Head of Human Resources

About the position

Umbra builds next-generation space systems that observe the Earth in unprecedented fidelity. Our mission: Deliver global omniscience. To stay ahead of climate change, geopolitical risk, and other major crises and issues, we need a global understanding of what is changing, where, and how fast. Umbra provides easy access to the highest quality commercial satellite data available, which is an indispensable tool for the growing number of organizations monitoring the Earth. We empower our customers to create the solutions that inform, inspire, and address our planet’s most pressing needs. We’re helping to create a brand-new industry that has never meaningfully existed before. The Head of Human Resources will be responsible for providing strategic vision and leadership in all aspects of human resources and people operations. The position will develop and execute people strategies that enhance our employee experience, foster innovation, and ensure organizational effectiveness within a dynamic, agile company. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Human Resources Leader will be a critical part of our leadership team. Our aim is to hire this position to work onsite in our Arlington, VA office. However, we are open to considering applicants for our Santa Barbara, CA office.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive people strategy aligned with the company's vision, core values, and business objectives to enable sustainable growth.
• Collaborate with the leadership team to understand business priorities and advise on people-related strategies, policies, and practices that align with our organizational values, mission, and strategic objectives.
• Leverage data and analytics to inform decision-making processes, identify trends, and measure the effectiveness of HR initiatives.
• Continuously evaluate and optimize HR programs and processes to enhance organizational effectiveness and agility.
• Astutely manage risk and ensure compliance in all human resources and personnel matters.
• Build and nurture a strong, values-driven company culture that promotes excellence, professionalism, innovation, and collaboration.
• Implement strategies to promote employee engagement, empowerment, and a sense of belonging and support within the organization.
• Develop and implement progressive talent management programs to attract, retain, and grow top performers.
• Foster an agile mindset and create frameworks that enable cross-functional collaboration, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
• Establish and oversee comprehensive learning and development programs to upskill and reskill employees, fostering continuous learning and growth.
• Utilize data-driven insights to identify and assess talent needs and requirements within the organization and propose forward-thinking HR solutions to address them.
• Develop and implement training programs to address skill-based and role-based professional learning needs.
• Promote a culture of innovation by encouraging employees to explore new ideas, take calculated risks, and embrace an agile mindset.
• Design and oversee employee development and retention programs, including competitive compensation and benefits packages, employee engagement initiatives, and professional development opportunities.
• Develop and implement effective talent acquisition strategies to attract top talent aligned with the company's culture and values.
• Oversee employee relations matters, including conflict resolution, grievance handling, and disciplinary actions.
• Manage competitive compensation and benefits programs to attract and retain top talent.
• Analyze industry trends and benchmarks to maintain a competitive compensation structure.
• Ensure compliance with labor laws, equal employment opportunity (EEO) regulations, government contracting regulations, and other relevant employment legislation.
• Other professional duties as assigned.

Requirements

• 15+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, preferably in a high-growth technology or aerospace engineering company.
• Proven track record in strategy development and execution of innovative and successful HR programs, particularly manager enablement, performance, and risk management.
• Expertise in talent management, organizational design, change management initiatives, and workforce planning.
• Expert knowledge of legal aspects of HR, with the ability to apply first principles thinking to HR-related legal and compliance matters.
• Strong people and results orientation.
• Demonstrated competence to build and effectively manage interpersonal relationships at all levels of the company through exceptional communication, influence, and relationship building.
• Data-driven mindset, with experience leveraging HR analytics and metrics.
• In-depth knowledge of HR systems and databases, including payroll and benefits administration and performance management systems.
• Proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams.
• Familiarity with Agile planning frameworks and methodologies.

Nice-to-haves

• 20+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, preferably in a high-growth technology or aerospace engineering company.
• Further training/certifications a plus (e.g., SHRM-SCP, SPHR, etc).
• A legal and compliance background are strongly preferred.
• Experience with Agile planning frameworks and methodologies.
• In-depth knowledge of BambooHR and Lattice.

Benefits

• Flexible Time Off, Sick, Family & Medical Leave
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, LTD, STD (employer funded)
• Vol Life, Critical Illness, Accidental, Hospital Indemnity, Pet Insurance (employee funded)
• 401k with 3% non-elective company contribution
• Stock Options
• Free Parking
• Free Lunch Daily