People Operations Manager

GenomeKey; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

A Bristol-based biotech startup is seeking a skilled People Operations Manager to enhance efficiency in their people processes. This full-time role offers a hybrid model requiring on-site work for 3 days a week. The ideal candidate will have over 4 years of relevant experience and a strong grasp of UK employment law. Join a dynamic team focused on fostering a thriving work environment.

Qualifications

• 4+ years in a People Operations role within a startup environment.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law.
• Highly organised, detail-oriented, and proactive.

Responsibilities

• Evolve the People Operations function for efficiency.
• Manage onboarding to offboarding processes.
• Lead team member engagement initiatives.

Skills

People Operations experience

Knowledge of UK employment law

Excellent communication skills

Project management

Team engagement

Education

CIPD Level 5 or equivalent

Tools

CharlieHR

ClickUp

Job description

Overview

GenomeKey is a Bristol-based biotech startup developing a next-generation diagnostic device for bloodstream infections, using machine learning and DNA sequencing. The role is People Operations Manager and is located in the City of Bristol, United Kingdom, with a hybrid arrangement requiring on-site work in Bristol for at least 3 days per week.

Location: Hybrid, with on-site working in Bristol for at least 3 days per week.

Eligibility: Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK to apply for this role. GenomeKey is not able to offer visa sponsorship.

We are seeking a proactive, methodical, and people-focused operator who thrives in a fast-paced startup environment. You will own your remit end-to-end, provide guidance on sensitive matters, and continually improve how we work.

Key Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Head of Operations and Operations Assistant to evolve the People Operations function, ensuring it is efficient, compliant, and inspiring.
• Partner with leadership and managers across the business to make people processes seamless, scalable, and human.
• Own core people processes across the employee lifecycle, from onboarding to offboarding, in collaboration with the Operations team.
• Lead team member engagement initiatives across remote and in-lab team members, establish feedback loops, and manage internal communications.
• Partner with managers on performance cycles, ER cases, and development planning with rigour and empathy.
• Act as a cultural ambassador, ensuring values are reflected in onboarding and all-hands meetings.
• Mentor and support team members on People best practices.
• Lead role planning and end-to-end recruitment in collaboration with internal teams and external agencies, focusing on an exceptional candidate experience.
• Collaborate with hiring managers to align hiring processes with evolving business needs.
• Identify and remove inefficiencies, duplication, and friction in People processes, including using AI where possible.
• Maintain compliant and up-to-date policies and processes in line with UK employment law, and communicate policy changes clearly across the business.
• Support cross-functional initiatives and special projects (e.g., OKR rollouts, new internal tool implementation) and collaborate to improve operational efficiency.

Who You Are

We are looking for a proactive, methodical, and people-focused operator who thrives in a fast-paced startup environment. You’ll have the confidence to own your remit end-to-end, the judgement to advise on sensitive matters, and the mindset to keep improving how we work.

Qualifications & Experience

We are open to varied backgrounds for this role but expect candidates to meet most of the following skills and experiences:

Essential

• 4+ years in a People Operations role within a startup environment.
• CIPD Level 5 or equivalent professional experience.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law (and the resourcefulness to find the right answers fast).
• Proven ability to manage projects from scope to delivery.
• Highly organised, detail-oriented, and proactive, with a process-optimisation mindset.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to enable at all levels.
• Passion for building a culture where people can thrive.

Desirable

• Experience with tools such as CharlieHR and ClickUp.
• Exposure to Life Science or Biotech teams.
• Experience integrating automation or AI into operational workflows.

Our Hiring Process

• Intro call with hiring manager (20 minutes)
• Take-home task
• Role-fit interview (45 minutes)
• Final stage (45 minutes)

GenomeKey is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences.

Seniority level: Associate

Employment type: Full-time

Job function: Research

Referrals can increase your chances of interviewing at GenomeKey.

Location: City of Bristol, England, United Kingdom

Salary: £45,000.00-£53,000.00

Notes: This posting includes time-stamped activity information and related job postings for context.