Lead HR Ops Specialist

About Nebius: Nebius is leading a new era in cloud infrastructure for the global AI economy. We are building a full-stack AI cloud platform that supports developers and enterprises from data and model training through to production deployment, without the cost and complexity of building large in-house AI/ML infrastructure. Built by engineers, for engineers. From large-scale GPU orchestration to inference optimization, we own the hard problems across compute, storage, networking and applied AI. Listed on Nasdaq (NBIS) and headquartered in Amsterdam, we have a global footprint with R&D hubs across Europe, the UK, North America and Israel. Our team of 1,500+ includes hundreds of engineers with deep expertise across hardware, software and AI R&D. Role Overview   The Lead HR Operations Specialist is the most senior individual contributor on the HR Ops team at their location. You own HR Ops for a complex, high-growth environment and you do it with full autonomy, clear judgment, and a genuine drive to build something better than what you inherited.   You're not just executing. You're identifying gaps, designing solutions, influencing stakeholders, and making sure HR Ops processes scale alongside a business that is growing fast. Your stakeholder map is broad: HRBPs, business leaders, Payroll, Legal, People Systems, EHS, and HR Ops peers across other locations and geographies. This team does not work in silos, and at this level you are expected to be a connector as much as an executor. Employees are supported through the HRBPs; your accountability is to ensure the operational infrastructure behind that experience is rigorous, compliant, and fit for scale.   In addition to location ownership, you will have the opportunity to lead global or team-wide HR Ops initiatives, representing the team beyond your location, shaping how we operate at scale, and building visibility across the organization.   This role is particularly well-suited to environments that include data centers or other mission-critical physical infrastructure, where regulatory HR Ops and EHS compliance is operationally non-negotiable.   Location:  US ,  preferably East Coast   Key Responsibilities   HR Operations and Employee Lifecycle   Own and execute the full employee lifecycle for your location with full autonomy, including promotions, transfers, international moves, and terminations.   Serve as the primary escalation point for all HR Ops issues in your location; resolve them with speed, accuracy, and sound judgment.   Lead onboarding and offboarding for both office and data center personnel, building scalable programs that hold up as headcount grows.   Support the onboarding of new HR Ops team members at your location and across the team where needed, ensuring they have the tools, context, and process knowledge to contribute quickly.   Partner with HRBPs, Compensation and Benefits, Payroll, Immigration, and Legal as a peer, not a support function.   Lead complex or high-visibility HR Ops projects for your location, working closely with the Head of Country HR Operations.   Define, document, and continuously improve team standards, playbooks, and best practices that the broader HR Ops team can apply globally.   HRIS and Data Integrity   Own data quality, governance, and integrity for your location in HiBob; you set the standard, not just follow it.   Lead the automation and AI agenda for your location and contribute to it team-wide. A core priority for the HR Ops team this year is eliminating manual and repetitive work through smarter processes and tooling. At this level, you are expected to identify opportunities, build the case for change, lead implementation in partnership with People Systems, and drive adoption across the team.   Act as the operational subject matter expert for new system implementations or module rollouts at your location.   Partner with the People Systems team to translate operational needs into scalable technical solutions.   Compliance and Documentation   Ensure all employee files, records, and documentation are complete, accurate, and fully compliant across all relevant jurisdictions.   Maintain deep, current working knowledge of employment law in your location, including any union relations, works council obligations, or sector-specific regulatory requirements.   Proactively identify compliance risks and bring solutions, not just flags.   Deploy, review, and maintain HR Ops policies, process guides, and employee-facing documentation; ensure they reflect current legal and operational reality.   Support travel program administration via Navan, ensuring policy compliance and a high-quality employee experience.   Data Center and EHS   Own HR Ops for data center employees at your location, including site-specific onboarding protocols, training complia