About the role
Blockstream was founded in 2014 by Dr. Adam Back and a group of fellow cryptographers and engineers who are passionate about Bitcoin and its potential to change the world. Today, Blockstream is the leading Bitcoin company, providing cutting-edge infrastructure solutions for enterprises, institutions, and individual Bitcoin users. We develop industry-leading Bitcoin self-custody solutions, Bitcoin-based financial products, second-layer scaling technologies, and enterprise-grade blockchain infrastructure.
We're looking for a People Operations Specialist, EMEA, to join our People team, reporting to the Head of HR EMEA. This is a hands-on, full-spectrum HR role spanning administrative excellence, employee experience, compliance, and HR business partnering across a fast-paced, multi-country environment.
You'll bring structure, attention to detail, and strong execution to everything from day-to-day HR operations to process improvement and automation. Comfort with AI tools and a curiosity for modernizing how HR is delivered are a big plus.
If you thrive in a collaborative, fast-moving, and build-phase environment and want to be part of a mission-driven company at the forefront of Bitcoin innovation, we'd love to hear from you.
What You’ll Be Doing (Responsibilities)
Employee Experience & HR Support
* Be a trusted and responsive point of contact for employees across the EMEA region
* Support employees and managers with HR-related questions, policies, processes, and documentation
* Lead onboarding activities and create a seamless and welcoming employee experience
* Support employee relations topics with professionalism, care, and consistency
* Coordinate engagement initiatives, wellness activities, and internal people programs across multiple countries
HR Operations & Administration
* Maintain highly accurate and confidential HRIS records and employee documentation
* Coordinate payroll, benefits administration, and vendor communication across EMEA countries
* Support HR compliance activities across multiple jurisdictions, with strong focus on Swiss and broader EMEA HR operations
* Manage contracts, letters, employment documentation, and HR administrative workflows
* Support the development and maintenance of HR policies, handbooks, and internal procedures
* Ensure strong operational accuracy and attention to detail across all HR activities
HR Process Improvement & Automation
* Support modernization and automation of HR processes and workflows
* Identify opportunities to improve efficiency through technology and AI-driven tools
* Assist with the implementation and optimization of HR systems and operational processes
* Bring curiosity and interest in how technology can improve employee experience and HR delivery
Talent & Development
* Support recruiting activities including job postings, candidate communication, interview coordination, and screening
* Assist with performance review cycles, goal setting, and employee development initiatives
* Coordinate training and learning opportunities across teams
* Gradually grow into broader HR business partnering exposure and responsibilities over time
What We Look For In You (Required Qualifications)
* 5+ years of experience in People Operations,
* Strong familiarity with HR operations, HR administration, HR processes, Learning and Development and employee lifecycle management
* Experience supporting payroll, contracts, HR systems, and operational HR workflows
* Experience working across multiple countries and jurisdictions within EMEA
* Knowledge of Swiss and broader EMEA employment law and HR practices
* Excellent organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail
* Strong work ethic and ability to manage both strategic exposure and highly administrative tasks with equal professionalism
* Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build trust across the organization
* Curiosity and familiarity with technology, AI tools, and HR process automation
* Proficiency in HRIS systems and Google Workspace (Ashby experience is a plus)
* Excellent English and Italian verbal and written communication skills
Nice To Haves (Preferred Qualifications)
* Experience in tech, fintech, SaaS, or blockchain/cryptocurrency environments
* Strong 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
This position requires regular interaction with employees, managers, candidates, and external partners across multiple countries and time zones. The People Operations Specialist EMEA will play a key role in ensuring smooth HR operations, operational excellence, compliance, and a positive employee experience across the region.
Schedule: Monday-Friday, office-based in the centre of Lugano and hybrid 2 days per week.