Director, People Strategic Operations & Communications

At Ouster, we believe that only what is real truly matters. We are building the sensory foundation for Physical AI and global automation, creating high-performance digital lidar sensors and software solutions that allow machines to see, understand, and interact with the physical world in real time.

From enabling autonomous vehicles and smart infrastructure to safeguarding industrial facilities and robotics, our unified platform of hardware and AI perception models turns complex spatial data into real-world safety and efficiency. We iterate tirelessly to build tools that solve real-world challenges, driven by a simple truth: the future will be shaped by creators, not by talkers.

If you thrive on solving hard engineering problems, shipping tangible hardware and software, and making safety accessible to all, this is where you will do your best work.

We're hiring our first Director, People Strategic Operations & Communications. Reporting to the Chief People Officer, you'll make the CPO, the People team and company leaders more effective by bringing strategy, communications and execution together.

You'll pick up the work that lives between teams, bring structure to ambiguity, and find a way to get it done. This is a chance to build a new function from the ground up alongside an experienced People leadership team.

Drive People strategy. Shape People priorities and OKRs, and tell the story to executives and the board. Own the People scorecard with our analytics team, turning headcount, hiring, attrition and engagement data into clear insight and action.

Be the CPO's partner and proxy. Keep priorities, decisions and follow-ups moving across the People team and cross-functionally. 

Lead internal communications. Build our internal comms strategy, channels, intranet, and calendar for a global workforce. Partner with the CEO and executives on key messages, own town halls, and lead internal communications for a seamless employee experience.

Run strategic programs. Lead complex cross-functional strategic work such as M&A integration, and global expansion workstreams, with clear plans, owners and cadences.

Strengthen how Ouster operates. Partner with cross-functional leadership on operating principles, cadences and meetings, and plan People team and leadership offsites in San Francisco and around the world.

• 10+ years across management consulting, strategy and operations, chief of staff or program leadership, ideally a mix of consulting and operating roles.
• Experience in fast-paced, high-growth companies.
• A builder who thrives in ambiguity and brings “find a way” energy.
• Interdisciplinary range: comfortable moving between strategy, data, communications and execution in the same day.
• Data-driven and metrics-oriented, with a strong grasp of people analytics.
• Executive presence: Trusted by the C-suite and equally effective with frontline employees and cross-functional partners.
• Obsessively organized and timely, with sharp attention to detail and the strategic view intact.
• A clear, concise writer and communicator who can make complex topics simple.
• Sound judgment and discretion with confidential information.

• Experience in or alongside a People or HR organization.
• M&A integration, European works council, or global offsite and event experience.
• Hardware, deep tech or public-company experience.
• Working proficiency in French.

San Francisco Bay Area, hybrid, with periodic international travel.

The base pay will be dependent on your skills, work experience, location, and qualifications. This role may also be eligible for equity & benefits. ($185,000 — $255,000 USD)

Ouster is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that pursues and hires a diverse workforce. Ouster does not make employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, nationality, sex, gender, gender-identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, military status, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal laws. Ouster also strives for a healthy and safe workplace, and prohibits harassment of any kind. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Ouster considers qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.