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Senior People Business Partner Director

College Park, Maryland, United States

About IonQ: 

IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] is the world’s leading quantum company delivering solutions to solve the world’s most complex problems. IonQ’s newest generation quantum computers, IonQ Tempo and IonQ Forte Enterprise, are the latest in cutting-edge systems that have been helping customers and partners such as Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA achieve 20x performance results. The company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance in 2025.

The company is accelerating its technology roadmap and intends to deliver the world’s most powerful quantum computers with 2 million qubits by 2030 to accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. IonQ’s advancements in quantum networking position the company as a leader in building the quantum internet.

 

We are seeking a Senior People Business Partner Director to serve as a strategic advisor to senior leaders within IonQ Federal and the Chief Information Officer (CIO) organization. This role partners closely with executive leadership to drive people strategies that enable mission-critical outcomes. As Senior People Business Partner Director, you’ll be part of a cross-functional team whose mission is to lead IonQ on its journey to develop the world’s best quantum technology to solve the world’s most complex problems.

In this role, you will operate as a trusted thought partner on organizational design, workforce planning, leadership effectiveness, and change management—while navigating the complexities of federal contracting, security requirements, and highly regulated environments.

Responsibilities: 

Strategic Partnership

  • Serve as a senior advisor to Federal and CIO leadership, aligning people strategy with business, mission, and technology objectives.
  • Translate business strategies into actionable workforce, talent, and organizational plans.
  • Provide data-driven insights and recommendations on workforce health, capability gaps, and succession risk.

Organizational Effectiveness & Change

  • Lead complex organizational design and transformation initiatives, including restructures, scaling teams, and operating model evolution.
  • Partner with leaders to drive change management for technology modernization, digital transformation, and compliance-driven initiatives.
  • Coach senior leaders on organizational dynamics, decision-making, and leadership effectiveness.

Talent & Workforce Strategy

  • Partner with Talent Acquisition and leadership on workforce planning for cleared, technical, and mission-critical roles.
  • Advise on talent strategies, including succession planning, leadership development, performance management, and retention.
  • Support the development of high-performing technical and program teams.

Employee Relations & Risk Management

  • Provide guidance on employee relations matters, performance issues, investigations, and corrective actions, ensuring consistency and legal compliance.
  • Navigate federal labor requirements, security clearance considerations, and contractual obligations.
  • Partner with Legal and Security teams as needed.

Additional Skills

  • Ability to operate in ambiguity and complexity
  • Strategic and systems thinking
  • Executive presence and credibility
  • Change leadership
  • Data-driven decision-making
  • High judgment and discretion

You’d be a good fit with: 

  • 15+ years of progressive HR experience, including senior or principal-level HR Business Partner roles.
  • Demonstrated experience supporting technology organizations (e.g., CIO, engineering, IT, cybersecurity).
  • Experience working with federal or highly regulated environments (government contracting, public sector, or similar).
  • Strong expertise in organizational design, workforce planning, and executive coaching.
  • Knowledge of employment law, employee relations, and compliance considerations.
  • Proven ability to influence and partner with senior executives.
  • Bachelor's degree.

You’d be a great fit with: 

  • Experience supporting cleared populations or federal contracts.
  • Familiarity with federal compliance requirements (e.g., OFCCP, FAR/DFARS, EEO).
  • Experience supporting large-scale digital or technology transformation initiatives.
  • Advanced degree or HR certification (e.g., SPHR)
  • Has clearance


Location: This role is based at our College Park, MD office, with the option to work a few days a week remotely.
Travel:  Up to 25%
Job ID: 1293

The approximate base salary range for this position is $169,869 - $221,514. The total compensation package includes base, bonus, and equity.

Compensation will vary based on individual factors such as education, qualifications, and experience of the final candidate(s), specific office location, and calibration against relevant market data and internal team equity.  Posted base salary figures are subject to change as new market data becomes available. Our benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, matching 401K, unlimited PTO and paid holidays, parental/adoption leave, legal insurance, and a home technology stipend.  Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided when a candidate receives an offer of employment. 


IonQ's HQ is located in College Park, Maryland, just outside of Washington DC. We are actively building out our recently opened manufacturing and production facility in Bothell, WA (near Seattle). Depending on the position, you may be required to be near one of our offices in College Park, Seattle, Toronto, Canada, and Basel, Switzerland. However, IonQ will expand into additional domestic and international geographies, so don’t let this stop you from applying!
 
At IonQ, we believe in fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all while striving to identify and eliminate barriers. We empower employees to thrive by fostering a culture of autonomy, productivity, and respect. We are dedicated to creating an environment where individuals can feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued.
 
We are committed to equity and justice. We welcome different voices and viewpoints and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, ancestry, physical and/or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

US Technical Jobs. The position you are applying for will require access to technology that is subject to U.S. export control and government contract restrictions.  Employment with IonQ is contingent on either verifying “U.S. Person” (e.g., U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. permanent resident, or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum) status for export controls and government contracts work, obtaining any necessary license, and/or confirming the availability of a license exception under U.S. export controls.  Please note that in the absence of confirming you are a U.S. Person for export control and government contracts work purposes, IonQ may choose not to apply for a license or decline to use a license exception (if available) for you to access export-controlled technology that may require authorization, and similarly, you may not qualify for government contracts work that requires U.S. Persons, and IonQ may decline to proceed with your application on those bases alone.  Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.  

US Non-Technical Jobs. Due to applicable export control laws and regulations, candidates must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e., current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum. Accordingly, we will have some additional questions regarding your immigration status that will be used for export control and compliance purposes, and the answers will be reviewed by compliance personnel to ensure compliance with federal law.

If you are interested in being a part of our team and mission, we encourage you to apply!


 

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