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.