People Operations Specialist EMEA

Blockstream seeks a People Operations Specialist for its EMEA team in Lugano, CH. This mid-level, full-time hybrid role supports HR operations, employee experience, and compliance across multiple countries, with a focus on Swiss and broader EMEA regulations.

This hands-on HR role is part of Blockstream’s People team, reporting to the Head of HR EMEA. It supports a fast-paced, multi-country environment by combining administrative excellence with employee experience, compliance, and business partnering. The position contributes to a mission-driven company at the forefront of Bitcoin innovation.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a reliable and responsive HR contact for employees across the EMEA region
• Assist employees and managers with HR policies, procedures, documentation, and inquiries
• Lead onboarding efforts to ensure a smooth and positive experience for new hires
• Handle employee relations matters with professionalism, care, and consistency
• Coordinate engagement, wellness, and internal people programs across multiple countries
• Maintain accurate and confidential HRIS records and employee documentation
• Manage payroll, benefits, and vendor communications for EMEA countries
• Support HR compliance activities, especially in Switzerland and other EMEA jurisdictions
• Oversee contracts, letters, employment documents, and HR administrative workflows
• Assist in creating and updating HR policies, handbooks, and internal procedures
• Support efforts to modernize and automate HR processes and workflows
• Identify efficiency improvements using technology and AI-driven tools
• Help implement and optimize HR systems and operational processes
• Support recruiting by managing job postings, candidate communication, interview coordination, and screening
• Assist with performance reviews, goal setting, and employee development initiatives
• Coordinate training and learning opportunities across teams
• Gradually take on broader HR business partnering responsibilities over time

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in People Operations
• Strong knowledge of HR operations, administration, processes, Learning and Development, and employee lifecycle management
• Experience with payroll, contracts, HR systems, and operational HR workflows
• Experience supporting HR functions across multiple countries and jurisdictions in EMEA
• Understanding of Swiss and broader EMEA employment laws and HR practices
• Excellent organizational abilities and meticulous attention to detail
• Strong work ethic with the capacity to handle both strategic and administrative tasks professionally
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to build trust across the organization
• Interest in and familiarity with technology, AI tools, and HR automation
• Proficiency in HRIS systems and Google Workspace (Ashby experience is a plus)
• Excellent verbal and written skills in English and Italian

Nice to have

• Experience in tech, fintech, SaaS, or blockchain/cryptocurrency industries
• Extensive 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

What the company offers

• The role is based in the center of Lugano and operates on a hybrid model (2 days per week in the office)

About the company

Blockstream, founded in 2014 by Dr. Adam Back and a team of cryptographers and engineers, is a leading Bitcoin company focused on innovation. It provides infrastructure solutions for enterprises, institutions, and individual Bitcoin users, including self-custody tools, financial products, scaling technologies, and enterprise blockchain solutions. The company operates in a collaborative, fast-moving, and build-phase environment.

• Founded by Bitcoin pioneers passionate about blockchain innovation
• Develops industry-leading Bitcoin infrastructure and financial products
• Operates in a collaborative, fast-moving, and build-phase environment
• Focuses on enterprise-grade blockchain and second-layer scaling technologies