HR Generalist

About Canonical and Ubuntu

Canonical is a leader in open source software and operating systems, with Ubuntu widely adopted for public cloud, data science, AI, engineering innovation, and IoT. Our global enterprise and technology market customers include top public cloud and silicon providers. We operate as a pioneer of global distributed collaboration, boasting over 1,200 colleagues across 75+ countries with very few office-based roles. Teams gather two to four times annually in various international locations for strategy and execution alignment.

The company is founder-led, profitable, and experiencing continuous growth.

The Opportunity: HR Generalist

We are seeking an HR Generalist to join our expanding team. With over 1,200 colleagues distributed globally, our HR function demands a worldwide perspective. Reporting to a Regional HR Manager, you will play a crucial role in shaping and developing our HR function for the future during this exciting period of growth. We are looking for an individual with a strong work ethic and the confidence to uphold high expectations for colleagues, processes, and counterparts.

This role requires independence, a hands-on approach, and effective interaction with professionals at all levels. You must possess excellent communication, professional, and interpersonal skills, thriving in a proactive, innovative environment. Our HR team is committed to supporting colleague development and personal needs while maintaining consistent high standards across all teams, managers, and directors.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide HR guidance to team members and managers, fostering high standards of behavior and performance.
• Partner with line managers to offer employee relations advice on global policies and procedures.
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of employee changes, joiners, and leavers.
• Manage and drive benefit programs across either our EMEA (UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain) or AMER (US, Canada, Brazil) locations.
• Liaise with the finance team for monthly payroll, projects, and inquiries.
• Support the full HR life-cycle, including onboarding, benefit administration, and departure processes.
• Apply critical thinking to automate tasks and reduce administrative burden.
• Take a lead role in the management, continuous development, and integration of our HR system.
• Act as a system expert and advocate for the global HR team.
• Produce data-driven reports to inform and influence HR initiatives.
• Lead and participate in projects, seeing the direct impact of your contributions.
• Support internal resource groups to advance diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• Create, update, and maintain corporate policies with a global lens and local application.
• Ensure consistent application of HR policies and procedures.

What We're Looking For

• Exceptional academic track record from both high school and university.
• Relevant professional qualifications and certifications.
• Excellent practical insights into either EMEA or AMER HR practices and employment laws.
• Self-directed, organized problem solver capable of prioritizing and meeting goals and deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise discretion, sound judgment, tact, and diplomacy in all communications.
• Fearless and principled approach to professional interactions at every business level, with unwavering commitment to confidentiality.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 4 times a year for internal events, including at least one trip of two full working weeks.

Colleague Benefits at Canonical

Canonical values its global team members, shaping compensation based on geographical location, experience, and performance. We conduct annual compensation reviews (more frequent for graduates/associates) to acknowledge outstanding performance, offering a performance-driven annual bonus in addition to base pay. Our comprehensive benefits reflect our values, balancing local needs with global fairness.

• Distributed work environment with twice-yearly in-person team sprints.
• Personal learning and development budget of USD 2,000 per year.
• Annual compensation review.
• Recognition rewards.
• Annual holiday leave.
• Maternity and paternity leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Opportunity to travel to new locations to meet colleagues.
• Priority Pass and travel upgrades for long-haul company events.

About Working at Canonical

Canonical is a pioneering tech firm driving the global adoption of open source. As the publisher of Ubuntu, a foundational platform for AI, IoT, and the cloud, we are transforming the software landscape. We recruit globally, upholding a high standard for new team members. We expect excellence - in order to succeed, we need to be the best at what we do. Most Canonical colleagues have worked remotely since our inception in 2004. Joining us means stepping into the future, where you'll be challenged to think differently, work smarter, learn new skills, and elevate your performance.

Canonical is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a workplace free from discrimination. We believe diversity of experience, perspectives, and background creates a better work environment and superior products. Your application will receive fair consideration regardless of your identity.

Key skills/competency

• HR Operations
• Employee Relations
• Global HR Policies
• Benefit Administration
• HRIS Management
• Payroll Liaison
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Employment Law (EMEA/AMER)
• Data-Driven HR
• Policy Development