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aqemia.com

Senior People Operations Partner (FR & UK)

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About AQEMIA
AQEMIA is a drug invention company dedicated to creating entirely new medicines to address major unmet medical needs. At the core of our mission is QEMI, our proprietary molecule-invention platform, which uniquely combines cutting-edge science with advanced technology. Powered by physics-based modeling, statistical mechanics, and generative AI, QEMI allows our teams to design novel drug candidates from first principles.
What makes AQEMIA different is our commitment to true innovation: our research is dedicated to the invention of new molecular entities, not the refinement of existing ones. We focus on inventing never-before-seen molecules, without relying on experimental data, and advancing them into a growing pipeline of proprietary programs and strategic partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies.
Our most advanced preclinical programs are currently in vivo optimization, targeting diseases still waiting for effective treatments, offering our teams the opportunity to work on science that can make a real difference in people’s lives.
For more information, visit AQEMIA.com, our WTTJ Page, and our LinkedIn.
About our Team
AQEMIA brings together a diverse, multidisciplinary team of 80+ professionals based in Paris and London. Our scientists and engineers, including chemists, physicists, machine learning experts, and software engineers, work side by side to push the boundaries of early-stage drug discovery.
This close collaboration across disciplines is central to our approach, enabling us to tackle complex scientific challenges from first principles and translate cutting-edge ideas into novel therapeutic candidates. At AQEMIA, team members are encouraged to contribute their expertise, learn from one another, and play an active role in shaping the future of drug invention.

About our People Department

The People team (6 people) is dedicated to attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional talent while fostering a high-performance and mission-driven culture.

Supporting employees throughout their entire journey at AQEMIA, the team leads talent acquisition, people operations, learning and development, performance management, and employee experience initiatives. Their mission is to create an environment where individuals can thrive, collaborate, and contribute to advancing the future of drug discovery.

By building strong foundations for growth and engagement, the People team helps ensure AQEMIA remains a place where world-class talent can do their best work.

The Role

As a Senior People Operations Partner (France & UK), you will play a critical role in building and scaling AQEMIA's people infrastructure as the company continues its international growth.

Acting as a strategic and operational HR partner, you will own and optimize People Operations processes across the employee lifecycle while ensuring compliance, operational excellence, and a seamless employee experience across France and the UK.

You will collaborate closely with managers, employees, Payroll, Finance, Legal, and the broader People team to create scalable processes, leverage data for decision-making, and ensure our HR foundations support AQEMIA's ambitious growth plans.

This role is ideal for someone who combines strong operational rigor with a service-oriented mindset and enjoys building efficient, compliant, and people-centric organizations.

Responsibilities

Lead and Scale People Operations

  • Own People Operations across the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, employee changes, contract management, and offboarding.

  • Partner with Payroll, Finance, and Legal to ensure accurate and efficient people processes.

  • Design and continuously improve scalable workflows, documentation, and operational practices to support AQEMIA's growth.

  • Leverage AI and automation tools to streamline People Operations processes, improve efficiency, and enhance the employee experience.

  • Support workforce planning and organizational data management in collaboration with People leadership.

    • Ensure Compliance and Manage Employee Relations

  • Ensure HR policies, practices, and documentation comply with employment regulations across France and the UK.

  • Maintain audit-ready employee records and ensure GDPR compliance.

  • Advise managers and employees on HR policies, employee relations matters, and performance-related topics.

  • Identify and mitigate employment-related risks while ensuring fair and consistent people practices.

    • Drive HR Systems, Data, and Operational Excellence

  • Own and optimize HR systems, ensuring data accuracy, process efficiency, and a strong employee experience.

  • Build and maintain HR reporting and people analytics to support leadership decision-making.

  • Lead automation and continuous improvement initiatives, including AI-powered workflows and self-service solutions.

  • Partner with internal stakeholders and external vendors to improve systems, tools, and integrations.

    • Deliver an Outstanding Employee Experience

  • Serve as a trusted HR partner for managers and employees across France and the UK.

  • Ensure every employee touchpoint reflects AQEMIA's culture, values, and standards of excellence.

  • Collaborate with the broader People team to continuously improve engagement, communication, onboarding, and employee experience initiatives.

    • Qualifications

    Required Experience

  • 8+ years of experience in People Operations, HR Business Partnering, or HR Operations roles within fast-growing and international environments.

  • Strong expertise across the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, employee relations, performance management, and HR compliance.

  • Solid knowledge of French employment law and experience supporting multi-country populations.

  • Hands-on experience with HR systems, employee data management, and people analytics.

  • Proven track record of improving processes, driving operational excellence, and scaling HR practices.

  • Experience leveraging automation, AI tools, or digital solutions to improve HR efficiency and employee experience.

    • Skills

  • Strong operational rigor and attention to detail.

  • Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

  • Pragmatic problem-solving mindset with a continuous improvement approach.

  • High level of discretion, integrity, and professionalism.

  • Data-driven decision-making and analytical capabilities.

  • Ability to identify opportunities for automation and leverage AI tools to optimize workflows and increase operational efficiency.

    • Nice-to-Have

  • Experience supporting employees in both France and the UK.

  • Experience in a biotech, deeptech, technology, or scale-up environment.

  • Experience implementing or optimizing HRIS platforms and people processes.

  • Exposure to organizational design, workforce planning, or compensation programs.

    • Our Recruitment Process

    1. Talent Acquisition Interview (30 min)

    2. Hiring Manager Interview with our VP People (45 min)

    3. Business Case & Skills Assessment (60 min)

    4. Culture Fit Interview with Emmanuelle Martiano, Co-founder & COO (45 min)

    5. Final Interview with Maximilien Levesque, Co-founder & CEO (60 min)

    Why Join Us ?
    At AQEMIA, we work for a mission: joining us means having your own impact on changing the way drugs are discovered, and helping to shape the direction of our fast-growing company and team.
    Expanding Drug Discovery Pipeline : Focused on critical therapeutic areas like Oncology, CNS, Immuno-inflammation... with in vivo proof of concept/patent stage programs. Collaborations with top Pharma, including a $140M Sanofi deal.
    World-Class Interdisciplinary Team : work alongside exceptional talent at the intersection of technology and life sciences. Our teams combine deep expertise in AI, physics-based modeling, biology, and medicinal chemistry to push the boundaries of innovation.
    DeepTech Recognition: AQEMIA is proud to be part of the French Tech 120 and France 2030, highlighting our role as a key player in Europe’s DeepTech ecosystem.
    Prime Location with Flexibility : Our offices are located in the heart of Paris and London (King’s Cross), with flexible work arrangements including up to two remote days per week.
    Strong Financial Backing : $100M raised from leading European and International investors