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 19+ Head Of People Operations jobs
Company Overview
At Veo, our mission is to end car dependency by making clean transportation accessible to all. A leading shared micromobility provider in North America, Veo provides millions of bike and scooter rides annually in over 60 cities and universities from Los Angeles to New York City.
Veo offers the most diverse and accessible vehicle fleet in the country built to expand who can ride and what trips are possible. We design and manufacture our vehicles, hardware, and software systems in-house and operate our local markets directly to ensure safe and reliable service. As the first profitable micromobility company in North America, Veo is built for long-term growth and partnership with cities.
Veo has been recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies and a Top GreenTech Company by TIME. As we continue to scale, we are looking for exceptionally talented individuals who are excited to help shape the next era of micromobility.
Job Summary
As Veo's Head of People, you will lead our people and talent strategy while serving as an active business leader on the Executive Leadership Team. You will partner closely with the Co-Founders, C-suite, and leaders throughout the company to build the teams, leadership capabilities, and organizational practices that drive ridership, operational performance, and sustainable growth. With your strong business acumen, experience leading People functions in growing organizations, and ability to translate business priorities into action, you will oversee People Operations and Talent Acquisition, strengthen employee engagement and retention, and build scalable systems that improve the employee experience. This role requires to be on-site in Veo's Santa Monica HQ 4 days a week (currently Monday - Thursday).
Responsibilities
Leadership and Business Strategy
- Serve as an active member of the Executive Leadership Team, contributing to company strategy, business decisions, and execution across functions.
- Partner with the C-suite and company leaders to identify how organizational structure, leadership effectiveness, talent, and workforce performance can drive ridership and improve business results.
- Develop and execute a comprehensive people strategy aligned with Veo's short-term and long-term goals, balancing growth, workforce capability, and cost discipline.
- Lead organizational planning and change management to support expansion, evolving business needs, and effective collaboration across corporate, field operations, and international teams.
Strategic Human Capital Advisory
- Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on organizational design, workforce planning, talent assessment, and complex people decisions.
- Coach executives and managers to set clear expectations, provide actionable feedback, address performance concerns, and build accountable teams.
- Lead performance management, career development, succession planning, and leadership development programs that strengthen management capabilities and prepare future leaders.
- Use workforce data and business insights to identify talent gaps, assess organizational effectiveness, and recommend measurable improvements.
People Operations and Employee Experience
- Lead People Operations across the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, employee relations, engagement, retention, and offboarding.
- Develop and implement employee engagement and retention strategies, translating employee feedback into clear actions and holding leaders accountable for follow-through.
- Oversee compensation, benefits, and total rewards strategy to attract and retain talent while maintaining internal equity, market competitiveness, and financial discipline.
- Build consistent policies, processes, and HR systems that support a distributed workforce; partner with Legal and relevant advisors to manage employment compliance and employee relations risks.
- Drive automation and responsible use of AI to streamline People processes, reduce administrative work, improve data quality, and deliver a more responsive employee experience.
Talent Acquisition
- Lead Talent Acquisition across corporate, technical, and field operations roles, aligning hiring priorities and recruiting capacity with business needs and workforce plans.
- Build effective sourcing, screening, and interview processes that improve candidate quality, hiring decisions, and speed of execution.
- Partner with hiring leaders to define role requirements, prepare interview panels, and maintain consistent hiring standards and accountability.
- Strengthen Veo's employer brand and candidate experience, and track recruiting performance through quality of hire, time to fill, hiring costs, and retention.
People Team Leadership and Performance
- Lead, develop, and mentor the People Operations and Talent Acquisition teams, establishing clear priorities, ownership, and service expectations.
- Manage People function budgets, vendors, and resources to deliver effective programs and scalable support.
- Develop and report key people metrics to the leadership team, connecting workforce trends and program outcomes to business performance.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; advanced degree or relevant HR certification preferred.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive HR and People leadership experience, including at least 5 years leading a People function or serving in a senior HR leadership role within a high-growth organization.
- Experience supporting a geographically distributed workforce that includes corporate, technical, and hourly field operations teams; international experience preferred.
- Proven ability to operate as a business leader, influence executive decisions, and connect people strategy to operational and financial results.
- Strong expertise in People Operations, Talent Acquisition, organizational design, performance management, leadership development, and total rewards.
- Sound judgment in employee relations, employment compliance, and sensitive personnel matters, with the ability to balance employee needs and business priorities.
- Excellent communication, coaching, and collaboration skills, with the ability to build trust and drive accountability at all levels.
- Strong analytical and project management skills, including experience using HR technology, automation, and data to improve decisions and execution.
- A hands-on leadership approach, resilience in ambiguity, and a strong bias for action and follow-through.
Compensation & Benefits:
- Total Cash Compensation: $220,000–$290,000 annually, including a base salary and annual performance bonus opportunity.
- Base Salary: $220,000–$270,000
- Annual Performance Bonus: Additional earning potential based on performance
- Equity: Stock options
- Unlimited PTO
- Competitive Benefits Package: Medical, Dental, Vision, Short-Term Disability, and more
- 401(k) with company match
- Opportunity to work in a fast-paced technology company
Company Overview
At Veo, our mission is to end car dependency by making clean transportation accessible to all. A leading shared micromobility provider in North America, Veo provides millions of bike and scooter rides annually in over 60 cities and universities from Los Angeles to New York City.
