Director of People Operations

About the role

The Director of People Operations builds and scales the systems and policies that enable rapid growth for an advanced nuclear energy company. The director balances employee advocacy with sound business judgment while navigating rapid organizational change.

Leaders set direction and build the conditions for their teams to succeed. They hire, coach, and hold people accountable. Leadership work spans strategy, communication, and decision making. Effective leaders give clear context and remove obstacles for the people who report to them. Leadership roles are measured by team outcomes, retention, and delivery. Most organizations expect leaders to be visible, predictable, and generous with context.

Key facts

What you'll do

Systems and processes are established and maintained to manage the full employee lifecycle efficiently. HR policies, procedures, and employee handbooks are developed and maintained to ensure clarity and consistency. Onboarding, offboarding, and orientation processes are managed to ensure structured and compliant transitions. Employees and managers are served as a trusted resource regarding workplace policies and employee matters to build confidence in HR. Compensation administration, salary benchmarking, and promotion processes are supported to maintain competitive and equitable pay practices. Workforce planning and organizational growth initiatives are supported through partnership with recruiting as headcount expands. Leave administration, accommodations, and other employee programs are managed to support retention and wellbeing. HR systems, employee records, and reporting infrastructure are maintained so data drives decision making. Key people metrics and workforce analytics are developed and tracked to measure impact and guide improvements. Organizational planning and headcount forecasting activities are supported to align talent supply with business needs. Valar's culture is preserved and strengthened during periods of rapid growth to sustain engagement and alignment.

Requirements

Bring 8+ years of progressive Human Resources experience to demonstrate depth in HR operations and strategy. Apply a strong working knowledge of California employment law and HR compliance requirements to protect the organization and employees. Manage employee relations, performance management, and HR operations to handle complex people situations. Develop or improve HR policies, programs, and processes to create durable structures. Communicate, build relationships, and resolve conflict by using strong interpersonal skills. Organize and manage multiple initiatives with excellent project management abilities while meeting tight deadlines. Handle confidential information with a high level of discretion and integrity. Analyze problems and develop practical solutions to turn ambiguous challenges into actionable results. Work effectively across all levels of the organization to influence partners and support cross-functional needs. Relocate to or remain based in Hawthorne, CA to meet the on-site requirement.

Nice to have

Earn a Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field to deepen HR expertise. Hold SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification to validate professional knowledge. Support high-growth startup or scaling organizations to navigate rapid change. Contribute experience in manufacturing, aerospace, defense, energy, construction, or other industrial environments to understand operational context. Implement or manage HRIS platforms and people systems to automate and streamline processes. Use compensation benchmarking and workforce planning to inform pay and headcount decisions. Support both salaried and hourly employee populations to serve a diverse workforce. Scale organizations from approximately 100 employees to 500+ employees during rapid growth. Apply strong understanding of organizational development and talent management practices to build a resilient team.

Good to know

Roles in advanced nuclear energy combine operational rigor with fast-paced innovation. Professionals often work with complex regulatory, safety, and technical systems. Collaboration across engineering, operations, and leadership is common. Career paths in this field emphasize structured growth and continuous learning. Tools for people operations, data analysis, and compliance support are central to the work.