Head of People

Copia is the world's leading provider of operational technology (OT) backup & industrial code management software. We develop novel tools and technologies to help companies manage, review, and deploy the code that runs industrial systems, factories, warehouses, and critical infrastructure. Copia exists because this industrial code is simultaneously the most critical and least protected asset in industrial environments globally. There is no backup, no version history, and little recovery infrastructure. 

Large strategic enterprise accounts (such as Amazon) are choosing Copia to manage their industrial automation environments. These are not small pilots. These are enterprise-wide transformations across hundreds of facilities, involving OT security teams, controls engineers, CISOs, and operations leadership. The space is hard and the stakes are real, which is why we need the best people onboard.

We're a 60+ person team growing >2x ARR year-over-year, backed by top investors like Construct, Lux, Ironspring, Squadra, and Renegade, and serving customers across manufacturing, logistics, data centers, and energy facilities.

About the Role

Here at Copia, we’ve established the initial foundations of a people team. Retention is high, offer acceptance is high, and we’ve been people focused since day one. However, as we look to grow (think 30-40+ HC a year), we need someone who can take us to the next level in order to properly scale.

We’re looking for a Head of People who can build repeatable talent acquisition strategies, foundational systems, and culture that will enable the company to achieve and exceed its core outcomes (repeatable pipeline, enterprise-grade platform, and agentic tooling). This role is for someone who is guided by first principles, builds dynamic systems around people, and genuinely cares about growing a company without losing what makes it great. 

You’ll be coming into a team with a HR manager, an open recruiter headcount, and 10+ current open JDs across all departments. You’ll report directly to the Co-Founder & VP of BD/Ops, and be a strategic partner to leadership across the organization.

Who You Are

• A builder. You create systems around people, not the other way around. 

• Someone adept at having tough conversations with employees, managers, or leadership while maintaining low ego. 

• Hypothesis-driven and empirical. You bring deep experience from excellent people teams, and you take the time to understand what makes Copia unique. You know when to apply your playbook and when to deviate.

• Outcome-oriented. You are eager to work closely with leads to ensure that their teams are equipped with the right talent to achieve core business outcomes. You are excited to co-own Copia’s core outcomes which include building a repeatable pipeline-generating organization and hardening the Copia platform for enterprise-grade adoption. 

• Grounded yet optimistic. Copia operates in a complex space and often runs into difficult challenges. Some hires won't work out, recruiting processes will need to evolve, and organizational challenges will emerge as we scale. You don't get frustrated when things aren't perfect. You stay focused on the underlying problem, maintain perspective, and keep the organization moving toward its outcomes.

What You'll Do

The core responsibility of this role is to ensure our teams have the people they need to achieve the company's goals. 

For Copia, that means supporting two critical business outcomes. First, building and enabling a go-to-market talent engine that helps us create repeatable pipeline through better hiring, onboarding, ramp, and talent management. 

Second, unlocking scale for our product and engineering teams by building the people infrastructure that helps technical teams stay aligned to business outcomes, retain deep expertise, and continue strengthening the platform for enterprise-grade adoption and next-generation product development.

• Talent Acquisition. Near-term, this is the highest priority. You'll bring next-level hiring practices to the org, with a particular focus on building the GTM and technical hiring engines that Copia needs to scale. Industry experience is an early indicator of success here and you’ll need to have a sharp eye. You'll manage external recruiters, mature our process, and set the right outcomes.

• Retention. Our top talent stays and we want to keep it that way. Our team works in a complex industrial setting and tenure has been a core hallmark of success. You'll design the people development systems, feedback loops, compensation and culture touchpoints that make Copia a place people want to build their careers. 

• Performance Management. As we look to set the foundations for scale, everyone’s performance must be tied to business outcomes. You’ll own and iterate on the current performance review cycle, feedback loops, and compensation frameworks. The systems you build are useful, fair, and consistent for managers and employees alike.

• Culture. You’ll help define what Copia actually “feels” like, what makes it great, and are ultimately the champion of Copia’s core values (low ego, hypothesis-driven & empirical, collaborative, optimistic, and autonomous). As the company evolves, you’ll be critical to advising the executive team on what’s working or not. 

• People Ops. Drive operational excellence and efficiency across payroll, benefits, and HR systems. You’ll be responsible for finding and implementing industry leading tools that help the company scale. 

Qualifications

• 7+ years of relevant experience

• 3+ years of experience leading People teams

• Experience partnering directly with founders and executive leadership

• Demonstrated success across key functions: 

  • Scaling Talent Acquisition at growth stage startups (~50 to 100+)

  • Proven track record of designing and implementing performance cycles, leveling/compensation frameworks, and compensation philosophies. 

  • Experience with HR Information Systems such as Rippling and ATS such as Lever

  • Building AI workflows that improve personal productivity and team efficiency throughout all people functions

  • Exceptional communication skills for cross functional collaboration