ABOUT US 🚀
Hostelworld Group, the global hostel-focussed online booking platform, inspires adventurous minds to meet the world and come back with life-changing stories to tell. Our customers are not your average tourists, they crave cultural connection and unique experiences that we make possible by providing an unbeatable selection of hostels in unmissable locations – all in the palm of their hand.
It is the social nature and community feel of hostels and their environment, that enable travellers to embrace journeys of discovery, adventure and meaning. We have more than 13 million reviews across 17,800 hostels in more than 179 countries, making the brand the leading online hub for social travel. The website operates in 19 different languages and our mobile app in 13 languages.
Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Dublin, Hostelworld has a growing, high-calibre team of 230 people within Technology, Product, Global Markets, HR, Finance & Legal and Marketing Teams across our Dublin, London, Porto, Shanghai and Sydney offices. Hostelworld is listed on the London Stock Exchange and Dublin Euronext. You can read more about our story here.
LOCATION🌍
This role is based in Portugal. We have an office hub in Porto available for those who prefer a hybrid model where you can spend time with colleagues in-person. You will need to be able to commute to our office hub at least once a week and as required for business needs.
THE OPPORTUNITY 👨🏽🤝👨🏼
This vacancy arises as our company is growing and to support us in delivering exciting people projects in 2025. We’re excited to welcome a new person to our People team, on a full time basis to support the people agenda across all of our locations as well as supporting our employees at every stage of their journey. You must be based in, and have the required permissions to work in Portugal.
This is an initial 1-year fixed-term contract with the potential for permanency.
THE ROLE
As a People Operations Administrator, you’ll play a pivotal role in enhancing and delivering a seamless employee experience for our global teams. You will support the wider People Team with various projects, including developing onboarding plans, driving our employee listening strategy, and enhancing our HR Tech Stack. This role requires a customer-centric, agile, and continuous improvement mindset, with an ability to comfortably manage busy administrative and systems work.
We are looking for someone with a generalist background in HR operations, who enjoys working in a hands-on administrative capacity within a fast-paced e-commerce environment. There is always lots to do across all the activities in the employee life cycle, to ensure we deliver HR operational excellence. This role reports to the HR Services Manager and you will have the opportunity to get involved in some larger team projects. It’s a busy but exciting time to join us as we are rapidly growing our Technology and Growth teams in Portugal. This will be a standalone role in Porto, supporting and working closely with the rest of the People Team based from our Irish headquarters.
WHAT YOU'LL DO 👩💻
- Employee Lifecycle Coordination: Deliver an amazing employee experience (administrative and advisory support) at each touchpoint throughout the employee lifecycle. This will involve recruitment and onboarding support, resolving employee queries, coordinating engagement surveys, and supporting cyclical processes.
- Payroll Processes: Collate monthly payroll amendments for employees in Portugal and other locations as needed working closely with third party payroll vendors and our Finance team. Ensure accurate and timely payroll processing, including handling employee payroll related queries.
- HR Systems Management: Serve as a HR system super user, maintaining and updating our systems (currently these include BambooHR, Culture Amp, Team Tailor). Generate HR reports to support the People Team with decision making and data review.
- Employee Documentation: Manage all employee documentation and files, including drafting letters, contracts of employment and maintaining accurate personnel files.
- Benefits & Recognition: Administer employee benefits programs and renewals, including health insurance and meal cards. Support the operation of our employee recognition schemes.
- Compliance: Ensure compliance with labour law practices and employee GDPR in Portugal and champion HR best practices across the Group. Support with drafting and updating company policies, handbook and procedure documents as required.
- Process Improvement: Continuously challenge and make improvements to existing HR administration, services, and processes.
- Office Management & Event Coordination: Manage office-related tasks across Dublin and Porto including event coordination (e.g., company parties, charity events, in-person onboarding), maintaining office supplies, and ensuring a safe and productive work environment.
- Health & Safety: Ensure compliance with all office and remote working Health & Safety requirements, including arranging annual medical appointments for employees.
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR 👀
You’re likely working in a startup environment and want to keep that way of working, while getting the benefit of learning from 25 years of experience in a company listed on the London Stock Exchange. Or you could also be in a large organisation and want to have an opportunity to gain exposure to different areas of HR. You could also be coming from some other experience that will allow you to bring:
- 2+ years’ broad HR generalist experience coordinating end to end employee lifecycle activity across multiple locations (experience within in a fast-growing e-commerce environment an advantage)
- CIPD accreditation or a third level qualification in Human Resources, Organisational Behaviour, or a related field
- Experience of working with cloud-based HR technology solutions (e.g. BambooHR, CultureAmp, Team Tailor)
- Experience of coordinating outsourced payroll processes and working closely with third party providers
- A keen interest in managing HR systems and ensuring the integrity of people data with an ability to balance speed and accuracy in your day to day work
- Robust knowledge of Portuguese Labour Law. Familiarity with employment legislation across other jurisdictions (Ireland, UK, Spain, Germany) is an advantage.
WHAT WE OFFER 💯
- Competitive salary & benefits
- Enhanced annual leave plus 3 Wellbeing Days per year
- Paid family leave (maternity, paternity, surrogacy & adoption)
- Agile working (plus a Working from Abroad Policy!)
- Support for your ongoing growth & development
- Inclusive people policies (sickness, menopause, compassionate and fertility leave)
- A chance to give back to your local community with 5 paid volunteering days
We believe in talented and diverse teams that reflect the diversity of our customers and the communities in which we operate. Everyone brings different perspectives and experiences. We lay out the above requirements to guide applicants to the experiences that we believe will allow you to be successful in the role. If you don’t meet them all, please consider applying if you think you can still perform the role as described.
