What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of People position at Valon Mortgage?
About the Company
Valon is transforming both mortgage servicing and consumer direct lending with a technology-first approach. Backed by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and managing over $130 billion in loans, we’ve built our platforms from the ground up—not on outdated legacy systems—so homeowners, lenders, and investors experience greater transparency, efficiency, and care. By unifying processes into a modern, AI-native operating system, we’re leading the way in automation, compliance, and continuous improvement across our servicing and lending businesses.
Our mission is to empower every homeowner by making the mortgage experience simple, secure, and financially empowering. To achieve this, we bring together world-class engineers, servicing experts, lending professionals, and operations leaders who share a passion for improving the homeowner journey. We’re not only reshaping what servicing and lending look like today—we’re creating opportunities for talented people to help drive the future of the industry.
As we continue to grow, Valon is expanding its footprint across multiple states, opening the door to exciting new roles and career paths. Joining Valon means becoming part of a fast-scaling company where innovation, collaboration, and customer impact go hand in hand. Mortgage is just the beginning—we’re building the future of regulated finance, and we want you to be part of it.
About the Role
The Director of People will lead Valon Mortgage’s People function, spanning HR, Recruiting, and Workplace Experience, to design and execute scalable systems across a multi-state, regulated environment.
This role partners closely with Valon Mortgage’s leadership team and reports to the Head of People, owning the full people and talent strategy for the Valon Mortgage team in Phoenix, AZ, and Jacksonville, FL.
The ideal candidate combines strategic acumen with operational rigor: a builder who thrives at scaling organizations while preserving culture and compliance.
Responsibilities
1. Strategic Leadership & People Strategy
Develop and execute a people strategy that supports growth from 200 1,000 employees, aligned with business goals and values.
Advise senior leadership on org design, workforce planning, and leadership development.
Build scalable systems for performance, feedback, and career progression.
Lead change management and communications to enable growth while maintaining culture.
2. HR & People Operations
Oversee all HR functions, including employee relations, compensation, benefits, compliance, and HR systems.
Ensure full multi-state employment law compliance (FLSA, wage & hour, leave laws, and local regulations).
Implement consistent policies and practices that meet the needs of both hourly non-exempt and salaried exempt employees across states.
Manage HRIS systems and reporting to deliver data-driven insights and maintain accurate employee records.
Lead total rewards strategy, balancing competitiveness, equity, and fiscal responsibility
3. Talent Acquisition & Development
Lead recruiting for high-volume operations and specialized roles in tech and servicing.
Establish recruiting processes, analytics, and internal mobility frameworks.
Build an employer brand that attracts mission-driven, top-tier talent.
4. Workplace Experience & Culture
Lead the Workplace Experience team to deliver a collaborative, engaging, and inclusive environment across physical and virtual spaces. Design hybrid work strategies that promote productivity, connection, and belonging for all employees.
Implement programs that celebrate company culture, foster employee engagement, and promote DEI initiatives.
Partner with Facilities and IT to ensure seamless operations in office environments.
5. Compliance & Risk
Maintain HR policies and procedures aligned with mortgage servicing and financial industry standards, including employee background checks and licensing compliance.
Partner with Legal and Risk to support audits and regulatory reviews as needed.
Ensure data security and confidentiality practices align with industry regulations (e.g., GLBA, FCRA).
Minimum Qualifications
10 years of progressive HR experience, including 3 years in a senior leadership role overseeing HR, Recruiting, and Workplace teams.
Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, Industrial Relations, or a related field.
Proven experience scaling an organization from ~200 to 1,000 employees across multiple states.
Deep knowledge of employment law, compensation structures, and HR compliance for both exempt and non-exempt employees.
Demonstrated success in building and managing recruiting operations in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.
Experience within financial services, fintech, or mortgage servicing preferred.
Expertise in HRIS (Rippling), ATS (Ashby), and people analytics tools; data-driven decision-maker.
Strong communication, empathy, and leadership skills with the ability to influence across all levels.
Strategic thinker who can balance long-term planning with hands-on execution.
Benefits
Compensation: competitive salary and 401 (k) plan
Health & well-being: we’ll invest in your physical and mental well-being with comprehensive medical, dental, & vision benefits
Commuter benefits: We offer pre-tax deductions for public transportation, rideshare services, and parking expenses to make your commute more affordable and convenient.
Grow together: Company-wide orientation for you to successfully onboard and other learning & development opportunities, including regular review cycles that feature 360-degree feedback
Generous time off: flexible paid time off, sick days, and 11 company holidays
Baby bonding time!: 12 weeks off for both birthing and non-birthing parents - fully paid so you can focus your energy on your newest addition
Throughout the interview process, please remember that emails will only be from valon.com emails. We won't ever be asking for any personally identifiable information during the interview process itself. Please reach out to talent@valon.com if you have any requests to verify the authenticity of an outreach.
Valon is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. Valon makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.