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Head of People

Nashville or Crossville, TN

Our Company

Whisper Aero is pioneering a more compelling and connected future by delivering cleaner, quieter, and more efficient propulsion solutions. Today's open rotor propulsion systems are challenged by safety, noise, and performance limitations at all scales. Whisper's breakthrough technologies allow aircraft to fly anywhere at any time without disturbing communities, at greater speeds, and with incredible improvements in efficiency and cost. Their innovations also enable a new generation of air moving products that can blend into the soundscapes of daily life. Whisper was founded by industry veterans, Mark Moore and Ian Villa, and continues to innovate a future that’s as considerate as it is compelling with its world-class team in Tennessee. 

About the Role 

As Whisper Aero scales rapidly, the VP of People will build the people systems and operating cadence needed to support growth with speed, clarity, and consistently high standards. You will shape the people strategy behind innovative technology that is redefining electric propulsion with quiet, efficient, and scalable solutions. 

Reporting to the CEO and partnering directly with an ambitious founding team and company leadership, you will architect the organizational structure, develop the leadership bench, and build the people systems required to power a rapidly growing organization as we expand, launch new products, enter new markets, and deepen strategic partnerships. We’re looking for a leader who has seen similar growth stages with a founder-led business, who has successfully built teams and operating structures, and who has implemented people programs that enable growth without sacrificing performance, compliance, or execution quality. 

Great candidates will bring not just HR leadership, but also strong business judgment and strategic thinking. They will contribute meaningfully to discussions that extend beyond traditional People topics. The strongest candidates will be as comfortable debating organizational strategy, growth plans, and business tradeoffs as they are leading people function. 

What You’ll Do 

About The Role 

Build the leadership, organizational, and management foundations that enable Whisper Aero to grow while remaining fast, accountable, and operationally excellent. As we grow in complexity, geography, and headcount, the VP of People will ensure our leadership capability, organizational effectiveness, workforce governance, and global people infrastructure evolve to support the company's ambitions. 

Responsibilities 

Organizational & Leadership Development 

  • Partner with the CEO and leadership team on organizational design, leadership development, succession planning, and workforce strategy. 
  • Develop managers and leaders across the company and help raise the overall quality of leadership. 
  • Serve as a trusted advisor on organizational, leadership, management, and workforce-related decisions. 

People Strategy & Operations 

  • Own and develop the People function, including HR business partnership, people operations, employee relations, compensation and benefits, performance management, compliance, and workforce planning. 
  • Build the systems, processes, tools, and operating mechanisms required to support a rapidly growing and increasingly complex business. Navigate future ERP upgrades. 
  • Build and lead a high-performing People team that scales alongside the business. 
  • Think end-to-end about the employee experience, removing barriers or friction from enabling employees to complete their life’s work. 
  • Maintain and update Whisper’s organizational charts and succession plans where appropriate. 
  • Coordinate with Office leads monthly employee onsite events, when flexplace employees regularly visit onsite, and offsite events for team planning. 
  • Reinforce cultural values and practices, working with Design to ensure these show up naturally and intuitively across the employee experience. 

Growth & Workforce Infrastructure 

  • Lead the evolution of Whisper Aero's workforce strategy, including hiring, employment practices, compensation, mobility, immigration, workforce planning, and distributed team support. 
  • Partner closely with our Talent team to ensure hiring standards, onboarding, leadership development, performance management, promotion expectations, workforce planning, and retention strategies work together to strengthen the organization over time. 
  • Evaluate and recommend the systems, partners, and organizational investments required to support continued expansion and company growth. 
  • Collaborate with Whisper’s Finance team to build benefits packages and compensation bands. Cross-collaborate with Whisper’s other teams to ensure compensation packages align with performance and culture expectations. 

Compliance, Governance & Risk 

  • Ensure the company maintains strong employment, compliance, and workforce governance practices across all jurisdictions in which we operate. 
  • Oversee employee relations, investigations, policy development, and people-related risk management while balancing business needs, employee experience, and legal obligations. 
  • Partner effectively with external legal, immigration, and compliance experts to ensure the company scales responsibly. 

Basic Qualifications 

Who You Are 

You believe a great People strategy will empower Whisper Aero to build a stronger company, better serve our customers, and execute on increasingly ambitious goals. You also recognize that the decisions we make as a company have a profound impact on our people, their careers, growth, and lives. You take that responsibility seriously and strive to build an environment where the business thrives because our people do. 

Your Resume 

  • You lead the People business function through significant growth at least once, partnering closely with founders, CEOs, and executive teams. 
  • You've successfully scaled teams, systems, and processes that support growth and increasing organizational complexity. 
  • You've helped navigate increasing organizational complexity without sacrificing performance, and making sure the company remains compliant, well-governed, and operationally sound. 
  • There’s a list of leaders you’ve partnered with or helped develop who still seek your opinion and advice. 
  • You're a go to expert on core People programs, including performance management, compensation and benefits strategies, employee relations, compliance, workforce planning, and people operations. 
  • You've operated in environments where execution matters, not just ideas, built systems that make the company run better, not slower. 
  • You use data and describe outcomes to articulate the difference you’ve made in the companies you’ve helped build and lead. 

Bonus Qualifications 

  • Worked previously at a deep tech, hardware, or aerospace startup from Series A/B to growth stages. 
  • Familiarity with AI tools (not just ChatGPT, Claude, or an AI notetaker). 
  • A zeal for flight and experience flying drones or aircraft 
  • Design or photography skills 

Benefits: 

  • Top-tier Benefits: Employee-first focused comprehensive benefits package, minimum of 90% employer-paid plans for employees and dependents with optional HSA/FSA account offerings
  • PTO & Federal Holidays: Starting at four weeks of paid time off for vacation, sick, and personal days
  • Competitive Salary: Value-based compensation, plus enjoy Tennessee’s no-income-tax life
  • End of Year Bonuses: For eligible employees
  • We always have beverages and snacks available to energize you throughout the day, with paid team meals based on office demands.
  • 401(k) 
  • Relocation Assistance
  • Professional Development Stipend

Whisper Aero is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. All aspects of employment are decided on the basis of merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Whisper Aero also participates in E-Verify and will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each applicant's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization.

 

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