People Manager (Human Resources)
About the role
About Varda
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. Varda’s W-Series vehicles are built, designed, and operated by Varda in-house, including the pharmaceutical processing payloads, the capsules, the C-PICA heat shields, and the satellite buses.
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 People Director, the People Manager will build and scale the People infrastructure that powers Varda’s mission and rapid growth. This role owns the systems, processes, and programs that create clarity, accountability, and operational excellence across the company —while serving as a strategic People partner to assigned business units.
This role is deeply hands-on and execution-focused. You will personally run core People processes end-to-end, fix operational gaps, build workflows from scratch, and ensure day-to-day People operations run smoothly in a fast-scaling aerospace environment. This is not a strategy-only role — it requires a builder mentality, operational rigor, and a willingness to roll up your sleeves daily.
You’ll partner closely with People leadership, Finance, Legal, Payroll, Recruiting, and business leaders across Varda.
Responsibilities
Strategic Business Partnership
- Serve as the primary People Business Partner for assigned business units.
- Build trusted relationships with leaders to understand priorities and translate them into People strategies.
- Partner on organizational design, workforce planning, team effectiveness, and organizational change.
- Coach managers on leadership effectiveness, performance, development, and building high-performing teams.
- Provide practical guidance on talent decisions, promotions, organizational changes, and manager effectiveness.
- Balance strategic partnership with hands-on execution, ensuring People strategies translate into operational results.
- Anticipate organizational needs and proactively develop People solutions that support business growth.
Talent & Organizational Effectiveness
- Lead annual talent processes: performance reviews, calibration, promotions, succession planning, and development planning.
- Support leaders in identifying, developing, and retaining top talent.
- Build leadership capability through coaching, feedback, and manager development.
- Drive consistency and accountability across People programs and leadership practices.
Compensation, Equity & People Programs
- Support managers with compensation recommendations aligned with Varda’s philosophy and market practices.
- Partner on equity program administration and communication.
- Lead rollout and adoption of company-wide People initiatives (performance management, leadership development, engagement, recognition, talent programs).
- Develop manager communications, training, and resources to ensure successful program implementation.
- Gather feedback and continuously improve People programs based on business needs.
People Operations & Operational Excellence
- Execute core People processes directly — onboarding, offboarding, transfers, promotions, and employee changes — ensuring accuracy and speed.
- Own day-to-day People operations and resolve issues quickly with a bias toward action.
- Build, document, and continuously improve workflows, SOPs, and People systems.
- Identify operational gaps and personally drive fixes, improvements, and process simplification.
- Manage high-volume operational tasks with precision and urgency.
- Partner with Payroll, Recruiting, Finance, and Legal to ensure seamless execution of People processes across the employee lifecycle.
- Maintain accurate employee data and support workforce reporting, metrics, and organizational insights.
- Conduct periodic audits of People processes and data to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance.
- Ensure People programs comply with federal, state, and local employment laws while simplifying and scaling operational processes.
Basic Qualifications
- 8+ years of progressive HR experience, including HRBP and/or People Operations roles.
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field, or relevant work experience.
- Startup experience required (or experience building new groups within a larger company).
- Demonstrated ability to operate as a hands-on People operator in a fast-paced environment.
- Comfortable managing both high-level strategy and day-to-day execution without relying on large teams or administrative support.
- Proven track record of building processes, fixing broken systems, and driving operational outcomes directly.
- Experience partnering directly with senior leaders on organizational strategy, talent management, and change management.
- Solid experience supporting compensation planning, promotions, and organizational design.
- Experience implementing and scaling People programs in a growing organization.
- Ability to use People data and metrics to support workforce planning and influence decisions.
- High knowledge of HRIS systems, compensation practices, and equity administration.
- Excellent understanding of California employment law and HR compliance.
- High business acumen with the ability to balance strategic thinking and hands-on execution.
Preferred Skills and Experience
- HR certifications (ie SHRM)
- Experience in high-growth technology, aerospace, or pharmaceutical/life sciences environments.
- Experience managing, coaching, and mentoring direct reports.
What Success Looks Like
- People systems and operational processes are scalable, accurate, and efficient.
- Leaders feel supported, challenged, and empowered by an exceptional People partner.
- Performance management processes are consistent, clear, and actionable.
- Reporting and workforce data drive better business decisions.
- Processes become simpler, faster, and more effective as the company scales.
Pay Range
- Salary range: $140,000 - $170,000/per year
- This role is on-site in El Segundo, CA
- Leveling and base salary is determined by 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
Benefits
Varda offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support health, financial well‑being, and a high‑quality workplace experience. Below is an overview of what full‑time employees receive (at this time, interns receive a subset of benefits):
Health & Wellness
- Flexible PTO policy + 12 paid holidays
- 100% company-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans for employees and dependents with FSA and employer-matched HSA options
- Voluntary accident, hospital, critical illness, and pet insurance
- $120/month wellness reimbursement for gym and fitness expenses
- 12 weeks of parental leave (with supplemental disability leave for CA mothers)
- Family building, pregnancy, parenting and menopause benefits via Maven Clinic
- Sponsored One Medical memberships for employees and their dependents
Financial & Retirement
- Substantial incentive equity in a fully funded space start-up
- 401(k) retirement plan with 6% employer match (immediately vested)
- $20/pay period cell phone reimbursement
- Relocation support for new hires, if needed
Workplace Experience & Perks
- Fully stocked kitchen with lunch provided daily and dinner provided twice weekly
- Company and team-bonding events, happy hours and mission-success celebrations
- Complimentary EV charging
ITAR Requirements
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. Because our employees are provided access to export-controlled items, our 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).
E-Verify Statement
Varda Space Industries, Inc. participates in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security E-Verify program. The E-Verify program is an Internet-based employment eligibility verification system operated by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Learn more about the E-Verify program.
E-Verify Notice Right To Work Notice
Varda Space Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Candidates and employees are always evaluated based on merit, qualifications, and performance. We will never discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national origin, ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, martial status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.