Director, People Operations

Get to Know Us

Horizon3.ai is a fast-growing, remote cybersecurity company dedicated to the mission of enabling organizations to proactively find and fix and verify exploitable attack vectors before criminals exploit them. Our flagship product, the NodeZeroTM platform, delivers production-safe autonomous pentests and other key assessment operations that scale across the largest internal, external, cloud, and hybrid cloud environments. NodeZero has been adopted by organizations of all sizes, from small educational institutions to government agencies and Global 100 enterprises. It is used by ITOps/SecOps teams, consulting pentesters, and MSSPs and MSPs. 

We are a fusion of former U.S. Special Operations cyber operators, startup engineers, and formerly frustrated cybersecurity practitioners. We're committed to helping solve our common security problems: ineffective security tools, false positives resulting in alert fatigue, blind spots, "checkbox” security culture, cybersecurity skills shortage, and the long lead time and expense of hiring outside consultants. Collectively, we are a team of learn it alls, committed to a culture of respect, collaboration, ownership, and results.

Role Overview

We’re looking for a forward-thinking Director of People Operations who can scale our people practices through automation, AI, and operational excellence. This leader will architect and optimize every touchpoint of the employee lifecycle, ensuring a high-performance culture that scales with us. You will also own workplace operations, beginning with our San Francisco HQ and expanding into additional domestic and global locations.

You’re someone who brings both systems-level thinking and deep empathy, equally at home rolling out scalable AI-powered HR systems as you are designing inclusive, people-first workplace strategies.

What You’ll Do

People Operations & Systems

• Design, implement, and scale core People Ops processes (onboarding, performance, total rewards, offboarding) using automation and AI-first tools.

• Drive continuous process improvement by leveraging people analytics, dashboards, and workflow automation (with platforms like Rippling, Pave, Deel, Confluence/Jira, Glean, Zapier, etc.).

• Lead compliance and documentation for domestic and international employment laws, ensuring risk mitigation as we scale globally (in partnership with internal legal team and external counsel).

• Establish and enforce scalable HR policies, documentation, and practices that balance performance with humanity.

• Partner closely with Legal, Finance, and IT to integrate and optimize cross-functional systems.

• Leveraging AI and tooling across the People Organization that will positively impact the efficiency of the company as a whole.
  

Facilities & Workplace Operations

• Own and manage our growing physical footprint, including the San Francisco HQ and future offices in the U.S. and select international locations.

• Manage and hire Workplace Operations team members, currently 1 in SF, and additional team members as we grow our office footprint

• Design and implement office standards for experience, safety, productivity, and cost-efficiency.

• Manage vendors, security, leasing, and expansion strategy — from sourcing to move-in and ongoing operations.

• Support hybrid and remote work needs with systems and tools that ensure a seamless employee experience globally.

• Work with designers to bring to life tasteful, functional, and inspiring workplaces
  

Strategic Leadership

• Be a thought partner to executive leadership on org design, scaling culture, and workforce strategy.

• Build and lead a high-impact People Ops team — including HR generalists, facilities coordinators, and systems specialists.

• Serve as a change agent to foster a data-driven, tech-forward People Ops culture.

• Support internal communications and employee experience initiatives, including engagement surveys and AI-assisted pulse feedback.

What You Bring

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of People Ops, HR, or People Systems leadership in fast-growing tech companies (ideally with global experience).

• Proven track record of designing and automating HR processes in high-growth environments.

• Deep experience with People Tech stacks (HRIS, payroll, engagement, and analytics platforms), and a strong orientation toward AI/automation tools.

• Demonstrated success managing office buildouts and workplace operations in multiple geographies.

• Exceptional program management, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience scaling from 200 to 1,000+ employees across geographies.

• Familiarity with distributed, remote-first work cultures.

• Prior ownership of hybrid workplace strategies.

• Exposure to international employment standards and EOR services.

Perks of Horizon3.ai

• Inclusive Team: We value diversity and promote an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive.

• Growth Opportunities: Be part of a dynamic and growing team with numerous career development opportunities.

• Innovative Culture: Work in a collaborative environment that encourages creativity and out-of-the-box thinking.

• Remote Work: We are a 100% remote company. Enjoy the convenience and work-life balance that comes with remote work. 

• Competitive Compensation: We offer competitive salary and benefits which includes health, vision & dental care for you and your family, a flexible vacation policy, and generous parental leave. 

Compensation and Values

At Horizon3, we believe that our people are our greatest asset, and our compensation philosophy reflects this core value. We are committed to fostering an environment where all employees feel valued, respected, and rewarded for their contributions. Our compensation structure is designed to be fair, competitive, and transparent, ensuring that every team member is recognized and compensated equitably across roles, levels, and locations.

In accordance with various State’s transparency regulations, we provide the following salary range information for this position:

• Base salary range: $211,000 - $235,000. The exact salary will be determined based on the selected candidate’s location, qualifications, experience, and relevant skills.

• Additional compensation: This role may also be eligible for an equity package (in the form of stock options). If any other compensation benefits apply, they will be discussed during the interview process.

You Belong Here

Horizon3 is not just an equal opportunity employer - we are a community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion as fundamental principles of our culture and success. We are dedicated to fostering a workplace where everyone feels welcome and respected, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, hair length or any other legally protected status by law.

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion means we strive to attract, develop, and retain a workforce that reflects the varied communities we serve. We believe that diverse perspectives drive innovation and strengthen our ability to create cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions. At Horizon3, every team member is valued and supported in an environment that encourages personal and professional growth.

We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and experiences, and we encourage all qualified individuals to apply. Come be a part of Horizon3, where your unique contributions are recognized, and your potential is limitless.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

Application Note

In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.