Veo offers the most diverse and accessible vehicle fleet in the country built to expand who can ride and what trips are possible. We design and manufacture our vehicles, hardware, and software systems in-house and operate our local markets directly to ensure safe and reliable service. As the first profitable micromobility company in North America, Veo is built for long-term growth and partnership with cities.
Veo has been recognized as one of Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies and a Top GreenTech Company by TIME. As we continue to scale, we are looking for exceptionally talented individuals who are excited to help shape the next era of micromobility.
Job Summary
As Veo's Head of People, you will lead our people and talent strategy while serving as an active business leader on the Executive Leadership Team. You will partner closely with the Co-Founders, C-suite, and leaders throughout the company to build the teams, leadership capabilities, and organizational practices that drive ridership, operational performance, and sustainable growth. With your strong business acumen, experience leading People functions in growing organizations, and ability to translate business priorities into action, you will oversee People Operations and Talent Acquisition, strengthen employee engagement and retention, and build scalable systems that improve the employee experience. This role requires to be on-site in Veo's Santa Monica HQ 4 days a week (currently Monday - Thursday).
Responsibilities
Leadership and Business Strategy
- Serve as an active member of the Executive Leadership Team, contributing to company strategy, business decisions, and execution across functions.
- Partner with the C-suite and company leaders to identify how organizational structure, leadership effectiveness, talent, and workforce performance can drive ridership and improve business results.
- Develop and execute a comprehensive people strategy aligned with Veo's short-term and long-term goals, balancing growth, workforce capability, and cost discipline.
- Lead organizational planning and change management to support expansion, evolving business needs, and effective collaboration across corporate, field operations, and international teams.
Strategic Human Capital Advisory
- Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on organizational design, workforce planning, talent assessment, and complex people decisions.
- Coach executives and managers to set clear expectations, provide actionable feedback, address performance concerns, and build accountable teams.
- Lead performance management, career development, succession planning, and leadership development programs that strengthen management capabilities and prepare future leaders.
- Use workforce data and business insights to identify talent gaps, assess organizational effectiveness, and recommend measurable improvements.
People Operations and Employee Experience
- Lead People Operations across the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, employee relations, engagement, retention, and offboarding.
- Develop and implement employee engagement and retention strategies, translating employee feedback into clear actions and holding leaders accountable for follow-through.
- Oversee compensation, benefits, and total rewards strategy to attract and retain talent while maintaining internal equity, market competitiveness, and financial discipline.
- Build consistent policies, processes, and HR systems that support a distributed workforce; partner with Legal and relevant advisors to manage employment compliance and employee relations risks.
- Drive automation and responsible use of AI to streamline People processes, reduce administrative work, improve data quality, and deliver a more responsive employee experience.
Talent Acquisition
- Lead Talent Acquisition across corporate, technical, and field operations roles, aligning hiring priorities and recruiting capacity with business needs and workforce plans.
- Build effective sourcing, screening, and interview processes that improve candidate quality, hiring decisions, and speed of execution.
- Partner with hiring leaders to define role requirements, prepare interview panels, and maintain consistent hiring standards and accountability.
- Strengthen Veo's employer brand and candidate experience, and track recruiting performance through quality of hire, time to fill, hiring costs, and retention.
People Team Leadership and Performance
- Lead, develop, and mentor the People Operations and Talent Acquisition teams, establishing clear priorities, ownership, and service expectations.
- Manage People function budgets, vendors, and resources to deliver effective programs and scalable support.
- Develop and report key people metrics to the leadership team, connecting workforce trends and program outcomes to business performance.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field; advanced degree or relevant HR certification preferred.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive HR and People leadership experience, including at least 5 years leading a People function or serving in a senior HR leadership role within a high-growth organization.
- Experience supporting a geographically distributed workforce that includes corporate, technical, and hourly field operations teams; international experience preferred.
- Proven ability to operate as a business leader, influence executive decisions, and connect people strategy to operational and financial results.
- Strong expertise in People Operations, Talent Acquisition, organizational design, performance management, leadership development, and total rewards.
- Sound judgment in employee relations, employment compliance, and sensitive personnel matters, with the ability to balance employee needs and business priorities.
- Excellent communication, coaching, and collaboration skills, with the ability to build trust and drive accountability at all levels.
- Strong analytical and project management skills, including experience using HR technology, automation, and data to improve decisions and execution.
- A hands-on leadership approach, resilience in ambiguity, and a strong bias for action and follow-through.
Compensation & Benefits:
- Total Cash Compensation: $220,000–$290,000 annually, including a base salary and annual performance bonus opportunity.
- Base Salary: $220,000–$270,000
- Annual Performance Bonus: Additional earning potential based on performance
- Equity: Stock options
- Unlimited PTO
- Competitive Benefits Package: Medical, Dental, Vision, Short-Term Disability, and more
- 401(k) with company match
- Opportunity to work in a fast-paced technology company
See All 19 Head Of People Operations Jobs in California
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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
- 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, Veo, and LYTE, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 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 Carson 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 67% of head of people operations openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of November 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 19 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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