Senior People Generalist

What’s happening at Vay

• First to roll out vehicles in both Europe and the USA on public roads without a human being inside & currently the 2nd largest commercial, driverless car fleet in the Western World.
• We've partnered with Kodiak to bring remote-driving technology to autonomous trucks in the US, showcasing our ability to integrate our system into heavy-duty commercial vehicles and expand the applications of our tech across the US.
• We’ve completed 10's of thousands of trips so far and are busy multiplying our Las Vegas fleet just to meet demand!
• Soon we’ll be expanding across the US & Europe 🚀

Why this role is exciting

Senior People & Culture Specialist

This is not a traditional HR role. You’ll be at the center of building and scaling our U.S. People function, working across everything from compliance and employee relations to benefits, payroll, and culture. You’ll partner closely with Talent Acquisition, Legal, and our EU People team, giving you real exposure across the full HR spectrum in a high-growth environment.

We’re looking for someone who thrives in ambiguity, takes ownership, and sees every challenge as an opportunity to build something better. You’ll have the backing of an experienced global team, but the autonomy to shape how HR operates and evolves in the U.S.

What you’ll be driving

• Serve as a strategic HR partner, owning the full employee lifecycle across onboarding, engagement, performance management, employee relations, immigration, and offboarding
• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of HR policies and programs, ensuring compliance with U.S. federal, state, and Nevada employment laws and regulations
• Act as the primary subject matter expert for HR compliance, advising leaders and employees on employee relations, leave administration, wage and hour requirements, accommodations, investigations, and workplace policies
• Own end-to-end payroll administration through Paylocity moving to Remote, ensuring timely and accurate payroll processing, audits, reconciliations, tax compliance, and resolution of complex employee inquiries
• Manage all employment-based immigration processes, partnering with internal and external counsel and internal stakeholders to support visa sponsorships, renewals, compliance requirements, and global mobility initiatives
• Oversee benefits administration, vendor management, open enrollment, leave programs, and the evaluation and implementation of new benefits and wellness offerings that support employee experience and retention
• Drive employee engagement initiatives and culture-building programs that reinforce company values, enhance employee experience, and support business growth
• Maintain accurate employee records, documentation, audits, and compliance reporting, ensuring HR systems remain the single source of truth for all workforce data
• Identify opportunities to streamline and automate HR operations, improving efficiency, scalability, employee self-service, and overall HR service delivery

What are we looking for

• Hands-on, pragmatic, and comfortable operating in a fast-moving startup environment
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or a related field
• 5+ years of progressive HR experience, ideally in high-growth or startup environments
• Strong knowledge of U.S. employment law, with a solid understanding of Nevada regulations
• Proven experience handling employee relations issues and workplace investigations
• Strong project management skills with the ability to prioritize and execute in a dynamic environment
• High emotional intelligence, clear communication, and a collaborative, solutions-driven mindset
• Experience working across international teams and contributing to inclusive, high-performing cultures