People Operations Senior Associate

Based from our headquarters in Paris , the People Operations Senior Associate will be an integral member of the regional HR team. In this role, you will seamlessly blend rigorous legal and compliance adherence with an agile, employee-enablement mindset, supporting day-to-day lifecycle administration not only for France but across the wider Southern Europe region, as needed. We are looking for someone who demonstrates an AI-first mindset, with the curiosity to audit legacy processes and leverage tools like Gemini or Claude to enhance efficiency for HR and employees. A strong foundation in French labor relations, compliance, and employment law, alongside a deep understanding of workplace dynamics, is crucial for this role. Candidates coming from a strong legal background with a genuine motivation to transition into an operational HR track are highly welcome. Responsibilities: 1. Proactive Manager Partnership & Employee Relations Act as the primary, proactive business partner and advisor to managers across France. Rather than reacting to issues as they arise, you will consult closely with leadership to anticipate team challenges, guide people strategies, and recommend concrete, legally sound actions to ensure smooth daily operations. When formal workplace issues emerge, you will guide managers through objective case management. This includes empowering them through end-to-end disciplinary processes, overseeing structured grievance procedures, and leading thorough, confidential internal investigations regarding performance or compliance with high structural rigor. 2. Employee Experience Champion Serve as a trusted, highly accessible champion for the employees in France, fostering a culture of open dialogue and active listening. With the support of the local People Operations Associate, your focus will be on high-touch employee advocacy. You will act as a sounding board for individuals navigating complex peer dynamics, facilitate informal conflict resolution, and proactively guide employees through internal mobility pathways, career progression frameworks, and professional development opportunities. 3. French Compliance, Social Dialogue & Risk Governance Serve as the centralized anchor for French compliance and labor relations, proactively mitigating organizational liability while nurturing a healthy social climate. You will act as the primary operational coordinator for the Comité Social et Économique (CSE), strategically mapping out consultation agendas, preparing mandatory document packs, and partnering with HR leadership to maintain an open, proactive, and compliant social dialogue. Utilizing your deep labor expertise, you will provide real-time, actionable legal guidance to people managers to safely navigate daily operations. You will take comprehensive ownership of localized health and safety governance, including leading the annual DUERP risk-mapping and prevention frameworks in collaboration with the CSE, while directing the statutory oversight of leaves (arrêts de travail), occupational health (Médecine du Travail), and the strategic optimization of Mutuelle and Prévoyance schemes alongside external brokers. 4. End-to-End Country Operations & Lifecycle Management Under the guidance of the People Operations Director, and with the support of the local People Operations Associate, you will focus on People Operations activities for France, acting as a HR generalist anchor. You will oversee the localized employee lifecycle, ensuring operational excellence, data integrity within Workday, and compliance with French labor standards. You will collaborate closely with senior team members to steadily expand your operational knowledge, partnering on various cases as you continuously deepen your expertise and expand your impact within the broader People team. Seamless New Hire Onboarding : Execute comprehensive pre-boarding and onboarding protocols. Partner closely with Talent Acquisition to ensure eligibility-to-work checks are thoroughly completed, secure all mandatory compliance documentation in employee files, and lead localized onboarding sessions to ensure a smooth, high-touch landing experience for all new joiners. Payroll Input & HR Administration : Act as the operational bridge for monthly payroll by consolidating and delivering highly accurate payroll and bonus tracking, and supporting legal/administrative evidence to the processing team. Oversee the local administration of employee benefit schemes (private healthcare, gym memberships, transport allocations, and pension filings), meticulously track absences within Workday, and draft routine localized HR letters and documentation. Compliant Offboarding & Separation Tracking : Proactively manage the offboarding dashboard for departing employees, ensuring all standard separation processes are systematically and legally executed for both voluntary and involuntary terminations. Complete legally compliant termination paperwork, handle end-of-contract settlement…