Director, People Business Partners EMEA in London

Welcome to Planet. We believe in using space to help life on Earth. Planet designs, builds, and operates the largest constellation of imaging satellites in history. This constellation delivers an unprecedented dataset of empirical information via a revolutionary cloud-based platform to authoritative figures in commercial, environmental, and humanitarian sectors. We are both a space company and data company all rolled into one. Customers and users across the globe use Planet's data to develop new technologies, drive revenue, power research, and solve our world's toughest obstacles. As we control every component of hardware design, manufacturing, data processing, and software engineering, our office is a truly inspiring mix of experts from a variety of domains. We have a people-centric approach toward culture and community and we strive to iterate in a way that puts our team members first and prepares our company for growth. Join Planet and be a part of our mission to change the way people see the world.

Planet is undergoing a significant transformation in Europe, including establishing a new satellite manufacturing hub in Berlin and rapidly scaling its EMEA workforce. We are seeking the most senior People Team leader in the region, a Director of People Business Partners, to own the strategic priorities and highest‐stakes people decisions. This role translates Planet's global people strategy for regional execution, surfaces critical local insights, and serves as the essential liaison between EMEA and US People leadership to ensure global programs are adapted for European realities. The ideal candidate will operate with high autonomy and bring senior HR judgment, having built people infrastructure in Europe previously. This is a full‐time, in‐office position based in our Haarlem, Berlin or London office 5 days per week. The role reports to the VP, People Business Partners.

Impact You'll Own

• Serve as the senior People Team leader in EMEA — owning the regional people strategy, representing the function to business leaders across the region, and ensuring that every aspect of the employee lifecycle operates with the same rigor and intentionality in Europe as it does in the US.
• General oversight for the people team including People Business Partners, Talent Partners and People Operations Partners in EMEA, providing the coaching, prioritization, and strategic context they need to operate at their highest level.
• Drive execution of global People Team initiatives in EMEA — including performance management, pay transparency compliance ahead of EU regulatory deadlines, leadership competency framework rollout, and HRIS migration — adapting each for European legal, cultural, and operational realities.
• Help lead the people strategy for the Berlin manufacturing hub buildout — including organizational design, workforce planning, leadership team development, and the cultural integration of a new manufacturing workforce into Planet's engineering‐driven culture.
• Serve as the primary relay between EMEA Leadership Team and the People leadership team in the United States — ensuring that regional context informs global decisions, surfacing risks and opportunities that are not visible from headquarters, and advocating for EMEA needs in resource allocation and program prioritization.
• Partner with Talent Acquisition to ensure the EMEA recruiting engine is aligned with workforce plans — providing the org design context, compensation guidance, and hiring manager readiness that recruiters need to close candidates effectively in a competitive European talent market.
• Partner with People Operations to ensure seamless operational execution for EMEA employees — including entity compliance, payroll coordination, benefits administration, and onboarding workflows that meet German and broader European requirements.
• Own the most complex and sensitive employee relations matters in EMEA — including performance management, restructuring, and terminations, utilizing deep knowledge of European labor law and the judgment to navigate situations where business drivers and legal compliance may not align.
• Build the organizational and cultural connective tissue that makes Planet's EMEA workforce feel like a genuine part of the company — not a satellite office.

What You Bring

• 12+ years of progressive HR/People experience, with at least 5 years in a senior People Business Partner or HR leadership role supporting European operations at a scaling technology or manufacturing company.
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• Deep expertise in European employment compliance including works council engagement.
• Experience standing up or significantly scaling a European operation — including entity establishment, localized employment practices, and integrating a new‐geography workforce into a US‐headquartered company culture.
• Ability to operate as the senior People leader in a region, making high‐stakes decisions with autonomy and communicating outcomes to headquarters leadership with clarity and confidence.
• Experience managing and developing People Business Partners — coaching them on stakeholder influence, organizational diagnosis, and the transition from reactive problem‐solving to proactive strategic partnership.
• Solid organizational design and workforce planning capabilities.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and make decisions with incomplete information — particularly in cross‐cultural, multi‐jurisdiction environments.
• Experience driving performance management, compensation, and talent review processes in European markets.
• A leadership style that embodies proactive execution and ownership.

What Makes You Stand Out

• Experience in aerospace, satellite, defense, or precision manufacturing environments.
• Track record of building a People function.
• Experience deploying AI‐enabled tools or processes within an HR function.
• Background that includes organizational development, change management, or management consulting.
• Experience supporting a company through a significant growth stage in its European operations.

Benefits While Working At Planet

• Paid time off including vacation, holidays and company‐wide days off.
• Employee Wellness Program.
• Home Office Reimbursement.
• Monthly Phone and Internet Reimbursement.
• Tuition Reimbursement and access to LinkedIn Learning.
• Equity.
• Volunteering Paid Time Off.

Planet is committed to building a community where everyone belongs and we invite people from all backgrounds to apply. Planet is an equal opportunity employer, and committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Planet is an inclusive community and we know that everyone has their own needs. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation during the hiring process, please reach out to accommodations@planet.com or contact your recruiter with your request. Your message will be confidential and we will be happy to assist you.