People Lead

Vannevar

United StatesHuman Resources

Vannevar is a defense technology company building AI to deter our adversaries. In the 21st century, conflict moves at algorithmic speed and foresight equals firepower. Our agentic AI is purpose-built to compete with China—from cross-Strait conflict to gray zone coercion. Trained on the most mission-relevant datasets in defense, our technology models adversary behavior, simulates campaigns, and recommends the best course of action to decision makers. Our AI systems are some of the most trusted in the industry and actively used on the front lines of the Indo-Pacific to keep the peace and save lives.

Exceptional technology starts with exceptional people. Vannevar is a small agile team combining world-class engineers with veteran strategists who bring deep expertise in defense and tradecraft. We’re building a company defined by mission impact, user empathy, and disciplined growth. In just three years, we grew from $3M to $80M in ARR, achieved early profitability, and reached unicorn status—proving that disruption doesn’t require an ego, and staying power doesn’t mean standing still.

About the role

We’re looking for our first senior People leader to build the people systems and operating cadence that help Vannevar scale with speed, clarity, and high standards. This is not a traditional People role. You will be a business operator responsible for ensuring our talent, management practices, and people infrastructure directly support company execution.

You’ll partner closely with executive team and managers on the organizational decisions that matter most: hiring and retaining exceptional talent, improving manager effectiveness, strengthening performance management, planning for growth, and ensuring we have the right people in the right roles as the business scales. You’ll help leaders make clear, timely decisions on performance, compensation, promotions, retention, and exits.

At the same time, you’ll own the operational foundation that allows the company to grow confidently: benefits, compliance, investigations, employee relations, policies, and core people processes. Your job is to build lightweight, durable systems that improve business performance without slowing the company down.

What you’ll do

Build a high-performance organization

  • Partner with exec team and functional leaders on org design, workforce planning, and leadership needs as the company scales.
  • Clarify hiring standards, promotion expectations, and talent bar across teams.
  • Design and evolve our performance management philosophy.
  • Coach managers to set clear expectations, give direct feedback and have hard conversations with confidence, and address issues early.
  • Build manager habits and operating cadences that reinforce high standards without adding unnecessary process.
  • Partner with leadership on compensation, promotions, and retention for top performers.

Build operational excellence

  • Own benefits, payroll coordination, compliance, and core people operations.
  • Ensure employment practices scale cleanly across a growing company.
  • Partner with legal counsel on investigations, employment matters, and policy development.
  • Build lightweight systems that make the company run better, not slower.

What we’re looking for

  • Has helped scale a high-performing company through rapid growth (for example, ~200 to 500+ employees).
  • Has significant experience coaching managers through performance management and difficult personnel decisions.
  • Has personally led employee investigations, complex offboardings, and sensitive employee relations situations.
  • Knows when to introduce process and when not to.
  • Is trusted by both executives and individual contributors.
  • Has exceptional judgment, discretion, and emotional intelligence.
  • Cares deeply about building a culture of high performance rather than avoiding hard conversations.