Director of People
Rondo Energy
Company Overview
Rondo Energy
HeadquartersAlameda, California, United States
Founded2020
SizeEmployee count is not publicly specified, and as a private company, no revenue figures are disclosed; total funding raised is $82 million (source: cbinsights.com).
What They Do
Rondo Energy focuses on electrified thermal energy storage, specifically through its innovative Rondo Heat Battery (RHB) technology. This technology converts intermittent renewable electricity from sources such as wind and solar into high-temperature heat, which is stored in refractory bricks heated to temperatures between 1100-1500°C. The stored energy can then be dispatched as superheated air, process heat, steam, or power with an impressive efficiency of over 98% for extended periods, making it a viable solution for industries that require continuous high-temperature heat (source: rondo.com). Rondo's products are particularly targeted at sectors like steel, cement, chemicals, food processing, biofuels, textiles, and mining, where high-temperature heat is essential for operations. The company offers scalable systems ranging from pilot-scale deployments to larger commercial applications, catering to a diverse range of industrial needs (source: cbinsights.com). By providing a cost-effective alternative to lithium-ion batteries, Rondo differentiates itself in the market, focusing on thermal storage solutions that do not rely on rare materials, thus enhancing sustainability and accessibility for heavy industries globally (source: weforum.org).
Projects & Track Record
Rondo Energy has made significant strides in the deployment of its Heat Battery technology, with its first pilot-scale 2 MWh Heat Battery operational since 2023 at a California ethanol production facility. This deployment marks a pivotal moment for the company as it represents its initial major project in the field (source: canarymedia.com). The company has announced a total of 11 commercial developments, including 8 RHB deployments that collectively exceed 200 MWh. Notably, Rondo is working on a Heat-as-a-Service solution for HEINEKEN, which is powered by on-site solar and grid renewables, with support from major partners like EDP and the European Investment Bank (source: rondo.com). Rondo's partnerships span various industries, including food and beverage, cement production, mining, and textiles, with a total of 3 GWh in committed capacity across four major partnerships (source: rondo.com). The company's geographic presence is primarily in the United States, with its headquarters in Alameda and ongoing projects in California, while also expanding into Europe through its collaboration with HEINEKEN (source: cbinsights.com).
Recent Developments
In the past two years, Rondo Energy has successfully secured a Series B - II funding round, building on a previous $22 million Series A funding closed in February 2022. This funding was led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Energy Impact Partners, aimed at enhancing manufacturing capabilities and facilitating customer deliveries (source: rondo.com). The company has made headlines with its HEINEKEN Heat-as-a-Service contract, which was announced as a significant milestone in 2025, alongside the deployment of over 200 MWh across 11 commercial projects (source: rondo.com). Additionally, Rondo was granted a U.S. patent on February 25, 2025, for a thermal energy storage system that integrates with steam cracking systems, showcasing its commitment to innovation in energy storage and conversion technologies (source: cbinsights.com). While no acquisitions or mergers have been reported, Rondo continues to achieve operational milestones and gain recognition from investors for its efforts in addressing industrial heat challenges (source: canarymedia.com).
Working There
Rondo Energy's LinkedIn page indicates that the company is actively hiring for various roles primarily in engineering, manufacturing, project development, and operations. The departments include research and development focused on Heat Battery technology, sales teams targeting industrial clients, deployment teams for project execution, and support functions such as finance, reflecting the company's growth phase (source: linkedin.com). Most hiring efforts are concentrated at the Alameda headquarters, although there may be remote or project-based opportunities associated with U.S. pilots and European expansions like the HEINEKEN project (source: cbinsights.com). The company culture is characterized by a mission-driven approach to decarbonization, emphasizing collaboration with top investors and a commitment to scaling operations for profitability, as highlighted by CEO John O’Donnell in recent funding announcements (source: rondo.com). While specific employee benefits are not detailed in public sources, the venture-backed nature of Rondo suggests competitive compensation packages typical for Series B clean-tech firms in California, including potential equity options (source: linkedin.com).
Last updated on Feb 23, 2026 | Report an issue
We are looking for a Head of People to lead Rondo's global People function as we scale across commercial, engineering, manufacturing, and project-delivery operations. Reporting to the CFO, this person will develop and execute our global people strategy and create a cohesive employee experience across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and beyond. The Head of People will manage and develop the Senior Manager of People Operations while remaining hands-on in a fast-moving, technically complex environment.
What You Will Do
- Develop and execute a global people strategy aligned with Rondo's business plan, growth, and international expansion.
- Advise executives and leaders on organizational design, workforce planning, talent, culture, leadership effectiveness, and organizational change.
- Support and develop the Senior Manager of People Operations, and thoughtfully scale the People function.
- Support the Senior Manager of People Operations in international People operations, employment compliance, immigration, global mobility, worker classification, and external HR partnerships.
- Help build scalable programs across performance management, talent reviews, succession planning, leadership development, compensation, benefits, and employee engagement.
- Provide hands-on HR partnership to engineering, manufacturing, field, and project-delivery teams.
- Lead complex employee-relations matters with sound judgment, consistency, and discretion.
- Strengthen Rondo's culture and employee experience across countries, time zones, and workforce types.
- Continue developing Rondo's HRIS, People analytics, reporting, and responsible use of AI and automation.
- Use data and metrics to identify risks, measure program effectiveness, and inform executive decisions.
What You Will Bring
- 12+ years of progressive HR experience, including senior leadership and a record of building or scaling People functions.
- Experience advising executives and translating business strategy into workforce and organizational priorities.
- Significant international HR experience, ideally across Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and/or North America.
- Expertise in cross-border employment, immigration, global mobility, employment compliance, and contingent-worker models.
- Experience spanning both U.S. tech-company People practices (equity compensation, high-velocity hiring, performance frameworks) and industrial/manufacturing workforce management.
- Demonstrated success across organizational design, talent management, performance, compensation, employee relations, and culture.
- Strong business and financial acumen, executive presence, judgment, and communication skills.
- Ability to build trust with engineers, technical leaders, frontline managers, and executives.
- Comfort balancing strategic leadership with hands-on execution in a lean, rapidly evolving organization.
- Experience using HR systems, analytics, and AI-enabled tools to improve operations and decision-making.
Bonus Points
- Experience in a high-growth energy, climate-tech, industrial, manufacturing, or hardware company.
- Previous success as the senior-most People leader for a company or business unit.
- Experience implementing or scaling an HRIS across multiple countries and employee populations.
- Demonstrated expertise building visa sponsorship programs and managing complex immigration and global-mobility matters.
- SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CIPD, or a comparable advanced degree or professional certification.
What We Offer
- Comprehensive Medical Benefits
- Dental & Vision Benefits
- Life Insurance and ADD
- Up to 13 paid holidays per year, in addition to a company week-long holiday in December
- Flexible time off policy
- Catered lunches on-site
- 401(k) plan with company match
- Rondo HQ is close to Oakland airport - one block from the Bay - and has stunning Bay views!
This role necessitates being on-site at our Alameda HQ. The estimated annual salary range for this role is $225,000 - $250,000 and it would be eligible for Rondo's excellent benefits listed above plus additional compensation in the form of equity. Please note that some pay bands may have wide ranges of compensation to accommodate candidates' diverse sets of skill levels and experience.
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Apply now
Job expired?Please let Rondo Energy know you found this job on Rejobs. It helps us grow and get more people working in renewable energy.
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About the role
July 29, 2026
July 29, 2026
Full time
On-site
Company
USD 225k–250k yearly
- Alameda, California, United States
12+ years of progressive HR experience
UTC-07:00
