About This Role
The people operations team is responsible for building, maintaining, and running the team at Varda. The Human Resources Manager is entrusted with making sure all our employees are happy and healthy at Varda. This position reports directly to the executive team and is responsible for covering human resources, employment compliance, benefits, team management, and the health and safety of our employees.
As the Human Resources Manager at Varda, you will be working with some of the most talented engineers, managers, and designers in the world. You will be tasked with managing the next generation of aerospace and materials engineers, developing people strategies to retain talent, coaching employees and managers on HR polices, and working to ensure Varda's mission is constantly at the forefront of what we do.
Responsibilities
- Communicate effectively at all levels in the company and support business development and change.
- Counsel and assist employees and managers at all levels, guided by the Company’s policies and relevant laws and regulations.
- Provide a strategy for headcount, new requisitions, hiring strategy, and interview feedback.
- Implement and manage compliance efforts in accordance with employment laws and regulations that govern the private companies relating to all aspects of the employee life cycle.
- Provide support with administration of employee benefit programs, such as medical, dental, vision, life, accident and disability insurance, and retirement plans, including new hire orientation and annual benefits open enrollment.
- Assist, advise, and counsel employees on day-to-day benefit-related questions (via email, phone, walk-ups, and drop-in sessions)
- Run payroll including salary, part-time, and hourly employees and contractors
- Investigate sensitive and complex employee relations matters from start to finish, including conducting intake, leading interviews, note-taking, gathering, analyzing evidence, documenting findings, and following up with the relevant parties.
- Work with human resources and candidate tracking software to automate human resources processes such as year end reviews, on-site interviews, offer letters, and performance communications
- Act as the cultural advocate internally and externally.
- Work with the executive team and team leaders to own and drive all human resources related activities.
- Provide Human Resources support and consultation across the business.
- Provide useful data to help guide decision making and allow the company to scale effectively and efficiently.
- Provide guidance on employee relations and policies across the company.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of professional experience as a recruiter and/or human resources professional; or associate degree and 6+ years of professional experience as a and/or human resources professional; or 7+ years of professional experience in lieu of a degree
- Experience in a production or manufacturing environment supporting an hourly workforce
- Experience conducting employee relations investigations
- Complete knowledge of legal procedures and practices for employment in California
Preferred Skills And Experience
- Experience within the aerospace and/or tech industry
- SHRM and/or PHR certification
- Ability to distinguish between the top 50% and the top 5% of talent within their respective fields
- Comfortable interfacing directly with hiring managers including director and VP level technical leaders
- Available to work extended hours and weekends as needed
- This position is based in El Segundo, CA (Los Angeles area) and requires being onsite 100% - remote or hybrid schedule not available
- Experience with full life cycle recruiting (screening candidates, facilitating interviews and extending offers)
- Familiarity with Greenhouse, Gusto, and/or Workday
- Experience with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Assist, advise, and counsel employees on day-to-day benefit-related questions (via email, phone, walk-ups, and drop-in sessions)
Pay Range
- Human Resources Director: $130,000.00 - $180,00
- Role is located in El Segundo, CA
What We Do
Varda Space Industries was founded in 2020 with the goal of manufacturing products in space to benefit life on Earth. Co-founders Will Bruey and Delian Asparouhov imagined a world where space could be leveraged not only for storytelling and awe, but for its economic benefits. Varda was created as a platform for in-space manufacturing, with a range of real-life, on-Earth use cases. Today, we are accelerating innovation in space through our microgravity manufacturing platform, with applications including pharmaceuticals, hypersonic testing, and fiber optics.
Varda is headquartered in El Segundo, California and has received venture funding from investors including Khosla Ventures, Lux Capital, Founders Fund, Caffeinated Capital, General Catalyst, and Also Capital.