Director, People

The Nuclear Company is the fastest growing AI tech‑enabled startup in the nuclear and energy space, pioneering a fleet‑scale approach to building the next generation of nuclear reactors. Through our design‑once, build‑many model, we’re accelerating the deployment of safe, reliable, and affordable nuclear energy.
We operate with an AI‑first mindset. Every employee is expected to leverage AI, technology, and the Nuclear Operating System (NOS) as integral components of their role to improve the quality, speed, and impact of their work. We expect every team member to continually identify opportunities to automate workflows, enhance decision‑making, improve processes, and contribute to the ongoing evolution of NOS as a strategic operating capability that enables The Nuclear Company to scale with excellence.
About the role

We’re looking for a Director of People who can operate on two levels at once: as the trusted, on‑the‑ground HR partner for our DC office and designated client/customer groups, and as the architect of how our HR function scales – including how we responsibly integrate AI agents into our org structure to extend our team’s capacity. This is a hybrid role for someone who is equally comfortable coaching a manager through a difficult conversation and defining the guardrails an AI agent operates within.
Responsibilities

HR Business Partnership

Serve as the primary HR point of contact for the DC office and assigned internal customer groups
Advise managers and leaders on performance management, employee relations, organizational design, and talent planning
Interpret and apply company policy consistently; manage sensitive employee relations matters with sound judgment and appropriate confidentiality
Drive engagement, retention, and culture initiatives specific to the DC office
Partner with Talent Acquisition and Legal on cross‑functional initiatives affecting your client groups
HR Technology Ownership

Own the HR technology stack end‑to‑end: HRIS, ATS, payroll integration, LMS, and any people‑analytics tooling
Set the roadmap for HR systems, evaluate and select new tools, and manage vendor relationships and contracts
Ensure data integrity, system security, and compliance across all HR platforms
Partner with IT/Security on access controls, integrations, and data governance
AI Strategy & Agent Management

Develop and own the strategy for how AI agents supplement HR work – identifying which tasks are appropriate to delegate to agents versus which require human judgment
Design the operating model for AI agents as part of the org structure, including scope of authority, escalation paths, and performance oversight
Act as the accountable human owner for AI agent(s) reporting into this role: setting objectives, reviewing output quality, and course‑correcting behavior
Establish guardrails for data privacy, bias mitigation, and compliance in any AI‑supported HR process
Build change management plans to help the broader team adopt AI‑supported workflows with confidence rather than anxiety
Continuously evaluate new AI tools/agents and make build‑vs‑buy‑vs‑expand recommendations
Experience

7+ years of progressive HR experience, including generalist/business partner work and HR systems ownership
Demonstrated experience managing or implementing HR technology (e.g., Workday, ADP, BambooHR, Greenhouse, or similar)
Direct experience with, or strong point of view on, applying AI/automation to HR operations
Excellent judgment handling confidential and sensitive employee matters
Strong stakeholder management skills – comfortable being the HR face for both an office and specific customer groups
Experience managing people and/or non‑human resources (workflows, vendors, or agents) toward measurable outcomes
SHRM‑SCP, SPHR, or equivalent certification a plus
Benefits

Competitive compensation packages
401k with company match
Medical, dental, vision plans
Generous vacation policy, plus holidays
Estimated starting salary range: $178,000–$204,000 annually, less applicable withholdings and deductions, paid on a bi‑weekly basis. The actual salary offered may vary based on relevant factors as determined.

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