People Operations Architect for High-Growth Manufacturing

Valar Atomics Inc.; Hawthorne, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity ownership

Free onsite meals

High-growth startup environment

Career growth opportunities

Direct collaboration with operators

Job summary

Valar Atomics, an energy company building scalable nuclear solutions, seeks a Director of People Operations to design and scale core HR systems, policies, and processes. You’ll work with leadership to support rapid growth, drive compliance, and shape a high‑performance culture on-site in California.

This role focuses on building structure from the ground up, managing performance, compensation, workforce planning, and employee lifecycle programs while partnering with recruiting and leadership for

Qualifications

• 8+ years of progressive Human Resources experience.
• Strong working knowledge of California employment law and HR compliance requirements.
• Experience managing employee relations, performance management, and HR operations.
• Experience developing or improving HR policies, programs, and processes.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Excellent organizational and project management abilities.
• High level of discretion when handling confidential information.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to work effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Based in or willing to relocate to Hawthorne, CA.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage day-to-day HR operations across the employee lifecycle.
• Develop and maintain HR policies, procedures, and employee handbooks.
• Partner with leadership on employee relations, performance management, and organizational effectiveness initiatives.
• Administer performance review cycles, goal-setting processes, and employee development programs.
• Manage employee onboarding, offboarding, and orientation processes.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Serve as a trusted resource for employees and managers regarding workplace policies and employee matters.
• Support compensation administration, salary benchmarking, and promotion processes.
• Partner with recruiting to support workforce planning and organizational growth initiatives.
• Manage leave administration, accommodations, and other employee programs.
• Maintain HR systems, employee records, and reporting infrastructure.
• Develop and track key people metrics and workforce analytics.
• Support organizational planning and headcount forecasting activities.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, consistency, and scalability across HR processes.
• Help preserve and strengthen Valar's culture during periods of rapid growth.

Skills

HR experience

California employment law

Employee relations

Performance management

HR operations

Policy development

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Confidentiality

Education

Bachelor's degree

SHRM-CP/SCP or PHR/SPHR

Tools

HRIS

Workforce analytics

Job description

Valar Atomics, an energy company building scalable nuclear solutions, seeks a Director of People Operations to design and scale core HR systems, policies, and processes. You’ll work with leadership to support rapid growth, drive compliance, and shape a high‑performance culture on-site in California.

This role focuses on building structure from the ground up, managing performance, compensation, workforce planning, and employee lifecycle programs while partnering with recruiting and leadership for