Senior People Operations Associate

Wayve•Sunnyvale, CA

About The Position

At Wayve we're committed to creating a diverse, fair and respectful culture that is inclusive of everyone based on their unique skills and perspectives, and regardless of sex, race, religion or belief, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, citizenship, marital, domestic or civil partnership status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, pregnancy or related condition (including breastfeeding) or any other basis as protected by applicable law. About us Founded in 2017, Wayve is the leading developer of Embodied AI technology. Our advanced AI software and foundation models enable vehicles to perceive, understand, and navigate any complex environment, enhancing the usability and safety of automated driving systems. Our vision is to create autonomy that propels the world forward. Our intelligent, mapless, and hardware-agnostic AI products are designed for automakers, accelerating the transition from assisted to automated driving. In our fast-paced environment big problems ignite us—we embrace uncertainty, leaning into complex challenges to unlock groundbreaking solutions. We aim high and stay humble in our pursuit of excellence, constantly learning and evolving as we pave the way for a smarter, safer future. At Wayve, your contributions matter. We value diversity, embrace new perspectives, and foster an inclusive work environment; we back each other to deliver impact. Make Wayve the experience that defines your career! The role The Senior People Operations Associate will play a key role in delivering an exceptional employee experience for our US and Canada teams, while also contributing to Wayve-wide People Operations projects. This individual will manage Onboarding, Payroll and Global Mobility for incoming US and Canada hires, serve as the first point of contact for local employee inquiries, and ensure smooth coordination between internal stakeholders such as Talent, IT, and People Partners. The ideal candidate is highly organized, people-oriented, and thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in People Operations, HR Administration, or a similar role.
Strong knowledge of US & Canada Payroll
Strong knowledge of global mobility and immigration processes, including common US visa types, application requirements, and coordination of visa initiation with external immigration counsel.
Experience supporting US and/or Canadian employee populations.

Nice To Haves

Experience onboarding both in person and virtually to multiple people

Responsibilities

Own payroll processing by verifying employee data and coordinating with the finance team on changes and updates.
Act as the first point of contact for employee questions about payroll, benefits, time off, and general HR policies.
Partner with vendors and internal stakeholders to manage benefit enrollments, renewals, and inquiries.
Own visa and relocation processes for new hires as well as internal transfers, ensuring coordination across multiple teams as well as with immigration counsel.
Manage contractor onboarding and offboarding, including end date tracking.
Lead and facilitate new hire onboarding sessions for US and Canada employees, ensuring an engaging and informative start.
Coordinate pre-boarding logistics with other internal teams like Talent, IT and People Partners to ensure all systems and processes are ready before Day 1.
Work with People Partners and People Operations to ensure all employee moves, transfers, and visa considerations are properly initiated, managed, and updated.
Support offboarding activities, ensuring compliance and consistent employee experience.
Maintain accurate employee data in our People Systems and ensure timely updates to payroll, benefits, and employment records.
Assist the People Operations team with managing the People Helpdesk ticketing system, ensuring that all employee requests and questions are addressed promptly and accurately. Specific ownership over any US and Canada related tickets.
Collaborate with the global People team to align data accuracy, reporting, and compliance practices.
Process employment changes, including promotions, location transfers, and contract updates, in coordination with the Talent and Legal teams.
Assist with maintaining the integrity of employee documentation and contractor agreements.
Identify opportunities to improve onboarding, offboarding, and data management workflows, both Wayve-wide and for local employees.
Collaborate with global People Operations peers to align processes and share best practices.
Contribute to projects that enhance the employee lifecycle, people systems, and data efficiency