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Director, People & Organizational Effectiveness
Job Location:
Job Location:
San Diego, CA - USA
Monthly Salary:
$ 155000 - 185000
Monthly Salary:
Posted:
2 July 2026 (30+ days ago)
Posted:
Application Deadline:
29 October 2026
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Vacancies:
Job Summary
Firestorm is hiring a Director People & Organizational Effectiveness individual to serve as the operational backbone of our people function. You will be in a high-autonomy high-impact role and will thrive on solving problems quickly building durable solutions and operating at the intersection of HR operations legal coordination and management partnership.
This is not a traditional HR chain-of-command role. You will report directly to Legal ensuring tight coordination on compliance and employment matters with an HR Coordinator reporting to you to support day-to-day execution. You will work in close partnership with the CEO CFO and business unit heads serving as their primary people-operations point of contact across employee relations workforce planning and organizational issues within their divisions.
We are looking for someone who can move fast navigate ambiguity work directly with executives and legal counsel and defuse complex employee situationsall while building the governance infrastructure that prevents recurring issues. You are a business partner first and an HR operator second.
Your work falls into two core pillars:
- Immediate Issue Response assisting HR managers leadership and legal counsel with employee relations matters compensation questions recruiting issues contractor questions investigations documentation concerns and other issues as they arise.
- Structural Mitigation identifying the policy governance mechanism process form leadership expectation or organizational practice that would prevent the same issue from recurring.
If you want to help build an organization capable of scaling at a high level without losing speed or sense of mission and you are energized by solving real problems rather than designing theoretical frameworks this role is for you.
What Youll Do
Immediate Issue Response & Employee Relations
- Serve as the operational liaison between HR outside employment counsel the full leadership team and employees on sensitive matterscoordinating communications advising on next steps and translating legal guidance into practical management actions
- Act as the dedicated people-operations partner to the C-suite and business unit headsunderstanding each divisions workforce needs escalation patterns and operational rhythm well enough to anticipate issues rather than just respond to them
- Respond rapidly to employee relations matters investigations complaints and workplace concerns with sound judgment and legal defensibility
- Prevent unnecessary escalation while maintaining consistency and defensibility across all employee actions
- Advise managers and HR on preparing for and conducting difficult conversations including drafting manager communications
- Coordinate with outside employment counsel on active matters leveraging your position within Legal to ensure leadership receives clear actionable guidance without delay
- Support investigations end-to-end: intake documentation witness interviews findings and recommended actions
- Advise on responses to individual compensation concerns helping frame conversations and reinforcing that compensation decisions must be explainable and defensible
- Address contractor classification questions workforce design issues agency workers independent contractors and visa-sponsored employee matters
- Manage cross-border employment considerations and H-1B coordination as they arise
Structural Mitigation & Process Development
- Identify recurring issues and build permanent process improvementspolicies forms templates workflows and governance mechanismsthat reduce future risk
- Develop compensation request forms employee action forms and approval processes that encourage written business justification and consistent decision-making
- Draft and implement policies that create organizational consistency without unnecessary bureaucracy
- Build governance guardrails for promotions title changes compensation actions and organizational changes to reduce ad hoc decision-making
- Advise on clearer requisition criteria posting practices and candidate evaluation standards to strengthen recruiting governance
- Reconstruct and document historical commitments (compensation sign-on bonuses relocation) where records are incomplete
- Develop documentation practices and direct the HR Coordinator on proper recordkeeping and administrative processes
- Create scalable systems and decision frameworks that support rapid growth while maintaining compliance and defensibility
HR Operations & Compliance Partnership
- Manage and develop the HR Coordinator delegating onboarding logistics HRIS data entry employee records and recruiting coordination while ensuring consistent quality and compliance standards
- Ensure compliance with California employment law multi-state requirements and federal regulations (including ITAR/EAR)
- Partner with internal and outside legal counsel on employment matters investigations and organizational riskleveraging your embedded position within the Legal function to eliminate bottlenecks
- Maintain operational discipline across employee relations compliance compensation administration and HR systems
- Leverage HRIS ATS AI-enabled tools and people analytics to support scalable operations and workforce insights owning system configuration data integrity and reporting while the HR Coordinator handles routine data entry and recordkeeping
- Own onboarding and offboarding designoffer documentation I-9 process new-hire orientation and exit logisticswhile the HR Coordinator executes day-to-day scheduling and administration; step in directly on sensitive exits or terminations
- Support OFCCP compliance and affirmative action requirements as applicable
- Ensure all people decisionscompensation terminations promotions and transfersare properly documented and defensible
Manager Support & Coaching
- Coach managers on handling specific employee situationsproviding tactical guidance not theoretical frameworks
- Help managers acknowledge employee concerns while clearly explaining business decisions and process
- Draft or review manager communications for sensitive situations (performance concerns compensation conversations role changes)
- Encourage constructive escalation and help distinguish between situations requiring immediate action vs. ongoing monitoring
- Support managers in navigating difficult interpersonal dynamics team friction and cross-functional coordination challenges
- Serve as a confidential sounding board for leaders navigating sensitive organizational situations
Additional Duties
- Comfortably work directly and simultaneously with executives legal counsel HR staff and line managers
- Demonstrate ability to operate independently with minimal oversight in fast-paced ambiguous environments
- Balance speed with legal defensibility move fast without creating risk
- Delegate effectively while maintaining accountability for quality and outcomes
Required Qualifications
- Bachelors degree in Human Resources Business Administration Organizational Development related field or degree.
