People Systems & Programs Lead

ABOUT MARIANA MINERALS Mariana Minerals is a software-first, vertically integrated minerals company on a mission to supply the critical minerals powering modern energy, AI, and defense technologies. We’re reimagining the minerals supply chain by combining deep industry expertise with advanced software, automation, and data-driven decision-making. THE ROLE We are hiring a People Systems & Programs Lead to build and scale the operational foundation of our People function across recruiting, HR systems, onboarding, and employee operations. This is a highly cross-functional role focused on designing efficient people processes, implementing scalable systems, and enabling exceptional employee and candidate experiences. You’ll partner closely with leadership, recruiting, finance, and operations teams to streamline workflows, improve data visibility, and help build a modern, automation-first People organization. The ideal candidate brings a strong blend of recruiting operations, HR systems expertise, and process design experience, with the ability to operate strategically while remaining hands-on in execution. This role is ideal for someone excited about building infrastructure in a fast-moving, high-growth environment. WHAT YOU’LL DO - Own and improve People Operations processes across recruiting, onboarding, employee lifecycle management, and offboarding - Manage and optimize HRIS, ATS, and related People systems - Partner with recruiting teams to streamline hiring operations and candidate workflows - Build scalable reporting and dashboards for recruiting and people metrics - Drive process automation and operational efficiency across People functions - Ensure data integrity, compliance, and accurate employee records management - Support compensation, benefits, and headcount planning operations - Create documentation, workflows, and SOPs for People processes - Partner cross-functionally with Finance, Legal, IT, and business leaders - Evaluate and implement new People tools and systems as the company scales - Improve employee and candidate experience through operational excellence and thoughtful systems design - Design, implement, and manage scalable people programs and operational initiatives across the employee lifecycle - Build and lead a high-performing People Operations team over time DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS - 7-10+ years of experience in People Operations, Recruiting Operations, HR Systems, or related functions - Strong experience managing HRIS and ATS platforms (e.g., Rippling, Workday, BambooHR, Ashby, Greenhouse, Lever) - Proven ability to build and scale People processes in high-growth or startup environments - Experience supporting both recruiting operations and broader HR operations - Strong analytical skills with experience building reports, dashboards, and operational metrics - High attention to detail with strong project management and organizational skills - Experience driving process improvements and workflow automation - Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills - Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution - Prior people management experience, including building or leading teams - Strong ownership mindset and comfort operating in ambiguous environments WHY JOIN US? At Mariana Minerals, you’ll be part of a mission-driven team reshaping the way critical minerals are sourced and supplied globally. You’ll have the autonomy to make big decisions, the tools to innovate, and a culture that values ownership, smart automation, and collaboration. OUR CULTURE IS BUILT ON THREE PRINCIPLES: Extreme Ownership – We take full responsibility for outcomes, relentlessly driving toward solutions. Engineer Out Requirements, then Automate – We simplify, optimize, and then automate for scale. Share Your Legos – We collaborate openly, share knowledge, and empower each other to build bigger, better solutions. Join us as we build the future of responsible mineral sourcing and supply. Mariana is an Equal Opport