People HR Operations Specialist

About Man Group
Man Group is a global alternative investment management firm focused on pursuing outperformance for sophisticated clients via our Systematic, Discretionary and Solutions offerings. Powered by talent and advanced technology, our single and multi-manager investment strategies are underpinned by deep research and span public and private markets, across all major asset classes, with a significant focus on alternatives. Man Group takes a partnership approach to working with clients, establishing deep connections and creating tailored solutions to meet their investment goals and those of the millions of retirees and savers they represent.
Headquartered in London, we manage $253.6 billion* and operate across multiple offices globally. Man Group plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker EMG.LN and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. Further information can be found at www.man.com
At Man Group, we respect your privacy and we are committed to protecting and safeguarding your Personal Data. We have developed policies and processes which are designed to provide for the security and integrity of your Personal Data. We are committed to Processing your Personal Data fairly and lawfully, and being open and transparent about such Processing. For further information on how we process your data, please see the privacy notice for applicants here.
* As at 30 June 2026
Job Profile Summary:
To deliver accurate, efficient, and compliant People Operations support, with a primary focus on the Bulgaria office, covering the full employee lifecycle from onboarding through to offboarding. This role has a strong operational and administrative core, including background screening register reviews, contract checking, and leave of absence (LOS) calculations. The role will also provide People Operations support across Europe and act as cover for the UK team as required, with the opportunity to build foundational People Partnering exposure over time as capability develops.
Specific Responsibilities:
Staff Lifecycle & Operations
Support end-to-end employee lifecycle processes including onboarding, employee changes, leave management, and offboarding, with primary responsibility for the Bulgaria office
Provide employee lifecycle support across other European locations as required
Coordinate new hire onboarding activities locally, maintaining employee records and benefits management, ensuring all required documentation is completed and passed to the UK People Operations team for system processing;
Employee reference generation
Prepare and deliver induction sessions for new hires, ensuring a positive and consistent first-week experience
Act as the primary point of contact for communicating employee changes (e.g. transfers, compensation changes, organisational updates, contract amendments) to the UK People Operations team for processing in HR systems
Ensure changes are communicated accurately and in a timely manner, with all relevant documentation provided to support processing
Own the end-to-end administration of contingent worker onboarding (secondees, consultants, contractors, POIs), including documentation and system setup
Maintain accurate contingent worker data in Workday, including tracking and updating end dates
Process contingent worker lifecycle changes directly, including extensions, role changes, and terminations
Ensure contingent worker records remain audit-ready and compliant with internal policy
Background Screening & Contract Administration
Review and maintain the background screening register for Bulgaria, ensuring checks are tracked, completed, and compliant with internal procedures
Escalate any screening issues or delays in line with established process
Check employment contracts for accuracy prior to issue, ensuring terms align with approved offers and internal policy
HR Data, Reporting & Compliance
Support regular data quality checks for the Bulgaria population, flagging discrepancies to the UK People Operations team for correction
Support internal and external audits by preparing required documentation
Ensure compliance with local labour law, data privacy regulations, and company policy across the jurisdictions supported
Contribute to annual HR processes and regional compliance activities as required
Payroll Coordination
Gather and communicate accurate payroll-related information (e.g. employee changes, new hires, terminations, leave records) to the relevant team for processing
Act as the local point of contact for payroll queries, liaising with the global payroll team to ensure timely and accurate processing
European & UK Cover
Provide People Operations support across European locations, adapting to local requirements and working practices as needed
Act as cover for the UK People Operations team during periods of absence or high volume, supporting core operational tasks (e.g. first-line queries, local coordination)
Build working knowledge of UK and broader European employment processes to enable effective cover and cross-regional support
First-Line Support & Query Handling
Act as the first point of contact for routine employee queries relating to HR processes, policies, and documentation
Provide day-to-day support to employees on standard HR procedures and processes, escalating more complex or sensitive matters to the Head of People Operations & Systems or Head of People Operations
Process Improvement
Support the implementation and continuous improvement of HR documentation, templates, and operational workflows
Contribute to process improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and consistency of operations across Bulgaria and the wider European region
Maintain audit-ready employee files and documentation locally
Key Skills & Experience:
Experience in HR Operations, HR Administration, or a similar operational HR role
Strong working knowledge of employee lifecycle processes and HR data management
Confident using Workday for contingent worker transactions (onboarding, data maintenance, terminations)
Experience with background screening processes and contract administration
Effectively leverages Man Group's in-house AI tools and other technology solutions to enhance work quality, productivity, and decision-making in day-to-day responsibilities
Demonstrates working knowledge of AI capabilities and limitations; critically evaluates AI-generated outputs, applies human judgment appropriately, and adheres to AI governance and policies
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
High level of accuracy and attention to detail, particularly with contracts, screening, and leave calculations
Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion
Strong organisational skills, able to manage multiple concurrent tasks and deadlines across regions
Clear, professional communication skills for handling employee queries directly
Understanding of local labour law and data privacy requirements relevant to Bulgaria
Flexibility and adaptability to support employees and processes across multiple European jurisdictions and provide UK cover as needed
Desirable:
Working knowledge of UK and/or other European employment processes and practices
Interest in developing broader People Partnering skills over time
Experience supporting payroll administration or coordination with a global payroll team
Exposure to HR audit processes and compliance documentation
Appetite to expand into additional Workday transaction processing as the role develops
Inclusion, Work-Life Balance and Benefits at Man Group
You'll thrive in our working environment that champions equality of opportunity. Your unique perspective will contribute to our success, joining a workplace where inclusion is fundamental and deeply embedded in our culture and values. Through our external and internal initiatives, partnerships and programmes, you'll find opportunities to grow, develop your talents, and help foster an inclusive environment for all across our firm and industry. Learn more at www.man.com/diversity.
You'll have opportunities to make a difference through our charitable and global initiatives, while advancing your career through professional development, and with flexible working arrangements available too. Like all our people, you'll receive two annual 'Mankind' days of paid leave for community volunteering.
Our comprehensive benefits package includes competitive holiday entitlements, pension/401k, life and l