People Operations Specialist

Role overview

Navan is hiring a People Operations Specialist for the EMEA region, with a strong focus on Germany. In this role, you will provide dependable People support and keep regional HR operations running smoothly across several countries. You will serve as the main control point for the employee lifecycle, making sure records are accurate, documents are handled correctly, and compliance standards are met without exception.

This position is built around efficient case handling, complete lifecycle documentation, and smooth coordination between teams. You will work closely with the People Success team and handle operational processes so People Generalists and People Business Partners can stay focused on strategic work. You will also manage regional templates, ensure the correct approvals are collected, and act as the operational contact for key partners including Payroll, Legal, Security, and IT.

The role follows established policies and processes and supports consistent application of those standards across the organization.

Contract details

This is a temporary assignment with an initial duration of 6 months. There is a strong possibility that, depending on performance and changing business needs, the position may be reviewed and converted into a permanent role.

Key responsibilities

• Serve as the first point of contact for EMEA People-related questions through Jira, resolving routine issues where possible and routing more complex matters to People Generalists or PBPs.
• Prepare, issue, and monitor regional employee documents such as contracts, amendments, reference letters, and termination paperwork, while maintaining full accuracy and audit readiness.
• Maintain complete data integrity in Workday throughout the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, changes in role or status, offboarding, contingent worker administration, and background checks.
• Apply operational controls and governance standards across HR workflows, ensuring required approvals from stakeholders such as Finance, Compensation, and Legal are in place before any system update is processed.
• Act as the operational link between People teams and Payroll, IT, Legal, and Security, reducing routine administrative workload for Generalists and PBPs.
• Spot recurring issues or information gaps, then improve internal knowledge resources and update policies or processes to strengthen the employee experience.

Requirements

• 3 to 5 years of experience in HR Operations, People Coordination, or a comparable shared-services environment, ideally in a fast-paced tech company or multinational business.
• Fluent professional communication in both English and German, spoken and written.
• Strong working knowledge of German labor law and regional HR compliance requirements.
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related area; equivalent hands-on experience in regional HR administration may also be considered.
• Practical experience with HRIS tools, especially Workday, and ticketing systems such as Jira.
• A detail-focused, compliance-minded approach with strong process discipline and a history of producing accurate documentation.
• Excellent communication skills and a service-oriented mindset when supporting employees.
• Ability to work independently on routine matters, use good judgment, and escalate complex issues when needed.

Additional information

This role is based onsite in Berlin, Germany and is intended for a contract engagement. No salary or stipend information was provided.