- Operator who has built processes managed people issues and operated under compliance pressure without a traditional HR background.
- U.S. Citizenship required due to ITAR regulations with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance
- 7 years of progressive HR and/or operational experience including significant depth in employee relations investigations and California employment law
- 3 years experience managing leading or mentoring at least one direct report
- Experience serving as an operational partner to legal counsel on employment matters
- Experience building HR processes policies forms and governance mechanisms from the ground up
- Knowledge of compensation administration governance processes and documentation standards
- Experience coaching managers through difficult conversations and employee relations situations
- Experience with contractor classification workforce design and multi-state compliance
- Experience utilizing HRIS ATS AI-enabled tools and people analytics platforms
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in defense aerospace manufacturing or venture-backed high-growth technology environments
- Experience supporting organizations through rapid scaling or organizational transformation
- SHRM-CP SHRM-SCP PHR or SPHR certification
- Experience with OFCCP ITAR/EAR workforce requirements and government contractor compliance
- Experience working with founders and entrepreneurial leadership teams
- Multi-state employment law experience beyond California
- Masters degree in HR Business or related discipline
Work Environment
- Based onsite at our San Diego CA. Headquarters
- We welcome candidates who are local or open to relocating; relocation assistance is available and may be included in the offer package where appropriate.
- Willingness to travel up to 5% as needed for events and customer site visits
This position typically operates in a standard office setting and manufacturing environment. This role requires use of standard office equipment and may involve exposure to loud noise heat cold dust or chemicals (with PPE). The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Ability to sit stand bend reach climb and move about regularly throughout the day. Must have manual dexterity to operate standard office equipment.
Compensation
- US Salary Range: $155000-$185000 depending on experience
- Equity participation in a growth-stage defense technology company
The posted salary range reflects an estimate based on a variety of compensation factors including but not limited to relevant experience education certifications specialized skills geographic location and business needs. Actual compensation may vary and this range is subject to change as business needs evolve.
About Firestorm
At Firestorm we are building the future of expeditionary defense manufacturing and autonomous systems. Modern conflict has exposed a fundamental problem: the systems needed most by operators are often too expensive too slow to produce and too difficult to sustain at scale. Firestorm exists to change that.
We develop mission-adaptable aerial systems and deployable manufacturing infrastructure designed to put capability directly into the hands of the warfighter. From modular unmanned aircraft to xCellour deployable microfactoryour goal is to make defense systems rapidly deployable adaptable and producible at the point of need.
Backed by leading investors across defense aerospace and technology Firestorm is redefining how defense capability is built fielded and sustained in contested environments. We are looking for builders operators and problem-solvers who want to work on meaningful technology with real-world impact.
Benefits & Perks
Our culture fosters collaboration respect and trust empowering passionate people to do their best work. We offer a competitive salary comprehensive benefits and opportunities for career addition to an opportunity to take part in an innovative collaborative and fast-growing business with a highly motivated and skilled team we also take pride in taking care of our employees. Here are just a few ways that we show our appreciation:
- We offer comprehensive medical dental and visions plans
- 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan to invest in your long-term retirement goals
- Equity grants for new hires
- Unlimited PTO
- Extremely generous company holiday calendar including a holiday hiatus in July & December.
- Generous Parental Leave
- Lifestyle Spending Account
- FSA
- DCFSA
- HSA
- Hospital Indemnity insurance
- Critical Illness insurance
- Accident insurance
- Basic Life/AD&D short-term and long-term disability insurance 100% covered by Firestorm. Plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your family.
- Mental Health Resources: We provide free mental health resources 24/7 including therapy and more. Additional work-life services such as free legal and financial support are available to you as well.
Export Control Compliance
To conform to U.S. government export control regulations including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR) you must be a U.S. citizen lawful permanent resident of the U.S. protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or otherwise eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State or U.S. Department of Commerce.
Equal Opportunity Statement
Firestorm is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and upholding equitable hiring practices. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin disability protected veteran status or any other characteristic under federal state or local law including those with a criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws including the CA Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance. We actively encourage members of recognized minorities women Veterans and those with disabilities to apply and we work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all applicants throughout the interview process.
Firestorm is committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible work environment. If you require accommodations or assistance during the application process please dont hesitate to reach out to us at so we can provide the support you need.
Required Experience:
Director
