Director of People Operations

Overview

Talon Defense is seeking an experienced Director of Human Resources to build, lead, and scale our people operations during a period of rapid organic growth and strategic acquisitions. This individual will serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership while developing the HR infrastructure, policies, talent strategies, and employee experience that enable a high-performance organization supporting the national security mission. The ideal candidate thrives in fast-paced environments, enjoys building processes from the ground up, and understands the unique demands of government contracting and technology organizations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of Human Resources including recruiting, onboarding, employee relations, performance management, benefits, compliance, and offboarding
• Develop and implement HR policies, procedures, and employee programs that support company growth and culture
• Partner with executive leadership on organizational planning, workforce strategy, and talent development
• Support mergers and acquisitions by leading employee integration, communications, and organizational transitions
• Oversee full-cycle recruiting and talent acquisition efforts across technical, operational, and corporate positions
• Manage employee benefits programs and serve as the primary liaison with benefit providers and brokers
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws as well as government contractor requirements
• Administer performance review processes, employee engagement initiatives, and leadership development programs
• Maintain HRIS data integrity and optimize HR systems including Gusto and other HR technology platforms
• Support compensation planning, salary benchmarking, bonus administration, and workforce planning
• Partner with Finance and Operations to support headcount planning, labor reporting, and organizational forecasting
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field
• 10+ years of progressive Human Resources experience with at least 5 years in an HR leadership role
• Experience supporting rapidly growing organizations
• Strong knowledge of employment law, HR best practices, and regulatory compliance
• Experience administering HRIS and payroll systems such as Gusto or similar platforms
• Demonstrated ability to build HR processes and programs from the ground up
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and executive-level influencing skills
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Ability to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality with sensitive information

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting government contractors or companies operating in the defense or national security sectors
• Familiarity with FAR, DFARS, Service Contract Act (SCA), and related GovCon workforce requirements
• Professional HR certification (SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR)
• Experience supporting mergers, acquisitions, and organizational integration efforts
• Experience with compensation planning and executive-level workforce reporting
• Knowledge of security clearance processes and cleared workforce administration
• Experience supporting organizations operating in hybrid and remote work environments