People Operations Lead

Location: Colorado Front Range, Hybrid
Reports to: COO

About Rocky Talkie

Rocky Talkie is committed to making easy-to-use, high-performance communication products for use in adventure sports and business. We’re a growing, outdoor-driven brand with a tight-knit team that values ownership, honesty, and getting better every season.

At Rocky Talkie, we’re driven by the belief that better communication in the backcountry can save lives. As part of this mission, we donate $2 per radio sold to search and rescue teams around the country, supporting those who help keep outdoor communities safe. Learn more about our company here.

We’re looking for an People Operations Lead who loves rolling up their sleeves, cares deeply about people and process, and wants to help build a company where great humans can do their best work as we scale our team.

The Role

This is a hands-on People Operations Lead role with ownership of the full people function. You’ll run day-to-day people operations, support managers and employees through real situations, and ensure our hiring, onboarding, and growth practices stay clear, consistent, and scalable.

You’ll also play a key role in caring for our team as humans — helping ensure people feel supported, connected, and set up to enjoy and grow in their careers at Rocky Talkie. You’ll partner closely with leaders and teammates across the company and be a trusted resource when people decisions need to be made.

What You’ll Do

Core HR & People Operations

• Own employee lifecycle management from onboarding to offboarding
• Manage HR systems (Gusto, benefits platforms, performance tools, etc.)
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws (with employees in multiple  states and expanding into other countries)
• Maintain accurate employee records, documentation, and policies
• Partner with Accounting to support accurate, timely payroll and benefits administration
  

Employee Relations & Manager Support

• Be a first-line support for employee questions, concerns, and guidance
• Coach managers through performance conversations, feedback, and development plans
• Help navigate sensitive situations with empathy, clarity, and consistency
• Support performance review cycles and ongoing feedback processes
  

Hiring, Onboarding & Growth

• Partner with leaders on hiring needs, job descriptions, interview design, and candidate experience
• Own onboarding experience so new hires feel welcomed, supported, and clear on expectations
• Support career development frameworks, learning opportunities, and internal growth
• Help build simple, effective manager tools and templates

Culture, Engagement & Connection

• Help bring Rocky Talkie’s values to life through programs, rituals, and communication
• Lead and plan company retreats, team gatherings, and culture initiatives, including Camp Rocky Talkie Summer Jam, our annual summer retreat
• Keep a pulse on team engagement and morale - and help turn insights into action
• Contribute to internal communications that feel human, clear, and on-brand
  
  

How You’ll Be Successful

• You follow through and keep things moving
• People trust you with real issues
• Managers feel supported, not judged
• Processes get clearer, not heavier
• Culture feels intentional, not forced

Why Rocky Talkie

• Mission-driven, outdoor-loving company
• Small, collaborative team where your work matters
• Opportunity to shape how HR shows up as the company grows

What We’re Looking For

Must-Haves

• 5+ years of hands-on HR or People Operations experience
• Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practices
• Experience supporting managers and navigating employee relations
• Experience in remote-first or distributed teams
• Comfortable working in a fast-growing, evolving environment
• Excellent communication skills — written, verbal, and human
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and dependable
• Able to balance empathy with accountability
  

Nice-to-Haves

• Familiarity with Gusto or similar HRIS/payroll systems
• Experience supporting hourly and salaried employees
• Background in outdoor, retail, consumer goods, or startup environments
• Someone who genuinely loves building healthy teams
  
  

• Healthcare Plan (Medical, Dental, and Vision
• Retirement Plan with Matching
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick, and Holidays)
• Paid Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
• Paid Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Performance-Based Bonus
• And of course, plenty of Rocky Talkie gear to fuel your next adventure!

Salary: $85 - $95K / year (range based on experience)