People Operations Manager at Xona Space Systems

Burlingame, California, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

29 May, 26

Salary

160000.0

Posted On

28 Feb, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

HR Operations, Compliance, Onboarding, Offboarding, Policy Administration, Labor Laws, ITAR Compliance, Employee Relations, Performance Management, Compensation Frameworks, Leveling Frameworks, Workforce Planning, Payroll, Benefits Administration, HRIS Management, Conflict Resolution

Industry

Space Research and Technology

Description

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth. With Pulsar – the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection. We are seeking a People Operations Manager to own and scale our HR infrastructure as the company enters its next phase of growth. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys building systems from the ground up, balancing compliance with culture, and partnering closely with leadership to support a rapidly growing, multi-office organization. You will lead day-to-day HR operations across the U.S., Canada, and the UK, collaborating cross-functionally with Finance, Legal, and Recruiting to create a compliant, consistent, and employee-centered experience while serving as a thoughtful steward of our company values. What you'll Do: HR Operations & Compliance Own and manage HR operations across the U.S., Canada and the UK, including onboarding, offboarding, employee records, and policy administration Maintain compliance with federal, state/provincial, and local labor laws Support ITAR-related employment compliance and documentation requirements Manage internal investigations, employee relations issues, and documentation and escalate with internal and external counsel as needed. Performance & Talent Infrastructure Optimize performance management frameworks, review cycles, and feedback processes Help develop compensation bands, leveling frameworks, and job architecture in partnership with leadership Support succession planning and manager capability development Partner with Recruiting on workforce planning and offer consistency (not primary recruiter) Payroll, Benefits & Vendors Own relationships with payroll, benefits, and HRIS vendors Ensure payroll accuracy and timely processing across jurisdictions Evaluate and recommend benefits programs and improvements Maintain data integrity across HR systems Manager & Employee Support Coach managers on performance conversations, terminations, and employee development Serve as a trusted advisor on employee relations matters Support conflict resolution and mediation as needed Contribute to culture and engagement initiatives in partnership with leadership Process & Policy Development Build and refine scalable HR processes to support rapid growth while sustaining high retention Help maintain employee handbooks, policies, and SOPs Required Qualifications 5–10 years of progressive HR / People Operations experience Demonstrated experience supporting performance management and compensation framework design and implementation Strong working knowledge of U.S. employment law Experience managing payroll and benefits vendors Comfort handling investigations, terminations, and sensitive employee matters Excellent written documentation and communication skills Desired Qualifications Experience in regulated or compliance-heavy industries (defense, aerospace, biotech, fintech, government contracting, etc.) Familiarity with ITAR or similar export-control environments HR certification (PHR, SPHR, SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP) is a plus but not required Experience implementing or optimizing HRIS systems For U.S. Roles: To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). For U.K. Roles: To comply with U.K. regulations, this role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and successful candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC). For Canada Roles: Successful candidates must obtain and hold a security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Responsibilities

The People Operations Manager will own and manage HR operations across the US, Canada, and the UK, focusing on compliance, employee records, and policy administration while supporting ITAR-related employment compliance. This role also involves optimizing performance management, developing compensation frameworks, and managing vendor relationships for payroll and benefits.