Head Of People Operations Jobs in California
Head Of People Operations jobs in California are in strong demand, concentrated in technology, entertainment, healthcare, and venture-backed startups, with openings at every level from first-time people ops managers to senior executives overseeing enterprise-wide workforce strategy. The largest hiring markets are San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where companies like Google, Apple, and Kaiser Permanente maintain significant California footprints. The most sought-after specialties include organizational design, HR technology implementation, and employee experience. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 16+ Head Of People Operations jobs
Head of Human Resources
Location: Santa Clara, CA (On-Site, 5 days a week)
Reports To: CFO
Picarro is seeking a strategic as well as operationally minded, business-driven Head of Human Resources to lead and scale our global People function. This leader will serve as a trusted advisor to the CFO and executive leadership team, driving organizational effectiveness, workforce planning, culture, compliance, and talent strategy across multiple geographies.
This role is ideal for a hands-on HR leader who can operate both strategically and operationally in a growing, innovation-driven organization. The Head of HR will shape a high-performance culture while ensuring operational excellence, global compliance, and alignment with corporate financial and strategic goals.
This position is based on-site, 5 days a week at our Santa Clara headquarters.
Key Responsibilities
- Partner with the CFO and executive leadership to align People strategy with company growth objectives and financial targets.
- Serve as a strategic advisor on workforce planning, organizational design, succession planning, and talent forecasting.
- Support Board-level reporting on headcount, talent metrics, and workforce strategy.
- Oversee global HR operations across multiple jurisdictions, ensuring compliance with U.S. federal/state laws and international employment regulations.
- Ensure compliance with wage and hour laws, benefits regulations (ACA, COBRA), leave policies, immigration requirements, and global employment standards.
- Lead and manage the HR Ops and Talent Acquisition teams, ensuring strong hiring manager partnership, recruiter accountability, and high-quality candidate experience.
- Oversee and drive performance review frameworks, calibration processes, and leadership development initiatives.
- Manage salary benchmarking, equity refresh programs, incentive compensation plans, and bonus administration.
- Led global compensation strategy and ensured compliance with pay transparency laws and global compensation regulations.
- Drive competitive and equitable pay practices aligned with business performance.
- Evaluate the current HRIS system, including system capabilities, integrations, workflows, and data integrity across platforms.
- Develop and implement an HR technology roadmap focused on automation, integration optimization, and process simplification to eliminate manual processes and reduce operational risk.
- Partner with IT and Finance to improve system integrations, data flow accuracy, and compliance reporting.
- Develop dashboards and reporting metrics for executive leadership.
- Ensure scalable, efficient HR policies and processes, including building a strong HR team.
Required Skills & Competencies
- Executive presence with strong business acumen.
- Proven ability to influence senior leadership and drive organizational change.
- Strong analytical mindset with data-driven decision-making skills.
- Expertise in multi-state and international employment law.
- Exceptional communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
- High integrity, discretion, and sound judgment.
- Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on execution.
Education & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field required.
- Master's degree (MBA or related discipline) preferred.
- 10+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, including global oversight.
- Experience in a technology, manufacturing, or high-growth environment preferred.
- SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or equivalent certification strongly preferred
Salary & Benefits:
The base salary range for this full-time position is $230,000 to $260,000. Your base salary and title will be determined based on the location, experience, qualifications, skills, knowledge, level, and pay of employees in similar positions.
We offer a comprehensive benefits package including:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) plans
- Life, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Flexible Vacation and Paid Holidays
- Employee Referral Program
- 401K with employer match
- Social events (summer picnic, holiday party, team lunches, etc.)
- On-site Health & Wellness programs (fitness challenges, yoga, outdoor bootcamp, char massages, etc.)
