People Operations Advisor

Graphcore is a UK-headquartered semiconductor and AI compute company, now part of SoftBank’s global AI ecosystem. Our headquarters are in Bristol, with offices in London, Cambridge, Poland, Germany, and Taiwan. In 2026, we opened new key locations in India and US with the aim to build out key engineering and operational hubs to support our next phase of growth. 
 
Our mission is to build the future of AI compute – and that depends not only on exceptional engineering but also on an outstanding People function. As we scale globally, the People team is focused on building strong operational foundations and a great employee experience everywhere we operate. 
 
You will be part of the Global People Team, working closely with People Partners and collaborating with People Operations, Talent Acquisition, Finance, Legal, and Workplace teams. 

Job Summary 

The People Operations Advisor – US will be responsible for delivering high-quality People operations across the US region, acting as the execution partner to the US People Lead. 
 
This role is critical to stabilising and scaling the US organisation, ensuring onboarding, employee lifecycle processes, benefits, and systems are delivered accurately and efficiently across a distributed workforce. 
 
The role will work closely with the Global People Operations team and specialist functions, ensuring consistent delivery of global processes while supporting local requirements across the US. 

 
You will also work with external providers including Sequoia One (PEO), and support transition from current contractor support into a regional model. 

Responsibilities and Duties 

Operational Delivery 
Deliver onboarding processes, including contracts, documentation, background checks, and coordination with Talent and Workplace teams 
Maintain employee lifecycle processes including changes, promotions, and leavers 
Ensure HRIS updates are completed accurately and in a timely manner 
Support payroll inputs, benefits administration, and documentation through Sequoia One 
 
Employee and Manager Experience 
Act as a key point of contact for employees and managers across the US 
Manage and respond to queries through ticketing systems and shared channels 
Support onboarding experience and day-to-day employee lifecycle activities 
Provide guidance on processes, policies, and workflows 
 
Benefits, Compliance, and Mobility Support 
Support administration of benefits, including enrolment, changes, and renewals 
Partner with Sequoia One to ensure compliant and effective delivery of benefits and employment processes 
Support background checks and pre-employment processes 
Support visa and immigration processes in partnership with Global Mobility 
Maintain documentation and support audit readiness 
Ensure consistency with US employment requirements and internal policies 
 
Workflow, Systems and Process Management 
Manage workflows, tasks, and requests across People processes 
Work closely with the Global People Operations team to ensure consistent global process delivery 
Support HRIS accuracy, reporting inputs, and system updates 
Contribute to ticketing system rollout and structured service delivery 
Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, automation, and process consistency 
 
Regional Support and Build 
Support the Regional People Lead in building and scaling the US People model 
 
Help establish a consistent and scalable operational foundation for the region 

Candidate Profile 

Essential 
Strong experience in People/HR operations in the US 
Experience managing onboarding, lifecycle processes, and HR systems 
Experience supporting benefits administration and working with vendors 
Strong attention to detail and process management capability 
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment 
Strong communication and stakeholder management skills 
 
Desirable 
Experience in a software, technology, or AI-focused organisation 
Experience supporting engineering or technical teams 
Experience working with PEO models (e.g. Sequoia One) 
Experience supporting distributed or multi-site and multi-state teams 

Knowledge of California labor laws and compliance requirements 

Mindset and Approach 

Comfortable working in a fast-paced, scaling environment 
Demonstrates strong ownership, accountability, and attention to detail 
Works with urgency and a proactive, “say yes” mindset 
Focuses on delivering high-quality operational outcomes 
Motivated by supporting teams working at the cutting edge of technology 
Balances efficiency with compliance and consistency