People Director

About Varda Low Earth orbit is open for business. Varda is accelerating the development of commercial space infrastructure, from in-orbit pharmaceutical processing to reliable and economical reentry capsules.  From life-saving pharmaceuticals to more powerful fiber optics, there is a world of products used on Earth today that can only be manufactured in space. Varda is accelerating innovation in the orbital economy by creating both the products and infrastructure needed so space can directly benefit life on Earth. Our mission is to expand the economic bounds of humankind.  Our team is uniquely suited to accomplishing this goal, with leadership and staff comprised of veterans from SpaceX, Blue Origin, major pharmaceutical companies and Silicon Valley. Varda was founded in January 2021 by Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov with significant backing from world class investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.  Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California, where we have offices and a production facility where our vehicles, equipment, and materials are built, integrated, and tested. Varda also has offices in Washington, DC and Huntsville, AL. Join Varda, and work to create a bustling in-space ecosystem. About This Role    Reporting to the Head of People, the People Director will build and scale the infrastructure that supports Varda’s principals, people systems, equity programs, operational rigor, and their assigned business unit people operations. This role is focused on creating clarity, accountability, and scalability across core People infrastructure while acting as a strategic People partner to assigned business leaders and teams.  This person will operate as both a systems and operational leader balancing process design, equity administration, compliance, people operations, and performance management in a fast-scaling environment.  The role partners closely with People leadership, Finance, Legal, Payroll, Recruiting, and business leaders across the company.  Responsibilities  Equity Programs   Own end-to-end administration of Varda’s equity programs   Partner with Finance and Legal on cap table management, equity planning, and board-related equity processes   Ensure accuracy, compliance, and scalability of all equity administration workflows   Manage equity audits, reporting, and documentation processes   Build employee education and communication around equity philosophy, grants, vesting, and programs   Support operational execution of refresh grants, promotions, and special equity actions   People Systems & Infrastructure  Partner closely with Payroll, Recruiting, IT, and Finance on system integrations and operational workflows   Drive automation and process improvements to reduce manual work and improve scalability   Ensure data integrity, reporting accuracy, and strong operational controls   Business Unit People Partnership  Act as the People partner for assigned business unit teams  Support leaders in organizational design, workforce planning, team effectiveness, and talent planning   Partner with managers on employee relations, performance management, coaching, and team development   Drive consistency and accountability in People processes across assigned business unit in partnership with Head of People and People Leadership  Support talent calibration, succession planning, and promotion processes   Help drive performance management processes including goal setting, feedback cycles, performance reviews, calibration discussions, and development planning   Coach managers on performance conversations, accountability, employee growth, and organizational effectiveness   Operational Excellence  Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment regulations, with particular focus on California   Improve operational workflows to increase speed, clarity, accountability, and employee experience   Develop scalable operational infrastructure that supports rapid company growth   Create operational rigor without unnecessary bureaucracy   Qualifications  10+ years of progressive experience in People Operations, HRIS, People Systems, HR Business Partner leader experience in a high growth, tech start-up environment   Experience administering equity programs in a fast-growth environment   Strong operational and systems mindset with the ability to build scalable infrastructure   Experience partnering directly with senior leaders and business teams   Strong experience supporting performance management and organizational effectiveness processes within a high growth technically innovative start up.  Strong understanding of California employment practices and compliance requirements   Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution   Strong judgment, discretion, and attention to detail   Comfortable operating in fast-moving environments with evolving priorities  What Success Looks Like  People systems and operational processes are scalable, accurate, and efficient   Equity administration runs cleanly and employees understand the value of their equity   Leaders feel supported and challenged by a strong People partner   Performance management processes are consistent, clear, and actionable across the organization   Reporting and workforce data help drive better business decisions   Processes become simpler, faster, and more effective as the company scales  Pay Range  Salary Range: $148,000 - $200,050/per year  This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA  Leveling and base salary is determined by job-related skills, education level, experience level, and job performance  You will be eligible for incentives in the form of stock options and/or long-term cash awards  ITAR Requirements Varda, like all employers, must ensure that its employees working in the United States are lawfully authorized to work in the U.S.  Additionally, our employees are exposed to and have access to certain export-controlled items. At present, some of our technology to which employees have access requires a license to be exported to individuals other than “U.S. Persons” as defined in U.S. export regulations. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our current policy is to only hire “U.S. persons” who are permitted to have access to our technology without an export license.  “US person” means: U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident, or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., individual admitted to the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum in the U.S.)  Learn more about the ITAR here.   Benefits Exciting team of professionals at the top of their field working by your side Equity in a fully funded space startup with potential for significant growth (interns excluded) 401(k) matching (interns excluded) Unlimited PTO (interns excluded) Health insurance, including Vision and Dental Lunch and snacks provided on site every day. Dinners provided twice a week.  Maternity / Paternity leave (interns excluded) Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.  Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance.  We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status. E-Verify Statement Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E-Verify program. E-Verify Notice                                                               Right To Work Notice Read more                                                                             Read more