Director of People Operations

Location

Kansas City Metro

Full time

Hybrid

G&A

TENEX is an AI-native, automation-first, built-for-scale Managed Detection and Response (MDR) provider. We are a force multiplier for defenders, helping organizations enhance their cybersecurity posture through advanced threat detection, rapid response, and continuous protection. Our team is composed of industry experts with deep experience in cybersecurity, automation, and AI-driven solutions. Backed by leading investors, we are rapidly growing and seeking top talent to join our mission of revolutionizing the MDR landscape.

We’re a fast growing startup backed by industry experts and top tier investor Andreessen Horowitz. As an early employee, you’ll play a meaningful role in defining and building our culture. Get in on the ground floor. We’re a small but well-funded team that just raised a substantial round – joining now comes with limited risk and unlimited upside.

We are looking for a Director of People Operations to be the architect of our next phase of growth. We’ve built a world-class cybersecurity platform with 100 brilliant minds; now, we need to triple that headcount while preserving the high-performance, mission-driven culture that got us here.

You’re not here to run HR checklists. You’re here to build the operating system for how Tenex scales. In cybersecurity, our credibility starts with our people, and their integrity and discipline are part of the product. This role owns the infrastructure that supports that standard as we grow from 100 to 300 employees and beyond. We’re not looking for a policy enforcer.

We need a builder who can strengthen culture while adding the structure required for scale, streamline and automate how we support employees and managers, and ensure our growth never outpaces our foundation.

Culture is one of the most important things —explore our culture deck ex.ai to witness how we embody it, prioritizing the irreplaceable collaboration and community of in-person work.

Scalable Infrastructure: Own and optimize the People Operations architecture to support 3x growth without operational breakdown.

• Maintain and continuously optimize existing HRIS and People systems; ensure integrations across payroll, benefits, equity, ATS and finance remain accurate, automated, and scalable while leveraging new platform capabilities as they evolve.

• Strengthen and scale onboarding and offboarding workflows, ensuring alignment with security protocols and close coordination with IT and Security.

• Establish data governance standards, reporting dashboards, and vendor oversight to support headcount planning, retention tracking, and executive visibility.

Talent and Workforce Planning: Partner closely with the Talent team to ensure hiring strategy aligns with organizational design and growth plans.

• Collaborate with Department Heads, Talent, and Finance on workforce planning, hiring roadmaps, and compensation forecasting

• Ensure structured hiring processes reflect role clarity and leveling frameworks

• Lead salary benchmarking and compensation philosophy development.

• Provide People analytics and organizational insight, including capacity planning, headcount modeling, and retention data, to guide hiring decisions.

Payroll and Compliance: Ensure People Operations meets regulatory requirements and aligns with cybersecurity industry standards.

• Own Payroll process and ensure accuracy, multi-state employment compliance, and policy governance.

• Oversee annual compensation cycles and benefits strategy as the company scales.

• Maintain adherence to SOC 2, ISO 27001, and other security-related People controls in partnership with Security.

• Lead employee relations, investigations, and audit readiness across payroll, benefits, and HR systems.

Culture and Retention: Preserve what makes Tenex strong while building the structure required for scale.

• Codify and operationalize company values as headcount grows.

• Design engagement and retention programs that maintain accountability and cohesion.

• Implement career pathing, leveling frameworks, structured performance reviews, and succession planning.

• Develop first-line…