Why This Job is Featured on The SaaS Jobs
People Operations is increasingly a product discipline inside SaaS, where global teams, distributed tooling, and recurring revenue models demand consistent employee lifecycle execution. This People Operations Lead role stands out because it sits at the intersection of core HR operations and the practical application of AI and automation, reflecting how modern SaaS companies are retooling internal functions with the same mindset used for customer-facing systems.
For a SaaS career, the long-term value is exposure to operational scaling mechanics: designing repeatable workflows, improving data integrity across systems, and reducing manual work through smarter process design. Experience partnering tightly with Payroll, Finance, Legal, IT, and Talent teams is also highly portable across SaaS organizations, where cross-functional dependencies shape both speed and compliance as headcount grows across regions.
This role fits professionals who prefer hands-on ownership and enjoy translating messy, real-world processes into structured, measurable workflows. It will suit someone who is comfortable balancing service delivery with experimentation, and who wants to build credibility in SaaS by improving internal platforms and automation rather than focusing only on policy or advisory work.
The section above is editorial commentary from The SaaS Jobs, provided to help SaaS professionals understand the role in a broader industry context.
Job Description
Papaya Global is redefining the future of global payroll and payments through technology, automation, and AI-driven innovation. As we continue to scale globally, we are looking for a People Operations Lead who can help modernize how People Operations is designed, delivered, and experienced across the organization.
This is not a traditional HR Operations role. We are looking for someone who combines operational excellence with a builder’s mindset, someone equally comfortable running critical People processes and reimagining them through AI, automation, and intelligent workflows.
This is a highly hands-on individual contributor role with two core dimensions:
A) Driving seamless global People Operations execution across the employee lifecycle
B) Building scalable, AI-enabled operational infrastructure that improves efficiency, employee experience, and organizational agility.
The ideal candidate brings strong operational depth, systems thinking, curiosity around emerging technologies, and a passion for simplifying complexity through automation and smarter ways of working.
This role sits at the intersection of People Operations, AI, and operational transformation. You will help shape how modern People teams leverage automation and intelligent systems to scale globally while creating a more seamless employee experience.
If you are excited by the idea of building the next generation of AI-enabled People Operations, we’d love to meet you.
Key Responsibilities:
Global People Operations
- Own and execute core global People Operations processes across the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, employee transitions, mobility, and offboarding
- Deliver a high-quality employee experience through operational rigor, responsiveness, and attention to detail
- Partner cross-functionally with Payroll, Finance, Legal, IT, Talent Acquisition, and HR Business Partners to ensure seamless execution and alignment across workflows
- Maintain accurate employee data, operational documentation, and process consistency across systems and platforms
- Continuously identify opportunities to simplify operations, improve service delivery, and enhance scalability
AI, Automation & Operational Innovation
- Architect and scale AI-enabled workflows and automations across the People function to reduce manual work and improve operational efficiency
- Reimagine existing operational processes through an AI-first lens, identifying opportunities to eliminate friction, accelerate execution, and improve employee support
- Evaluate, experiment with, and operationalize emerging AI tools, agents, and automation platforms that create measurable business impact
- Build scalable workflows and operational infrastructure that improve efficiency, visibility, and employee experience
- Drive systems integrations and workflow optimization initiatives that improve process continuity and reduce operational handoff complexity
- Stay at the forefront of advancements in AI, automation, and agentic technologies, translating innovation into practical operational solutions
Requirements:
- 5-7 years of experience in People Operations, HR Operations, or operational roles within fast-paced global organizations
- Strong hands-on expertise managing employee lifecycle operations at scale
- Demonstrated experience building workflows, automations, operational processes, or systems improvements
- Strong interest and practical exposure to AI tools, automation platforms, and operational technologies
- A builder’s mindset with high ownership, curiosity, and bias toward execution
- Strong bias toward action, experimentation, and continuous improvement
- Systems-thinking capability with the ability to identify inefficiencies and design scalable solutions
- Comfort navigating ambiguity, evolving priorities, and high-growth environments
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
- Excellent cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management capabilities
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in English
- High attention to detail, accountability, and follow-through