About Picarro:
Picarro, Inc. is the world's leading producer of greenhouse gas and optical stable isotope instruments used in a wide range of scientific and industrial applications, including atmospheric science, air quality, greenhouse gas measurements, gas leak detection, food safety, hydrology, ecology, and more. The company's products are all designed and manufactured at Picarro's Santa Clara, California headquarters and exported to countries worldwide. Picarro's products are based on dozens of patents related to cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) technology. Picarro's solutions are unparalleled in their precision, ease of use, portability, and reliability.
Honors awarded to the Company include the World Economic Forum Technology Innovation Pioneer, IHS CERA Energy Innovation Pioneer, the U.S. Department of Energy Small Business of the Year, the TiE50 Winner, and the Red Herring Global 100 Winner.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability. Posted positions are not open to third-party recruiters/agencies, and unsolicited resume submissions will be considered free referrals.
If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability or unable to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact Picarro, Inc. at disabilityassistance@picarro.com for assistance.
Head of Human Resources
Location: Santa Clara, CA (On-Site, 5 days a week)
Reports To: CFO
Picarro is seeking a strategic as well as operationally minded, business-driven Head of Human Resources to lead and scale our global People function. This leader will serve as a trusted advisor to the CFO and executive leadership team, driving organizational effectiveness, workforce planning, culture, compliance, and talent strategy across multiple geographies.
This role is ideal for a hands-on HR leader who can operate both strategically and operationally in a growing, innovation-driven organization. The Head of HR will shape a high-performance culture while ensuring operational excellence, global compliance, and alignment with corporate financial and strategic goals.
This position is based on-site, 5 days a week at our Santa Clara headquarters.
Key Responsibilities
- Partner with the CFO and executive leadership to align People strategy with company growth objectives and financial targets.
- Serve as a strategic advisor on workforce planning, organizational design, succession planning, and talent forecasting.
- Support Board-level reporting on headcount, talent metrics, and workforce strategy.
- Oversee global HR operations across multiple jurisdictions, ensuring compliance with U.S. federal/state laws and international employment regulations.
- Ensure compliance with wage and hour laws, benefits regulations (ACA, COBRA), leave policies, immigration requirements, and global employment standards.
- Lead and manage the HR Ops and Talent Acquisition teams, ensuring strong hiring manager partnership, recruiter accountability, and high-quality candidate experience.
- Oversee and drive performance review frameworks, calibration processes, and leadership development initiatives.
- Manage salary benchmarking, equity refresh programs, incentive compensation plans, and bonus administration.
- Led global compensation strategy and ensured compliance with pay transparency laws and global compensation regulations.
- Drive competitive and equitable pay practices aligned with business performance.
- Evaluate the current HRIS system, including system capabilities, integrations, workflows, and data integrity across platforms.
- Develop and implement an HR technology roadmap focused on automation, integration optimization, and process simplification to eliminate manual processes and reduce operational risk.
- Partner with IT and Finance to improve system integrations, data flow accuracy, and compliance reporting.
- Develop dashboards and reporting metrics for executive leadership.
- Ensure scalable, efficient HR policies and processes, including building a strong HR team.
Required Skills & Competencies
- Executive presence with strong business acumen.
- Proven ability to influence senior leadership and drive organizational change.
- Strong analytical mindset with data-driven decision-making skills.
- Expertise in multi-state and international employment law.
- Exceptional communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
- High integrity, discretion, and sound judgment.
- Ability to balance strategic planning with hands-on execution.
Education & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field required.
- Master's degree (MBA or related discipline) preferred.
- 10+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, including global oversight.
- Experience in a technology, manufacturing, or high-growth environment preferred.
- SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or equivalent certification strongly preferred
Salary & Benefits:
The base salary range for this full-time position is $230,000 to $260,000. Your base salary and title will be determined based on the location, experience, qualifications, skills, knowledge, level, and pay of employees in similar positions.
We offer a comprehensive benefits package including:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) plans
- Life, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability Insurance
- Flexible Vacation and Paid Holidays
- Employee Referral Program
- 401K with employer match
- Social events (summer picnic, holiday party, team lunches, etc.)
