Ensure all people operations activity is carried out in strict accordance with local legal requirements, IonQ policy, and GDPR.
• Lead or co-lead compliance reviews, internal audits, and external reporting processes within scope.
• Proactively identify emerging compliance risks and develop mitigation strategies before issues arise, presenting options to the Director with clear recommendations.

People Management and Team Development

• Directly manage the People Operations Coordinator, providing clear direction and development opportunities to support their growth.
• Review and quality-assure the work of the People Operations Coordinator, ensuring accuracy and timeliness in all tasks.
• Contribute to the broader People Operations team's capability, sharing knowledge, building tools and templates, and stepping in as a resource for colleagues globally.

Strategic Contribution and Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Contribute to the People Operations function's strategic and annual planning processes, including input on functional budget requirements for initiatives you own.
• Routinely collaborate across functions - including Finance, Legal, IT, and Talent - to deliver on people programmes and resolve complex cross-functional challenges.
• Present to senior stakeholders and cross-functional groups to provide HR briefings, policy updates, or programme outcomes.
• Contribute to IonQ's people roadmap by identifying opportunities within your domain, proposing solutions, and influencing decisions that improve the employee experience or operational effectiveness of the People function.

To be successful, you will need strong experience in People Operations, HR Operations or HR generalist roles, with a track record of delivering hands-on people support in a fast-moving and multi-country environment. This role will suit someone who is autonomous and comfortable operating in an environment where not everything is already built. 

You should have a strong analytical capability, and be able to synthesise data from multiple sources, identify patterns, evaluate options, and present clear recommendations with articulated trade-offs. We are looking for someone who enjoys creating processes, improving systems, and solving operational problems. 

Experience in a technology, start-up or high-growth environment would be helpful, but mindset and delivery capability are more important. 

You’d be a great fit with:

• Proven experience designing or improving HR processes and driving their adoption across an organisation.
• Prior line management or mentoring experience, with a demonstrated ability to develop junior HR talent.
• Proficiency with HRIS platforms is essential; experience with WorkDay and/or HiBob is highly desirable.
• Strong working knowledge of UK employment law and HR compliance, with the ability to provide clear, practical advice to managers and employees 
• Experience working with Google Workspace or Microsoft 365(Docs/Sheets/Slides or Word/Excel/PowerPoint) for reporting, communications and presentations.
• A track record of working with EOR providers or managing globally distributed workforces is strongly desirable.

CIPD Level 7 or equivalent qualification is beneficial but a demonstrable equivalent depth of professional experience is sufficient.

Be part of a team that’s shaping the future of quantum. We offer more than just a role, you’ll join a world-class community of scientists, engineers and innovators working to unlock the full potential of quantum computing.

We offer a range of benefits, including opportunities to further your career alongside industry leaders, a competitive salary with IonQ stock options, an annual performance bonus, generous annual leave, flexible hybrid working, private medical and dental insurance for you and your family, and much more.

Join us and be part of the future of quantum computing.

We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.