People Operations Manager

About UsAt Hullbot we're on a mission to decarbonise the global maritime industry. We're delivering autonomous underwater robots that inspect and clean ship hulls. Hullbot's systems are actively deployed in locations around the world, maintaining hulls free of biofouling, reducing fuel use and cutting emissions.United by a shared ambition to create environmental impact on a global scale, we move fast and solve complex technical challenges together. If you want to work on real solutions with measurable impact, solving one of the world's biggest environmental challenges, Hullbot is the place to do it.
The RoleHullbot is looking for a People Operations Manager who is equally comfortable building systems and supporting people — someone who can own the operational backbone of People while also showing up as a trusted partner for managers and employees.This is Hullbot's first dedicated People role. The foundations are being laid now, and you'll have real ownership over getting them right. It's a hands-on generalist position — equally operational and people-facing — working closely with the leadership team to make sure Hullbot's people infrastructure, hiring processes, and manager capability keep pace with the company's growth.If you like variety, autonomy, and the satisfaction of building things for a company that is having a positive impact on the environment, we’d love to talk.
What You'll DoBuild and own People Operations infrastructure: HRIS, EOR systems, payroll integration, onboarding and off-boarding workflowsShape and drive the strategy for the People function, working in close partnership with the leadership teamAct as a trusted partner to managers and employees — providing day-to-day guidance on people matters and helping the business make good people decisionsBuild out the manager toolkit — practical resources, training, and conversation guides that help managers navigate performance, feedback, and team developmentHandle employee relations matters with professionalism and sound judgment, escalating where appropriateDesign and run performance review cycles, embedding clear expectations and a culture of accountabilityDesign and run onboarding programs that give new starters clarity on the mission, their role, and what success looks like in their first 90 daysEnsure people data is accurate and provides a complete picture of all employees and contractors globallyOwn Hullbot's people compliance globally — coordinating working rights, visas, contracts, and regulatory requirements as the company enters new geographies
What We're Looking ForSolid generalist background spanning People Operations, onboarding, business partnering, and employee relations, ideally in an early startup, scale-up, or fast-growing companyWorking knowledge of employment law and compliance; experience across more than one jurisdiction is a plusHands-on experience with implementing HRIS platforms and familiarity with EOR systemsStrong attention to detail and a knack for building processes that are simple, consistent, and scalablePeople-first approach: you ensure each people decision factors in the human within the context of the businessGood judgment and able to handle sensitive situations with discretion and careClear, proactive communicator who adjusts well to different audiences
You'll Thrive Here If You…Enjoy variety, switching between operational tasks and people-facing ones in the same dayTake ownership of your work and follow through to solve problemsPrefer practical, right-sized solutions over complexityCare about the mission and want the company to be a genuinely great place to workAre energised by building and designing new things
Bonus ExperienceSupporting a company's expansion into new geographies (visas, EOR, local compliance)Experience in a technical, hardware, or deep-tech businessInvolvement in coaching or supporting managers through complex ER situations
Why Hullbot?See your work deployed solving real-world problemsReal ownership and influence in a small, tight-knit teamFast iteration and a collaborative environmentOpportunities for rapid learning and personal development