The company:
We are a profitable, fast-scaling defence-tech startup - operating on the extreme edge of innovation in the evolving domain of unmanned systems / drones.
Our world-class team of Engineers are delivering solutions deemed impossible by many, for some of the most complex and challenging problems in the Drones / UAS space.
With strong revenue growth, a loyal customer base, and an ambitious scaling plan, we are entering an exciting new phase of growth — and this is a rare opportunity to join at the moment it matters most.
The role:
This is our first dedicated people hire, and it's not an ordinary HR role.
We're looking for a hands-on people operator who can build the infrastructure that allows us to scale without losing what makes the company special.
You'll own the full employee lifecycle across four sites and three regulatory environments, working closely with our embedded recruitment partner, and our international offices in Norway and Ukraine. This role exists to bring rigour and consistency to our people operations.
You'll ensure that whether someone joins in Hereford or Kyiv, the experience is the same: compliant, clear, and reflective of who we are.
What you'll do:
HR Policy and Employment Standards
- Develop and maintain HR policies per territory: contracts, handbooks, disciplinary procedures
- Monitor legislative changes across the UK, Norway, and Ukraine and update policies accordingly
Multi-Site Standards and Internal Communications
- Establish common people standards and processes across all sites, consistent in experience and locally compliant in law
- Own internal communications: company updates, policy changes, new starter announcements
- Build playbooks that Office Leads can use locally without starting from scratch
- Spot inconsistencies between sites and fix them before they become culture problems
Talent Acquisition and Recruiter Management
- Day-to-day contact for our embedded recruitment partner and local recruitment relationships in Norway and Ukraine, keeping briefs sharp and feedback timely
- End-to-end interview scheduling across all territories
- Offer management: drafting letters, coordinating approvals, and ensuring every offer is accurate and within company compensation standards before it goes out
- Maintain an offers framework so hiring managers can move quickly without drifting on salary, title, or terms
- Hold recruiters accountable to agreed timelines and candidate experience standards
Onboarding and Offboarding
- Run a structured onboarding programme across all four sites so every new starter has a clear Day 1 and understands what the company is about from the moment they sign
- Manage leaver processes, including exit interviews and offboarding checklists
Right to Work and Compliance
- Conduct and document right-to-work checks per UK Home Office requirements
- Ensure equivalent compliance in Norway and Ukraine using local legal advisors as needed
- Maintain audit-ready records across all jurisdictions
- BPSS Checks.
- Make sure staff meet H&S/Legal Requirements
- Support/Development training plans for each role within the company i.e. new hires have a training path to complete
Compensation and Salary Benchmarking
- Run regular benchmarking using relevant salary surveys and market data
- Support leadership with compensation recommendations for new hires and annual reviews
- Maintain a compensation framework that scales with headcount
People Data and Reporting
- Keep the HRIS accurate and produce regular headcount, attrition, and hiring pipeline reports
- Bring data to the table, not just opinions.
Positive Working Culture
- Maintain and Improve morale and culture by monitoring communication channels.
Essential skills/experience:
- 3 to 5 years in a People Operations or HR Generalist role in a scaling business where you've built, not just maintained
- Solid knowledge of UK employment law and multi-territory HR practice
- Experience running high-volume hiring coordination with precision
- Comfortable working independently and building processes from scratch
- Clear communicator who can translate policy for an engineer in Kyiv and a director in London alike
“Nice to have” skills/experience:
- Exposure to Norwegian or Ukrainian employment law
- Experience with an HRIS platform (Odoo, HiBob, BambooHR, Personio or similar)
- CIPD Level 3 or 5
- Background in a technical or defence-adjacent business
Compensation:
- Competitive salary
- Annual bonus
- Company stock options
- Private healthcare (family plan)
- Life insurance