People Operations Manager

About Shine

Shine exists to help freelancers and small business owners reclaim the joy of working for themselves.

Running a business shouldn't mean drowning in financial admin - it should be inspiring and rewarding. Our app brings banking, invoicing, accounting and admin together in one place, so entrepreneurs can focus on what matters most: growing their business and enjoying the freedom of working for themselves.

We're a multicultural team of over 400 people across France, Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands. By bringing together leading European fintechs like Shine, Kontist and Tellow, we've built a single, intuitive platform designed for simplicity, speed and accuracy - backed by local, award-winning support.

Your hiring experience matters

Just as we respect our customers' time, we respect yours. Your experience with Shine should feel simple, transparent and genuinely supportive.

If this sounds like somewhere you want to grow, we'd love to hear from you.

People Operations at Shine

Our HR team sits at the centre of our people strategy, we responsible for the operational excellence that allows a growing, multi-country organisation to run smoothly. We work closely with Finance, Legal, and Leadership to ensure every employee experience, from onboarding to offboarding, is handled with precision and care.

You'd be joining at a pivotal moment as we scale our European entities and invest in the systems and processes that will carry us through the next phase of growth.

Your Role as a People Operations Manager

Process Design & Operational Leadership

• Define and own the end-to-end HR operations framework across our European entities (Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Austria, Poland).

• Distinguish between standard-case and complex-case workflows — and design scalable solutions for each.

• Build and continuously improve the HR knowledge base: process documentation, decision trees, escalation paths, and case libraries.

• Identify opportunities for automation and AI-assisted workflows; test, validate, and roll out improvements iteratively.

Employee Lifecycle — Complex & International Cases

• Own end-to-end lifecycle management for non-standard cases: international hires, internal transfers, leave management, and sensitive exits.

• Manage immigration and work authorization matters: coordinate visa applications, track permit expiries, liaise with legal and external immigration partners.

• Ensure documentation and processes comply with local labour law in all active country entities.

• Act as a senior escalation point for the junior team; guide resolution of edge cases and document learnings for future reference.

HRIS, Data Integrity & Reporting

• Ensure the HRIS (HiBob) reflects accurate, complete, and audit-ready employee data at all times.

• Define data governance standards and audit protocols for the team.

• Own and evolve the HR reporting suite (headcount, attrition, compliance metrics).

• Apply a systems-thinking lens: understand how data flows across HR, payroll, finance, and legal — and anticipate where errors have downstream consequences.

Payroll Coordination & Compliance

• Lead monthly payroll preparation across all country entities — compile, validate, and approve variable elements before handoff to providers.

• Manage relationships with payroll teams; ensure processes are robust, auditable, and deadlines are met.

• Stay current on employment law changes in relevant jurisdictions and update internal processes accordingly.

Team Enablement

• Define the case-routing logic that determines what goes to the junior team and what requires senior judgment.

• Create and maintain the process documentation that enables the junior specialist to work independently and confidently.

• Provide structured guidance — not micromanagement — and foster a culture of learning and precision.

About you

Experience

• 5+ years in HR operations or HR administration, with meaningful exposure to multi-country environments within Europe.

• Hands-on experience with immigration and work authorization processes (EU and/or international visa categories).

• Background that includes a strategic or advisory HR component — giving you the ability to see both the big picture and the operational detail.

• Experience in fast-growing or internationally distributed organizations is a strong advantage.

Skills

• Deep knowledge of HR operations processes, employment documentation, and contract management across multiple European jurisdictions.

• Solid understanding of GDPR and data privacy requirements in the HR context.

• Proficient with at least one major HRIS platform (Personio, HiBob, BambooHR, SAP SuccessFactors).

• Strong command of Excel or Google Sheets for payroll validation, reporting, and auditing.

• Fluent in English (written and spoken) — non-negotiable; German required; French or Spanish a plus.

• Genuinely curious about automation and AI tools — and confident in applying them responsibly.

Mindset

• You lead through expertise and structure, not hierarchy.

• You have a builder's mindset: you see gaps as opportunities to create something better, not just problems to escalate.

• You are decisive, reliable, and comfortable operating with a high degree of autonomy.

• You communicate with clarity and precision — in writing, in processes, and with people.

Our recruitment process

1️⃣ A 30' first call with Cristiana Martins (Talent Acquisition Manager) to get to know you better and share more about Shine

2️⃣ A 45' interview with Julia (Head of People Operations) to discuss your past experiences and the role we are offering.

3️⃣ A 45' business case presentation to highlight your skills and give you a hands-on feel for the role.

4️⃣ A 30' soft skills interview to see how we can best support your growth at Shine.