HR Manager

Description

Job Summary: The HR Manager oversees key human resources functions in a defense contracting environment, ensuring compliance with federal regulations while supporting workforce readiness, employee relations, and talent strategies. This role partners with leadership to align HR initiatives with mission objectives, maintain ITAR and labor law compliance, and foster a high-performance, security-conscious culture.

Job Duties:

• Build and implement the HR systems, processes, and programs needed to support rapid organizational growth in a federal contracting environment, working hands-on across all areas of the function.
• Directly supervise and mentor HR staff, actively developing their skills and serving as their primary resource for HR knowledge and professional growth.
• Partner with the EVP, CFO, and department heads on workforce planning, org design, and people strategy.
• Serve as the primary HR advisor to leadership on employee relations, compensation, and compliance risks.
• Own HR systems administration including Paylocity and related platforms, ensuring data integrity, reporting accuracy, and process efficiency.
• Manage relationships with external HR vendors including benefits brokers, background screening providers, staffing agencies, and legal counsel.

• Oversee full-cycle recruiting for technical and non-technical roles, including cleared and ITAR-sensitive positions.
• Partner with hiring managers to define role requirements, build job descriptions, and develop consistent interview and selection processes.
• Design and improve onboarding programs that get new hires productive quickly and reinforce OKSI’s culture.

• Develop, implement, and maintain HR policies aligned with federal contracting requirements (FAR/DFARS, DCAA, OFCCP) and employment laws across multiple states, accounting for the complexities of a remote and distributed workforce.
• Maintain audit-ready HR documentation supporting AS9100D, CMMC, and ITAR compliance frameworks.
• Monitor evolving federal and state regulations and proactively advise leadership on implications.
• Lead or oversee internal investigations, corrective actions, and disciplinary processes with consistency and fairness.

• Oversee compensation administration including LCAT-based salary benchmarking, merit reviews, and equity analysis.
• Manage benefits programs across health and welfare, annual renewals, and employee communications, ensuring compliance with ERISA, COBRA, and ACA.
• Partner with the CFO on total compensation strategy as OKSI competes for specialized engineering talent.
• Coordinate with payroll on off-cycle processing, exception handling, and compliance with wage and hour requirements across all operating states.

• Foster a high-trust work environment through clear communication, fair processes, and genuine engagement.
• Lead initiatives around recognition, retention, and culture across a mix of on-site and remote employees in multiple locations.
• Guide supervisors through performance management, PIPs, and termination processes with care and compliance.

• Coordinate required compliance training including Ethics, ITAR, and Workplace Safety.
• Identify and support leadership development opportunities as OKSI builds management depth.

• Track and analyze HR metrics including headcount, turnover, time-to-fill, and compensation benchmarks.
• Present data-driven insights and recommendations to leadership to inform business decisions.

• 10+ years of progressive HR experience, with at least 5 years in a lead HR role with broad ownership across multiple HR functions.
• Experience in manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or federal contracting environments.
• Demonstrated experience building HR infrastructure from the ground up in a rapidly scaling organization, with the ability to design systems that grow with the business.
• Strong working knowledge of multi-state employment law (including California) and federal contracting HR requirements (FAR, DFARS, DCAA, OFCCP).
• Familiarity with ITAR, export control, and…