Why Join NASA JPL?
- You’re a builder who is enthusiastic about creating new approaches to talent acquisition, HR partnership and talent management.
- You like to scrutinize the status quo, push limits, analyze data, and collaborate with a dynamic team to achieve excellence.
- You’re passionately curious and want to strive side-by-side with some of the greatest minds in the world to create the future.
If this sounds like you, welcome to the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
The talent management team is mission critical to realizing JPL’s audacious vision, and the Head of Talent Management is integral to achieving our workforce 2025 goals.
In this highly visible role overseeing Talent Acquisition and the HR Business Partner teams, you will engage with receptive executives to bring your best ideas, drive digital transformation, influence an evolving culture, and truly build the workforce of the future.
If you’re a forward thinking, determined, analytical, and persuasive HR leader with the ability to steer effective execution of your strategic vision, JPL may be the perfect place to grow your career.
Your big ideas are welcome and your mission awaits.
About The Lab
Welcome to NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory - we call it JPL, or simply the Lab—is a federally funded research and development center for robotic space and Earth science missions.
We’re in Pasadena, CA with ~6,000 employees working across a fantastic range of disciplines.
Working Together to Change the World Since the 1930's
Managed by Caltech for NASA, JPL’s creations and discoveries have changed the world for more than 80 years.
Things like creating the first U.S. Earth-orbiting satellite, lunar lander, interplanetary spacecraft, planetary rovers, and the first spacecraft to leave the solar system.
It's Only Impossible Until we Find a Way to Get it Done
JPL is a laboratory in the best sense of the word...
We like doing the “impossible.”
We start with ideas for scientific investigation and turn them into groundbreaking missions.
Key Elements of Your Position
Reporting to the CHRO, you will oversee a unique and dynamic team of 11 HR Business Partners, 3 Employee Relations professionals, a Staffing Manager, and team of 13 Talent Acquisition professionals.
As the Head of Talent Management, you will focus on building relationships and establishing consultative partnerships to drive innovative, strategic transformation of essential people functions. You will be instrumental in the ongoing integration of the Lab’s leadership with the HRBP and TA teams including developing a strong understanding of internal client goals, challenges, and plans.
A builder and fixer who is tenacious in pursuit of your strategic vision to create the best version of our future, the Head of Talent Management will leverage your HR expertise, passion for finding amazing talent, and strategic vision to:
- Create a robust pipeline of world-class STEM talent
- Build JPL’s leadership bench
- Ensure the Lab has the talent required to achieve our objectives
- Further develop key talent management processes and capabilities
The Head of Talent Management will work consultatively to transform the Lab’s current recruiting capabilities into a strategic, integrated, and efficient talent acquisition engine that can compete in the war for top STEM talent.
You will be a change agent, using your analytical skills, targeted persuasion, and persistence to guide JPL’s ongoing transformation.
Your Responsiblities
- Provide leadership, mentoring, and development for the Talent Acquisition team.
- Offer insights and consultative support for HR Business Partners and management.
- Drive effective execution of the full employee lifecycle in consultation with HR leadership.
- Partner with senior leaders to drive strategic talent initiatives such as succession planning and talent development.
- Collaborate with the HR Centers of Excellence (COE), Compensation, Learning and Development, and HR Services Center to ensure consistent support of lab leaders and employees.
- Be a strategic resource and trusted advisor for internal stakeholders including providing insights on organizational and people-related strategy and execution.
- Use data and analytics to guide decision-making and develop proactive solutions to anticipated challenges.
- Study trends and use metrics to propose, develop and implement solutions, programs, and best practices.
- Drive inclusion and diversity initiatives to ensure a broad range of perspectives, backgrounds, and technical capabilities.
- Build relationships with technical leaders and provide consultative support as a talent and people-strategy SME.
The First Year
- Develop an understanding of and appreciation for JPL’s culture and mission
- Build relationships across the Lab, including TA and HRBP teams, COEs, and HR and department leaders
- Develop an effective talent acquisition strategy and plan for successful execution
- Shift the perception of Human Resources to that of a strategic partner of the business
- Provide SME input for Workday phase-two implementation encompassing talent management module and general system updates
JPL Culture
JPL inspires passion, fosters innovation, collaborates, and rewards excellence.
“Imagine an organization where people not only explore other worlds, but also dream of a better one right here – and work to make it happen.
It takes people with all kinds of talents to explore a universe. We work together as a team…We are not just about science and technology; we're an organization of people.”
The HR organization is woven into the fabric of JPL’s culture and we’re all inspired to consider of a world of possibilities.
What you Need to be Successful
Success Factors
- Strategic and collaborative approach to relationship building and problem solving
- Robust analytic capabilities and the ability to support decisions and strategy with facts and data
- Flexibility, adaptability, and tenacity
- Appreciation for workforce globalization, the effects of social media, and generational diversity
- Be a builder and a fixer who uses a growth mindset to drive positive change
Background & Capabilities
- Bachelor’s degree required with an advanced degree preferred
- Leadership experience with at least 15 years in HR in positions with progressive responsibility
- Experience supporting a highly technical client base preferred
- At least five years of Director-level experience managing HR Business Partners and/or other HR professionals
- Experienced change agent with exceptional persuasion and presentation skills
- Results-driven with expertise in recruiting, candidate engagement, talent development, succession planning, and compensation, as well as organizational development and transformation
- Workday experience a plus
- A strong working knowledge of California and Federal labor law including wage and hour law, DFEH, EEO, and Affirmative Action
Compensation & Benefits
Our compensation packages include a competitive salary and a full range of employee wellness and benefits options:
- Medical and dental insurance
- Life insurance and long-term disability
- Retirement savings plans
- 21-days of vacation the first year
- Training and development opportunities
- 9/80 workweek with every other Friday off
Perks of Working for JPL
Find out more about the benefits, amenities & perks of life at JPL.