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.

We’re looking for a 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

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

Rocky Talkie

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