Senior Manager, People Operations

About The Brief

The Brief is the AI agency for modern marketers, our platform powers the entire campaign lifecycle, helping teams create on-brand assets, launch across channels, analyze performance and apply learnings to start again, smarter. Trusted by leading global brands, The Brief removes friction and transforms how marketers move from insight to execution to impact.

You'll be joining a team that's rethinking how modern marketing gets done. Less chaos, more clarity. Less busywork, more breakthrough work. We're building the platform that gives marketers time to be brilliant…. and we're just getting started

What we're looking for

We are seeking an experienced
Senior Manager, People Operations
to lead and evolve the People, culture, and office operations strategy for our Romania hub and wider European organization. This hybrid role, based in
Bucharest
, combines strategic leadership with hands-on execution across all aspects of People Operations, including talent acquisition, office management, and employee relations.

Reporting to the
Head of People
, you will play a key role in shaping our company culture, ensuring operational excellence, and driving People initiatives that support our global growth. You will manage the Bucharest office and the day-to-day People and administrative operations in collaboration with our Oradea and international teams.

The ideal candidate is both a strategic thinker and an empathetic leader, capable of building scalable people processes, fostering an inclusive and high-performing culture, and ensuring a world-class employee experience. You will be equally comfortable switching between hands-on execution and higher-level strategic leadership, wearing multiple hats as the needs of the organization evolve. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a dynamic environment, enjoys variety in their day-to-day work, and is excited to contribute to diverse global projects that have real business impact.

What you'll do

• Lead the People function across Romania and Europe, overseeing all aspects of the employee lifecycle including onboarding, performance management, development, and retention.
• Oversee office and operations management for Bucharest, ensuring the physical workspace supports productivity, culture, and employee wellbeing.
• Manage and mentor the People Operations Specialist role in Oradea, providing direction and development opportunities while ensuring smooth coordination between offices.
• Partnering with global leadership and recruiting teams to attract and hire top talent aligned with business needs and cultural values.
• Implement People policies and compliance frameworks that meet Romanian labor laws and align with global standards.
• Handle employee relations, including disciplinary actions and terminations, with professionalism, fairness, and consistency.
• Partner with global People leadership to align regional practices with company-wide goals, including compensation philosophy, career frameworks, and engagement programs.
• Drive employee engagement and culture initiatives, including events, recognition programs, and wellness activities that build belonging and motivation.
• Oversee People operations and reporting, including contracts, payroll coordination, benefits administration, and People systems data accuracy.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership and employees, providing insight, guidance, and empathy in all people-related matters.
• Lead change management efforts, supporting organizational growth, restructuring, or new initiatives in a way that reinforces culture and communication.
• Travel monthly to Oradea to support the local team, build relationships, and ensure alignment across offices.

What you'll bring

• University degree or Master's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Psychology, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive People experience, with at least 3 years in a leadership or people management role.
• Strong knowledge of Romanian labor law, People best practices, and compliance frameworks for EU operations.
• Proven ability to lead and develop teams, with a collaborative leadership style and strong interpersonal skills.
• Experience managing office operations or administrative functions in a hybrid or multi-site environment.
• Demonstrated success in talent acquisition, from sourcing strategies to employer branding and candidate experience.
• Deep understanding of employee engagement, culture-building, and organizational development in fast-paced, global organizations.
• Experience managing employee discipline, performance concerns, and terminations with professionalism and integrity.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret People data and translate insights into action.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills at all levels of the organization.
• Comfortable balancing strategic priorities and hands-on execution, thriving in a hybrid, dynamic workplace.
• Fluency in English and Romanian is required; additional European languages are a plus.
• Flexibility to travel frequently to Oradea and other regional locations as needed.

What we offer

• Massive potential:
  Exponentially growing business in hot AI and adtech space
• Grow with us:
  Exceptional learning opportunities
• Rewarding your efforts:
  Competitive salary and stock options
• Thrive & vibe:
  Dynamic and supportive work environment

Why join us

At The Brief, we're not just a team. We're a community of entrepreneurial thinkers and problem solvers. We're passionate believers in our product and our mission, and together, we bring ideas to life, measuring our success through the impact we create. If you believe you belong here, apply today

Acknowledgement:

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that we will process your personal information as described in The Brief's Candidate Privacy Notice.