Director of People Operations

About Bedrock Our mission is to accelerate the exploration of Earth’s final frontier—the ocean—by pioneering autonomous technologies and unlocking transparent, actionable intelligence. We believe that understanding the ocean is essential to thriving on this planet and beyond. The ocean is not just a vast body of water—it is the foundation of our climate, our resources, our communications, and our energy. As critical infrastructure increasingly moves beneath the waves, our ability to explore, map, and safeguard the ocean’s bedrock becomes vital. We’re not just connecting the world by sea—we’re revealing the deep, unseen structure that connects all life. To secure our future, we must first understand the ground beneath us, the foundation of our civilization. The Role Bedrock Ocean Exploration is hiring a Director of People Operations to lead our people strategy, build scalable HR infrastructure, and cultivate an exceptional employee experience across our growing, distributed workforce. This is a high-impact, hands-on leadership role that blends strategic vision with operational excellence. You will partner directly with the executive team to define organizational structure, performance frameworks, and company culture—ensuring that our people systems enable Bedrock’s mission to accelerate ocean exploration through advanced robotics and technology. Our workforce spans multiple U.S. states, with headquarters and hardware operations based in Richmond, CA. The ideal candidate will bring expertise in managing hybrid and distributed teams, strong fluency in California and multi-state employment law, and a track record of developing high-performing, mission-driven organizations. What You’ll Do Strategic People Leadership Partner with the executive team to develop and execute a long-term HR strategy aligned with Bedrock’s mission, business objectives, and cultural values. Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership on organizational design, workforce planning, and talent strategy. Drive initiatives that strengthen employee engagement, accountability, and inclusion across remote and in-office teams. Establish scalable people processes that support company growth while maintaining agility and a strong cultural foundation. Organizational Development & Performance Develop and maintain career frameworks, leveling systems, and performance management programs that align with a high-accountability, innovation-driven culture. Lead initiatives in leadership development, manager enablement, and team effectiveness. Guide and facilitate organizational planning, including headcount forecasting, team restructuring, and succession planning. Foster a culture of continuous feedback and growth through structured development and performance practices. HR Operations, Compliance & Risk Management Oversee all HR operations, including onboarding/offboarding, payroll, benefits administration, and employee lifecycle management. Ensure compliance with federal, California, and multi-state employment regulations, updating policies and handbooks as needed. Manage employee relations with professionalism and discretion—addressing sensitive matters, conducting investigations, and advising on resolution paths. Partner with external HR and legal advisors to manage complex compliance and risk mitigation scenarios. Develop and maintain HR programs and policies that effectively support front-line maritime personnel, robotics manufacturing, and field operations teams—ensuring compliance, safety, and engagement in high-travel, offshore, and ship-based environments. Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning Collaborate with hiring managers and recruiting partners to design and execute scalable, inclusive hiring practices. Support workforce planning efforts, aligning hiring priorities with strategic goals and operational needs. Drive a consistent, high-quality onboarding experience for both remote and onsite employees. Monitor and analyze people metrics (retention, engagement, turnover, etc.) to inform business and talent decisions. About You Experience & Expertise 8–12+ years of progressive HR experience, including 3+ years in a senior or director-level leadership role. Proven experience building or scaling the HR function at a growing organization, ideally within technology, robotics, or field operations environments. Strong understanding of hybrid and distributed team dynamics, with demonstrated success driving engagement and collaboration across multiple locations. Deep expertise in U.S. employment law, including California and multi-state compliance. Skilled at balancing strategic initiatives with hands-on execution in a fast-paced, evolving environment. Trusted business partner with exceptional judgment, integrity, and discretion in handling confidential matters. Strong operational acumen and a process-driven mindset, with the ability to implement structure without sacrificing agility. Empathetic leader who prioritizes transparency, trust, and employee well-being. Bonus Experience Experience in hardware, robotics, or industrial technology environments. Direct experience supporting or managing front-line maritime, field operations, or ship-based workforces, especially in contexts with high international travel or offshore deployments. Background working with PEO systems (e.g., Rippling) or implementing HRIS solutions from the ground up. Experience managing a mixed workforce (hourly, salaried, technical, and field operations). Passion for sustainability, innovation, and Bedrock’s mission to accelerate ocean exploration. Explore the last true frontier left on Earth with us We are seeking mission oriented, purpose driven teammates who are willing to push boundaries to learn and execute when things seem impossible. The ocean is the ultimate level playing field, anyone can go, but not many can build successful systems that can survive and thrive in earth’s last frontier. We get to illuminate the darkness, explore the unknown, and be first to see what we can discover. We can see everything on earth, except in the depths of the sea. Bedrock is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Bedrock determines employment on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other protected status covered by either the law or common sense. If you need any reasonable accommodations in the process, please let us know how we can support you. #J-18808-Ljbffr