One team. Global challenges. Infinite opportunities. At Viasat, we’re on a mission to deliver connections with the capacity to change the world. For more than 35 years, Viasat has helped shape how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the globe communicate. We’re looking for people who think big, act fearlessly, and create an inclusive environment that drives positive impact to join our team.
What you'll do
We're thrilled to announce an exciting opportunity to join our Viasat Government People & Culture (P&C) team as a Vice President, People Systems and Programs. This hybrid role offers the best of both worlds: meaningful collaboration in our Carlsbad office and the flexibility of remote work.
The Vice President, People Systems and Programs is a strategic executive responsible for designing and delivering integrated people services, systems, and programs that enable organizational performance and operational excellence. This role leads enterprise-wide functions including compensation, payroll, people and culture technologies, employee relations, and people operations, ensuring alignment with the company’s mission, values, and business objectives.
As a key member of the People & Culture leadership team, the VP People Systems and Programs partners with senior leaders across the business to shape the employee experience, optimize people systems and services, and drive a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement. This role is instrumental in building scalable infrastructure and data-driven solutions to support a high-performing, secure, and inclusive workforce in a complex, regulated defense technology environment. If you are ready to lead with purpose and partner at the highest levels of impact, we invite you to explore this opportunity.
The day-to-day
Strategic People Systems & Services
• Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy for people systems and programs that supports business growth, compliance, and workforce effectiveness.
• Lead the design, implementation, and optimization of HRIS, payroll, and compensation systems to ensure seamless integration, scalability, and data integrity.
• Ensure all people services are delivered with operational excellence, user-centric design, and continuous improvement.
Compensation and Payroll Leadership
• Oversee Viasat Government compensation strategy, including benchmarking, pay equity, incentive design, and executive compensation.
• Ensure payroll operations are compliant, accurate, and efficient across all jurisdictions, with robust controls and audit readiness.
• Partner with Finance and Legal to ensure alignment with regulatory and fiscal requirements.
People Technology and Data Strategy
• Own the roadmap for people and culture technologies, including HRIS, case management, employee engagement platforms, and analytics tools.
• Drive digital transformation across Viasat Government P&C by leveraging automation, AI, and data analytics to improve service delivery and decision-making.
• Ensure systems are secure, scalable, and aligned with defense industry standards and cybersecurity protocols.
Employee Relations and Culture Enablement
• Lead the employee relations function, ensuring fair, consistent, and legally compliant practices that support a positive workplace culture.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leaders on complex employee matters, organizational effectiveness, and risk mitigation.
• Embed inclusive practices and ethical standards into all people programs and policies.
Cross Functional Collaboration
• Partner with Talent, Business Partners, and COEs to ensure seamless integration of systems and services across the employee lifecycle.
• Collaborate with IT, Legal, and Compliance to ensure systems and processes meet internal and external regulatory requirements.
• Support enterprise change initiatives through effective communication, training, and stakeholder engagement.
Team Leadership and Capability Building
• Lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing team of compensation, payroll, systems, and employee relations professionals.
• Set clear goals, foster accountability, and build capabilities to support evolving business needs.
• Champion a culture of service excellence, innovation, and continuous learning.
What you'll need
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Information Systems, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in HR/P&C operations
• Proven success in designing and implementing enterprise-wide people systems and services.
• Deep understanding of HR/P&C technologies, data governance, and compliance frameworks.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder management, and change management capabilities.
What will help you on the job
• Strategic thinking, ability to align systems and services with long term business goals
• Operational excellence, expertise in designing scalable, efficient, and compliant processes.
• Digital fluency, skilled in HR/P&C tech, data analytics, and digital transformation
• Relationship building, strong calibration and influence across functions and levels
• Change leadership, drives adoption and engagement through thoughtful change strategies
• Integrity and inclusion, upholds ethical standards and fosters an inclusive workplace.
Salary range
$234,000.00 - $333,500.00 / annually. For specific work locations within San Jose, the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, the base pay range for this role is $283,500.00- $383,500.00/ annually
At Viasat, we consider many factors when it comes to compensation, including the scope of the position as well as your background and experience. Base pay may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Additional cash or stock incentives may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position offered. Learn more about Viasat’s comprehensive benefit offerings that are focused on your holistic health and wellness at https://careers.viasat.com/benefits.
EEO Statement
Viasat is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, seeking to create a welcoming and diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, genetics, age, or veteran status or any other applicable legally protected status or characteristic. If you would like to request an accommodation on the basis of disability for completing this on-line application, please click here.
