People Experience Manager

The Exploration Company•Houston, TX

21h

About The Position

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 a People Experience Manager to join us on the mission at our US office. In this role, you will be part of a dynamic and globally distributed team, partnering closely with Talent Acquisition, Legal, and Finance Teams. You will play a key role in enabling the growth of our U.S. operations by ensuring scalable, compliant, and people-centric processes. You will own and evolve the people experience across the full employee lifecycle in the U.S., while contributing to global initiatives that drive consistency, efficiency, and continuous improvement across the organization. This role combines operational excellence with strategic impact, supporting both local business needs and global transformation efforts.

Requirements

2+ years of experience in a People Operations, HR Generalist, or Business Operations role within a U.S. environment
Strong experience managing multi-state U.S. payroll and understanding of related compliance requirements
Solid knowledge of U.S. labor law, taxation, and social security systems
Comfortable working in a fast-paced, international environment with a global-first mindset
Experience with HRIS platforms (e.g., Personio) and a strong interest in systems, automation, and process improvement
Proficiency in MS Office; strong analytical and organizational skills
Clear and effective communication skills

Nice To Haves

Experience handling visas and work permits in the U.S. is a strong plus
Additional languages (French, German, or Italian) are a plus

Responsibilities

Own and manage end-to-end payroll operations for the U.S., ensuring accuracy, compliance, and a seamless employee experience across the full lifecycle (onboarding to offboarding)
Act as the primary People partner for U.S.-based employees, providing guidance on People topics, benefits, and day-to-day operational matters
Design, implement, and continuously improve people processes to support business growth, scalability, and operational excellence
Lead and contribute to global People and Business Operations projects, with a focus on standardization, automation, and streamlining
Drive optimization and adoption of HRIS (Personio) and related systems to enhance data quality, reporting, and process efficiency
Develop, update, and maintain HR policies, procedures, and operational guidelines aligned with both local requirements and global frameworks
Ensure compliance with U.S. labor laws, payroll regulations, and relevant data protection requirements, while aligning with global standards
Monitor key people metrics (e.g., engagement, retention, turnover) and translate insights into actionable improvements that support business performance
Lead or support local People & Culture initiatives that strengthen employee experience and reinforce company culture
Support hiring efforts for early-career and business operations roles, ensuring a smooth and consistent candidate experience