People Operations Manager

About Us At Saildrone, we sustainably explore, map, and monitor the oceans to understand, protect, and preserve our world. We provide real-time access to critical data from any ocean on earth, 24/7/365, and use proprietary software applications to transform that data into actionable insights and intelligence. Our fleet of uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs), powered by renewable wind and solar power, have a minimal carbon footprint and operate without the need for a crewed support vessel.

Saildrone works with governments, civil agencies, foundations, universities, and private companies around the globe to drive better information about our oceans and seas—from sailing into the eye of a category 4 hurricane to obtain new data about how storms intensify, collecting new CO2 data in hard-to-reach areas, and counting fish biomass to inform sustainable fishery management, to mapping the ocean floor and reducing illegal fishing and drug trafficking. As a result of our work, we have been included on TIME’s List of the 100 Most Influential Companies in 2024, Fast Company’s list of the “World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2022,” and earned the Ocean Awards’ Innovation Award, presented by the Blue Marine Foundation. Saildrone’s hurricane mission was included as one of The New York Times’ “Top 21 Things that happened (for the first time) in 2021” and Popular Science’s “100 Greatest Innovations of 2021,” and entered into the Guinness Book of World Records for recording the “highest windspeed recorded by a USV.”

We are based in Alameda, CA, with offices in Washington DC and St. Petersburg, FL, and operate our missions worldwide. Saildrone is backed by top-tier investors in the frontier tech and sustainability sectors, including Social Capital, Capricorn, Lux Capital, BOND Capital, and Emerson Collective.

This is an exciting opportunity with a fast-growing team at the cutting-edge intersection of big data services and autonomous hardware. You will be an integral part of a high-performing multi-disciplinary team that delivers high impact for humanity and future generations.

The Role

We are seeking a highly motivated and strategic People Operations Manager to join our team. In this role, you will play a pivotal part in the Company’s employee experience, fostering a positive workplace culture, and driving talent development and retention initiatives within our organization. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical, compliance, employee relations and people management skills.

Responsibilities

• Continue to create and drive processes, policies, and workflows that are compliant, efficient, and scalable.
• Ensure People Operations audit and control processes are developed and followed in compliance with, SOX, Federal and State laws as well as internal guidelines.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to align people operations with business objectives. Drive strategic People Operations initiatives such as employee relations, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), employee engagement, and partner with senior leaders in the company for workforce planning.
• Spearhead People Operations analytics. Use data and metrics to measure the effectiveness of our programs, identify trends, and recommend improvements. Regularly report on key metrics to leadership.
• Assess areas of opportunity, determine approach, compile and analyze data and prepare reports/recommendations to define people operations strategies related to people systems and processes.
• Partner with the People Operations Generalist to maintain systems standards and processes related to onboarding, change management, and partner on offboarding and associated metrics.
• Partner with the Learning and Development Manager on the performance review process, providing guidance Companywide to drive a culture of feedback, development, and accountability.

Required Skills And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field (Master’s degree preferred); or equivalent work experience.
• 5-7 years of People Operations experience, including 2+ years in a management role.
• Demonstrated experience using ADP Workforce Now or a similar HRIS.
• Strong knowledge of employment laws and regulations.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects in a dynamic environment.
• High level of confidentiality and professionalism.
• Proven track record of effective team management and leadership.
• Proficient in MS Office, specifically MS Excel (Pivot Tables & VLOOKUP), and GSuite.
• Comfortable with fast-paced environments, able to juggle multiple projects and competing priorities in an effective manner.
• SHRM Certified preferred, and Startup experience preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to be onsite daily. Work is performed on a computer and requires ability to operate a keyboard and other peripheral devices.

Location: This position is in Alameda, CA. Our waterfront office offers beautiful views of San Francisco Bay in always sunny Alameda. Even our walls have good karma, our offices mix software development with a hardware production line in the former airplane hangar used to film ‘The Matrix’.

Benefits:

• Medical, dental and vision plans for you and your dependents.
• Short and relaxing ferry ride from the Ferry Building for SF residents
• Enhanced Parental Leave Programs
• Competitive benefits including excellent medical, life insurance, 401k plan

A reasonable estimate of the current range is $115,000-$149,700 annually.

Catch up on the latest news about us:

The Tiny Craft Mapping Superstorms at Sea – The New York Times

TIME 100 Most Influential Companies 2024: Saildrone

An Underwater Mountain was Newly Discovered off California Coast – San Francisco Chronicle

Hacking the Anthropocene with Survivalist Robots [VIDEO] – Freethink

An Unprecedented View Inside a Hurricane – EOS

Saildrone’s First Aluminum Surveyor Autonomous Vessel Splashes Down for Navy Testing – TechCrunch

USVs Could Deter IUU Fishing – USNI Proceedings

Saildrone Vehicles Track Whales around Offshore Wind Power – Workboat

Mullen, Former Joint Chiefs Chairman, to Lead Board for Unmanned Tech Firm Saildrone – Breaking Defense

The Navy Is Using Robot Ships to Deter Human Smuggling out of Haiti – Defense One

Saildrone’s Quiet Voyage: Autonomous Vehicle Aids Great Lakes Fish Stock Study – Up North Live

Saildrone Featured Videos Playlist

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

At Saildrone, we value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that welcomes people from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We believe that a diverse and inclusive team leads to innovation and better problem-solving. We encourage applications from candidates of all genders, ethnicities, races, sexual orientations, disabilities, and backgrounds.

Individual compensation packages are based on geographic location, scope of the role, relevant experience, and the ability to deal with complexity and problem solve within our organization, among other factors.

All employees are required to provide proof of authorization to work in the U.S. within their first 3 days of work. Please note that the Company does not sponsor employees for work visas or permanent resident cards to work in the U.S. If you need sponsorship for a work visa or green card, you will not be qualified for employment with Saildrone.

Any unsolicited resumes/candidate profiles submitted through our website or to personal email accounts of employees of Saildrone are considered property of Saildrone and are not subject to payment of agency fees.