Head of Talent Acquisition & People Operations - Space tech startup

Here at The Exploration Company, we are developing, producing, and operating Nyx, a modular and reusable space orbital vehicle that can eventually be refuelled in orbit and that can carry cargo - and potentially humans in the longer run.

We are looking for an experienced Head of Talents Acquisition & People Operations to drive the development and scaling of our People function globally. Reporting into the Chief Commercial & People Officer, you will oversee our Talent Acquisition and People Operations teams, ensuring that our processes, systems, and policies enable rapid growth, compliance across multiple geographies, and a world-class employee experience.

You will partner closely with company leadership across functions, Legal, and Finance to align our people strategy with business goals, while building a strong employer brand and operational backbone.

Key Responsibilities

In your capacity as Head of People, your role will be continuously evolving, but day to day your duties will include:

• Leading and developing our Talent Acquisition and People Operations teams, ensuring alignment with global growth plans and business priorities.

• Designing and scaling people processes and policies that support seamless employee experience across multiple regions, while ensuring compliance with local labor laws and free zone regulations.

• Partnering with HRBPs to ensure leaders and managers are supported with the right frameworks, processes, and tools to scale their teams effectively.

• Overseeing global payroll coordination, contracts, benefits administration, and employment documentation to ensure smooth operations.

• Elevating our global employer brand to attract top-tier talent, while ensuring a consistent and positive candidate experience.

• Identifying and implementing HR tech solutions and automation strategies that enable efficiency and scalability in both People Operations and Talent Acquisition.

• Tracking and analyzing people metrics to inform decision-making, measure impact, and continuously improve TA and People Ops performance.

• Supporting organizational culture initiatives, employee engagement efforts, and global people projects in close partnership with the Chief Commercial & People Officer.

• Ensuring business continuity by managing vendors and external partners related to HR, recruitment, and operations.

What we would love to see from you

In the role of Head of People, ideally, you will have the following:

• 10+ years of experience in People/HR roles, with deep expertise in Talent Acquisition and People Operations.

• 3–5 years of experience in leading and scaling global People teams in high-growth, tech-oriented environments.

• Plus - experience in functions outside of People/HR as well

• Plus - experience in Deep tech or engineering-heavy industries

• Plus - experience in Series C/D companies

• Strong knowledge of global and European labor laws and HR compliance frameworks, with practical experience tailoring policies across multiple geographies.

• Proven success in building high-performing TA and People Ops teams and delivering measurable improvements in hiring outcomes, onboarding, and retention.

• Data-driven mindset with experience in people analytics, KPIs, and metrics-driven performance.

• Demonstrated success in implementing HR tech and automation solutions to streamline processes and support scaling.

• Experience partnering with senior leaders and HRBPs on workforce planning, culture initiatives, and organizational design.

• Strong communication, stakeholder management, and influencing skills across diverse geographies and cultures.

• Expertise in org development a plus.

• Fluent in English; additional European languages a strong plus.

• Passion for startups, adaptability, and resilience in fast-paced, scaling environments.

Why you should join us!

What makes us special here at The Exploration Company and why we think you will enjoy working here is:  

• We’re Agile - we make decisions fast whilst keeping our goals and systems in mind 

• We’re Open and Collaborative - we are transparent about risks and obstacles, so that we can cooperate to overcome them  

• We have a lot of Fun - we refuel our energy knowing we are democratising space. It’s a wonderful and rare opportunity, are YOU up for the challenge?  

We'd love to hear from you if you wish to be a part of our journey. Please submit your CV now for immediate consideration and we will be in touch shortly. 

Cherry Ventures is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status.