HR Operations Specialist, Spain

At OQC, we aren’t just theorising about the future; we’re building it. Born from a philosophy of bold innovation, we’ve successfully transitioned quantum computing from an academic dream into a commercial reality. The most exciting thing is that we’re just getting started and we’ve recently closed our £260 million Series C funding round which is the largest fundraise ever completed by a quantum computing company in Europe. Spain is central to OQC’s next stage of growth. We’re investing €92 million to establish the OQC Global Quantum Development & Manufacturing Centre in Barcelona which is our first facility in the European Union and our first development and manufacturing centre worldwide. We have plans to create 200 new jobs over the next five years. This is a rare opportunity to help build the People infrastructure behind one of Europe’s most ambitious quantum technology investments. The Purpose Build and run the operational backbone of OQC’s growing People function in Spain. You’ll ensure our HR systems, payroll, employee data and lifecycle processes are accurate, scalable and audit-ready, while improving the employee experience through automation, standardisation and operational excellence. The Role Reporting to the Head of HR Operations, you’ll take ownership of the systems, processes and controls that keep our People function running smoothly. This is a hands-on role for an experienced HR operations professional who thrives in a fast-moving scale-up and enjoys turning complex, manual processes into reliable and scalable solutions. As OQC expands its presence in Spain, you’ll play an important role in building the operational foundations needed to support a rapidly growing, highly specialised workforce. You’ll also work closely with Talent Acquisition and hiring managers to support the recruitment and hiring process for new employees, helping create a smooth and consistent candidate-to-colleague experience. What You'll Be Working On • Own the day-to-day administration, maintenance and integrity of our HR systems and employee data, ensuring operations remain accurate, compliant and scalable. • Lead the transition and ongoing optimisation of our HRIS environment, improving system capability, workflow efficiency, reporting accuracy and employee experience. • Manage end-to-end payroll operations in partnership with Finance, maintaining robust controls, clear escalation routes and accurate, on-time delivery. • Partner with Talent Acquisition and hiring managers to support recruitment for new hires, including contracts, pre-employment documentation, and pre-onboarding • Run onboarding, internal moves and offboarding, including benefits, parental leave, salary changes and role changes. • Maintain employee records, audit trails, governance documentation, People policies and operational procedures, keeping them current, accessible and audit-ready. • Identify and deliver process improvements, workflow automation and AI-enabled solutions, while managing HR technology vendors, cross-functional integrations, operational projects and junior team support. What We're Looking For • Proven experience owning or administering HR systems within a scaling or fast-paced organisation. • Hands-on experience managing payroll processes with Finance teams or external providers. • Strong experience maintaining employee records, governance documentation, operational controls and audit trails. • Experience supporting onboarding, offboarding and wider employee lifecycle administration. • A track record of improving HR processes, workflows or systems to increase efficiency and scalability. • Experience working in a regulated, audit-aware or compliance-focused environment. • Confidence partnering with stakeholders across Finance, IT, Operations and People. • The ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines with exceptional attention to detail and data accuracy. • Experience coaching, supervising or supporting junior team members. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. • Strong planning, organisational and operational decision-making skills. The 'Nice-to-Haves' • Experience supporting an HRIS implementation or migration. • Exposure to workflow automation tools or AI-enabled process improvements. • Experience working within ISO, SOC or similar governance and compliance frameworks. • Previous experience in a scale-up or high-growth business. • Experience managing external vendors or operational suppliers. • Project management, data analysis or reporting experience. Why Join OQC You will join a world-class team at the forefront of the next computational era. We offer a culture of bold innovation, the chance to work with unique lab infrastructure, and the opportunity to see your work redefine the limits of computation. Learn more about our benefits and positive work culture here: https://oqc.tech/company/careers-at-oqc/