People Ops Manager

About CoW DAO

CoW DAO is on a mission to protect Ethereum users from MEV and optimize trade execution across DeFi. We achieve this through the CoW Protocol, CoW Swap (a leading intent-based DEX aggregator), and the innovative MEV Blocker, which together help secure, aggregate, and route trades for optimal outcomes. We also fund values-aligned projects via the CoW Grants Program.

CoW Protocol is consistently ranked among the top DEX aggregators by monthly volume and is the largest intent-based exchange. Our MEV Blocker protects trades from harmful MEV extraction and is integrated across the Ethereum ecosystem. The CoW AMM is the only live AMM designed to protect liquidity providers from LVR (loss-versus-rebalancing).

With over 100 open-source repositories on GitHub, we're transparent, community-driven, and deeply committed to the open-source ethos. Our real-time Dune Analytics dashboard showcases billions in cumulative trading volume and a rapidly growing user base. As we continue to scale, CoW DAO remains at the forefront of DeFi innovation, prioritizing security, efficiency, and decentralization.

Learn more

About the role

Location: We are a fully remote team, and although we hire almost globally, there is a preference for this role to be based in Europe or remote +/- 4 hours CEST time

Please note we’re not hiring from the US, Australia, or New Zealand

Position: Full-time contractor

We’re looking for a People Ops Manager to join our herd and lend a hand with both People Ops and recruitment tasks. You'll spend about 65% of your time on People Ops responsibilities and the other 35% supporting recruitment efforts.

With 30+ CoWs spread across Lisbon and all around the globe, we thrive on collaboration, creativity, and having fun while doing impactful work. We’re searching for someone innovative and passionate to help us grow and keep building an awesome team!

What You’ll Do

• Build and improve People processes to make them more efficient, effective, and team-friendly

• Help grow the company from 30 to 40+ team members while ensuring communication, processes, and cross-team collaboration scale smoothly without major growing pains

• Keep our HRIS (hiBob) running smoothly by handling all employment lifecycle transactions and making sure everything is accurate and compliant

• Create fun and meaningful initiatives to engage the team, celebrate wins, and recognize achievements

• Handle contracts and manage all HR administrative tasks related to team data

• Plan and organize company off-sites and team-building activities to bring our global team closer together

• Set the standard for data accuracy and a data-driven approach, while staying on top of our SLAs for fast responses, quick resolutions, and happy team members

• Offer clear and timely support to team members, new hires, and stakeholders on processes, policies, and queries

• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders across multiple teams and locations

• Recruitment: Partner with the recruitment team to attract top-tier talent and take ownership of the entire hiring process—from interviews to extending job offers

• Recruitment: Create a professional, positive, and engaging journey for every candidate

Who You Are

• 2–3 years of experience in People Operations, HR and ideally Recruitment, preferably in a fast-paced, international environment

• You’re a people-first professional with strong emotional intelligence and a genuine passion for supporting growth and development

• You have some understanding of employment versus contracting arrangements

• Knowledge of labor laws (in any country) is a bonus

• You bring excellent communication skills, empathy, problem-solving, and a proactive, can-do attitude

• Strong administrative and organisational skills

• You’re fluent in English and confident working with HR systems and ATS platforms

Bonus Points If You:

Have a soft spot for blockchain and all things Web3

The Position:

• Fully remote with flexible working arrangements

• Requires availability for CET time zone

• Reports directly to the People Ops and Recruitment Lead

• Full-time contractor with open ended contract

What’s in It for You

• Flexible work environment: Join our hub in Lisbon or work remotely

• Token plan: Have a stake in our mission and shape the future of CoW DAO

• Periodic gatherings: Enjoy opportunities to connect with the rest of the team through regular trips

• Conference allocation: Stay up-to-date with ecosystem advancements using our conference budget

• Learning budget: Use our learning budget to support your higher ambitions

• Hardware budget: Take advantage of a hardware budget for acquiring necessary equipment

• Make an impact: You are joining a startup where you can make a huge difference. Your work matters!

• Flat hierarchies mean fewer processes and bureaucracy - see more of your ideas come to life!

• Flexible work and vacation times: Prioritize work-life balance through our robust flexible work policy and vacation allowance

• Growth: If you're someone who loves taking the initiative and getting things done, CoW offers lots of opportunities for your individual growth

If you’re ready to take the lead on building world-class teams in the Web3 space, we’d love to hear from you. Let’s create the future together!

Culture

Life within the CoW Protocol is an incredible adventure! We take pride in our collaborative approach, embracing autonomy and fostering a culture of big thinking and continuous growth. We value impact, ownership, simplicity, and team spirit. Plus, we're all about feedback, coming together, and enjoying the journey along the way!

At CoW Protocol, we strive to create a space where everyone feels included and empowered. We believe that our products and services benefit from our diverse backgrounds and experiences. All qualified applicants are considered for positions regardless of race, ethnic origin, age, religion or belief, marital status, gender identification, sexual orientation, or physical ability