VP of People Operations

About Focused Energy

Focused Energy is a laser-driven fusion energy company with teams in both Germany and the U.S. We are on a mission to bring clean, abundant energy to the world by advancing inertial confinement fusion technology. As we continue to grow our global team and capabilities, we are building the foundations of a scalable, high-integrity organization that can support scientific innovation and commercial readiness.

What You’ll Do

• Own and operate the full scope of People Operations — from onboarding to offboarding and everything in between

  Build and scale foundational HR infrastructure to support a growing, international team

  Lead prioritization and resourcing across People Ops projects, ensuring efforts are aligned with business and financial goals

  Design and implement compliant, streamlined systems for payroll, benefits, time-tracking, HRIS, and employee lifecycle management

  Build and own the People Tech stack, serving as primary partner to IT and functional owner of HR tools

  Drive automation and AI adoption across operational workflows

  Conduct data-driven analysis and research to inform scalable HR strategies as we expand globally

  Serve as a trusted partner to leadership on workforce planning, policy, and org operations

  Build, hire, and develop a high-impact People Operations team with a focus on ownership, growth, and executional excellence

  Partner with leadership, Recruiting, and learning stakeholders to design and deliver onboarding and enablement programs

  Run employee engagement programs such as surveys, feedback loops, and team offsites

  Drive process improvement and operational excellence across core people functions

  Who You Are

  • 10+ years of experience in HR or People Operations, with a track record of leading operational teams and scaling infrastructure

    Deep experience owning people systems and programs across international markets

    Passionate about the intersection of HR and technology; adept in building and evolving HR tech stacks

    Hands-on leader with experience implementing and integrating tools

    Strong organizational, budgeting, and prioritization instincts; data- and research-driven decision-maker

    Able to prioritize and scope competing initiatives, with strong organizational and budgeting instincts

    Experienced in designing and running employee engagement programs (e.g., surveys, feedback loops, offsites)

    Comfortable operating in a globally distributed environment, across multiple time zones and legal frameworks

    Driven by data and research; applies insights to inform decisions and build scalable solutions

    Able to build trust with cross-functional partners while managing sensitive or confidential issues with discretion

    Thrive in a high-growth, evolving environment with many unknowns

    Bring a hands-on, builder mentality — willing to roll up your sleeves to get things done

    Why Work With Us?

    This is a rare opportunity to help build a global clean energy company from the ground up. You'll shape the systems, processes, and culture that define how we work and scale — directly enabling the people behind a transformative technology.

    
    Focused Energy is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender perception or identity, national origin, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or disability status.

    Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, Focused Energy will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

    Compensation offered will be determined by factors such as location, level, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. Certain roles may be eligible for incentive compensation, equity, benefits.