People Director

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 Directorwill build and scale the infrastructure that supports Vardasprincipalspeople systems equity programs operational rigor andtheir assignedbusiness 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 willoperateas 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 Vardas 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 unitteams

• 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 assignedbusinessunitin 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

• 8 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 processeswithin 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

• Peoplesystems and operational processes are scalableaccurate 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: $148000 - $200050/per year

• This role ison-sitein El Segundo CA

• Leveling and base salary isdeterminedby 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

• 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.