International people business partner

About Watershed

Watershed is the enterprise sustainability platform. Companies like Airbnb, Carlyle Group, FedEx, Visa, and Dr. Martens use Watershed to manage climate and ESG data, produce audit-ready metrics for voluntary and regulatory reporting including CSRD, and drive real decarbonization. We are looking for team members who love product-building, want to work hard at a mission-oriented startup, and will collaborate with us in shaping the culture of a growing team.

We have offices in San Francisco, New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Sydney, Mexico City, and remote team members across the US and Europe. We hope that you'll be interested in joining us!

The role

Watershed is on a fast-paced growth trajectory, expanding across Europe and APAC. As our only People Business Partner in London, you have a unique opportunity to shape how our People function operates from the ground up. You'll define best practices, develop a regional strategy, and establish the core principles that will guide our approach to talent and culture in the UK, Europe and Australia (to start!).

One of Watershed’s core principles is to operate at the intersection of intensity and care. You'll go beyond traditional responsibilities to create innovative programs, practices, and policies that foster a high-performing, inclusive environment. You'll be a trusted advisor to leadership, shaping our People philosophy and driving business success. As our internationally focused People partner, you’ll also act as a trusted resource for our global employee base.

Here's what you'll do (and more!):

• Lead the development and implementation of international HR practices as we expand across Europe and APAC. This includes navigating cultural and legal nuances in each new market. Iterate and evolve our practices in London for our 75 employees.

• Build and instill the expectation of exceptional leadership across our regional teams. Coach and advise managers on creating and developing high-performing teams and fostering a culture of continuous learning.

• Program manage and facilitate our L&D opportunities specifically tailored to develop our managers' capabilities in the UK, alongside our people business partners team.

• Cultivate a positive, inclusive environment where everyone thrives, building trust and connection with our global employees. Promote a culture of belonging and empower diverse talent.

• Coach leaders on critical areas like talent planning, organizational design, retention strategies, total rewards and compensation, and successful change management.

• Act as a key partner to our People Operations team, jumping in to provide hands-on support for a range of operational needs to ensure our global team is well-supported.

• Determine competitive benefits, perks, and best practices for each new country or market we enter.

• Partner closely with the global People Partner Team, People Operations, Recruiting, and Workplace teams on company-wide initiatives.

You are an experienced HR leader with a proven track record (8+ years):

• Experience successfully opening offices/entities in European and APAC countries

• Knowledge of employment law and people practices in the UK, European, and APAC countries

• Thriving in fast-paced environments and comfortable navigating ambiguity.

• Proven ability to advise and coach leaders at all levels.

• A solutions-oriented approach to tackling challenges and finding creative solutions.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to convey complex information clearly and concisely.

• You're a doer who leads by example and inspires others to do the same.

• A collaborative working style with a strong focus on building positive and productive relationships.

• Strong judgment and discretion to handle sensitive information with care.

• Leading with empathy while maintaining agility to adapt to changing needs.

Must be willing to work from an office 4 days per week (except for remote roles)

Watershed has hub offices in San Francisco, New York, London, and Mexico City and satellite offices in Sydney, Paris, and Berlin. Where we have offices, employees are expected to be in office for 4 days per week. Certain jobs are open to being remote and will be specifically noted on the jobs page and in the job description if so.

What’s the interview process like?

It starts the same for every candidate: getting to know the team members through 1 to 2 conversations about Watershed, your experience, and your interests. Next steps can vary by role, but usual next steps are a skill or experience interview (e.g. a coding interview for an engineer, a portfolio review for a designer, deeper experience call for other roles) which leads to a virtual or in person interview panel. We prioritize transparency and lack of surprise throughout the process.

What if I need accommodations for my interview?

At Watershed, we are dedicated to ensuring an inclusive recruitment process. We provide reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities, long-term conditions, mental health needs, religious observances, neurodivergence, or pregnancy-related support requirements. If you need assistance during your process, please contact your recruiter.