- On-site Health & Wellness programs (fitness challenges, yoga, outdoor bootcamp, char massages, etc.)
About Picarro:
Picarro, Inc. is the world's leading producer of greenhouse gas and optical stable isotope instruments used in a wide range of scientific and industrial applications, including atmospheric science, air quality, greenhouse gas measurements, gas leak detection, food safety, hydrology, ecology, and more. The company's products are all designed and manufactured at Picarro's Santa Clara, California headquarters and exported to countries worldwide. Picarro's products are based on dozens of patents related to cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) technology. Picarro's solutions are unparalleled in their precision, ease of use, portability, and reliability.
Honors awarded to the Company include the World Economic Forum Technology Innovation Pioneer, IHS CERA Energy Innovation Pioneer, the U.S. Department of Energy Small Business of the Year, the TiE50 Winner, and the Red Herring Global 100 Winner.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability. Posted positions are not open to third-party recruiters/agencies, and unsolicited resume submissions will be considered free referrals.
If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process or are limited in the ability or unable to access or use this online application process and need an alternative method for applying, you may contact Picarro, Inc. at disabilityassistance@picarro.com for assistance.
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Find JobsHead Of People Operations Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Head Of People Operations Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Consulting & Professional Services
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in head of people operations jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or a related field
- Seven or more years of progressive HR or people operations experience
- Demonstrated experience leading HR teams and managing full-cycle people programs
- Deep knowledge of California employment law, including CFRA, FEHA, and AB5
- Proficiency with HRIS platforms such as Workday, BambooHR, or Rippling
- Experience partnering with executive leadership on workforce planning and organizational design
Head Of People Operations Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a head of people operations in California?
Most heads of people operations in California reach the role by building a decade or more of progressive HR experience, often starting in generalist or business partner roles and moving into director-level positions before stepping into a top people ops seat. A bachelor's degree in human resources or business is the standard baseline, and many California employers favor candidates who hold the SHRM-SCP or SPHR designation. Fluency in California-specific employment law, including CFRA, FEHA, and wage-and-hour compliance, is a practical requirement that separates qualified candidates from the field.
How much do head of people operationses make in California?
Head of people operationses in California earn a median of about $170,080 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $96,430 for the lowest 10% to over $307,600 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire head of people operationss in California?
Employers hiring head of people operationss in California right now include Respiris, vapi, and MAERSK, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. California's concentration of technology companies, healthcare systems, and growth-stage startups means demand is especially consistent for candidates who understand both scaling culture and the state's complex employment compliance requirements.
Which California cities have the most head of people operations jobs?
San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Palo Alto lead California for head of people operations openings. San Francisco's density of technology and venture-backed companies drives the largest share of postings, Los Angeles generates strong demand across entertainment, media, and healthcare, and San Diego's life sciences and biotech sector creates a steady pipeline of senior people ops roles tied to rapidly scaling organizations.
Are there remote head of people operations jobs in California?
Yes, and more than many senior leadership roles, given that much of the strategic and analytical work in people operations translates well to distributed environments. About 50% of head of people operations openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, reflecting how broadly California technology and professional services companies have embraced flexible work. The functions most commonly offered remotely include HR technology oversight, workforce planning, and people analytics, while roles that require frequent onsite presence tend to focus on culture, employee relations, or multi-site operations.
How can I get hired as a head of people operations in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is to join a California employer in an HR coordinator or people operations associate role and build toward the title over several years. Large California technology companies and health systems often run structured HR development programs that rotate early-career professionals across recruiting, compensation, and HR business partner functions. Earning the SHRM-CP credential demonstrates seriousness to California hiring managers before your experience fully speaks for itself. Lateral moves from talent acquisition, total rewards, or HR business partnering at mid-size Bay Area or Los Angeles companies are among the most common ways candidates transition into broader people ops ownership.
Where can I find and apply to head of people operations jobs in California?
You can find and apply to head of people operations jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated on an ongoing basis. Find roles that fit your background and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 16 Head Of People Operations Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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