Senior People Operations Specialist (Immigration & Global Mobility)

Location: Lisbon, Portugal. The role will require 3 days in the office once the Lisbon hub opens, which is expected by Q4 2026.

Annual base compensation: €39,000–€56,000 EUR, plus eligibility for an annual bonus or sales incentive plan and long-term equity incentives.

Company

Upwork connects businesses with global, AI-enabled talent through its marketplace and enterprise workforce solutions.

What you will do

• Support onboarding, offboarding, organizational changes, and other employee lifecycle processes.
• Coordinate immigration matters with external vendors and guide employees, managers, and HRBPs through immigration requirements.
• Maintain immigration records, documentation, communications, workflows, and employment eligibility processes.
• Provide operational support for performance management, manager coaching, employee relations, and sensitive people matters.
• Partner with global People teams and vendors to address local requirements and maintain consistent employee support.
• Improve People processes through technology, automation, and AI.

Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in People Operations, HR Generalist, shared services, or a related role.
• Hands-on experience supporting U.S. employment-based immigration, including common visa categories, immigration processes, and employment eligibility requirements.
• Strong understanding of employee lifecycle operations and experience owning processes from intake through resolution.
• Experience partnering with HRBPs, managers, and cross-functional People teams.
• Strong judgment, problem-solving, accuracy, responsiveness, and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience improving workflows, documentation, tools, or employee-facing resources.

Nice to have

• Experience supporting People Operations across multiple countries or regions.
• Exposure to immigration or employment processes in additional countries.
• Experience with performance management, manager coaching, or employee relations.

Culture & Benefits

• The position is initially employed through a partner while the Lisbon hub is established.
• After the hub is established, there may be an opportunity to transition to direct Upwork employment, depending on business needs and other requirements.
• The partner will provide competitive benefits initially; direct employment may include Upwork benefits later.
• The role includes access to Upwork resources, culture, and growth opportunities while working as part of the Upwork team.
• Interview recording and transcription through BrightHire is optional for candidates.