HR Generalist - EMEA

Canonical is a leading provider of
- source software and operating systems to the global enterprise and technology markets. Its flagship platform, Ubuntu, is widely employed in breakthrough initiatives such as public cloud, data science, AI, engineering innovation and Io
T. The company is a pioneer of global distributed collaboration, with 1, 200+ colleagues in 75+ countries and very few office‑based roles.

The company is founder‑led, profitable and growing. We invite you to join us as an HR Generalist – EMEA, reporting to the Regional HR Manager.

Responsibilities

• Provide HR guidance to team members and managers, setting high expectations of behaviour and performance.
• Partner with line managers to provide employee relations advice on global policies and procedures.
• Ensure accuracy and timeliness in processing employee changes, joiners and leavers.
• Manage and drive benefit programs across our EMEA locations (UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain).
• Liaise with finance on monthly payroll, projects and enquiries.
• Support the full life‑cycle of HR, including onboarding, benefit administration and departures.
• Apply critical thinking to automate and reduce administrative tasks.
• Lead the continued 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 where the impact of your work is visible.
• Support internal resource groups to drive diversity and inclusion initiatives.
• Create, update and maintain corporate policies with a global lens and local application.
• Ensure consistency in the application of HR policies and procedures.

Qualifications

• Exceptional academic track record from high school and university.
• Relevant professional qualification and certifications.
• Excellent practical insights into German, UK and/or French HR practices and employment laws.
• Knowledge of other EMEA laws and practices is beneficial.
• Self‑directed, organized problem solver who prioritises and meets goals and deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise discretion, sound judgement, tact and diplomacy in all communications.
• Fearless and principled approach to professional interactions at every level, with a commitment to confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to four times a year for internal events, including at least one trip of two full working weeks.

What We Offer

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

Canonical is an equal‑opportunity employer. We are proud to foster a workplace free from discrimination. Diversity of experience, perspectives and background creates a better work environment and better products. Whatever your identity, we will give your application fair consideration.

Canonical is a pioneering tech firm at the forefront of the global move to open source. As the company that publishes Ubuntu—one of the most important open‑source projects and the platform for AI, Io
T and cloud—we are changing the world of software. We recruit on a global basis and set a very high standard for people joining the company. We expect excellence— in order to succeed, we need to be the best at what we do. Most colleagues worked from home since the company’s inception in 2004. Working here is a step into the future and will challenge you to think differently, work smarter, learn new skills and raise your game.