People Business Partner

About Focused Energy

Focused Energy is the leading laser-driven fusion company, pursuing the most promising path to clean, limitless fusion power. With locations in Darmstadt, Germany, and the San Francisco Bay Area, we bring together top scientific and engineering minds to unlock commercially viable fusion energy using proven technologies. We are driving the next chapter of economic growth and scientific innovation through the widespread adoption of clean, abundant fusion energy.

Role Overview

Focused Energy is growing fast, and the demand on our People function only increases as the company continues to scale. We’re seeking a People Business Partner that will be a reliable, business-facing People partner for our HQ-based teams. Focused on supporting managers and employees through a period of strong growth, while helping establish the foundations of how Business Partnering works at Focused Energy alongside the global PBP team.

This impactful add to the team will have the ability to be an internal champion for those in need of guidance and help, while helping drive continuous improvement-based projects across the following areas: onboarding, performance cycles, offboarding, along with other meaningful challenges that come into our horizon.

What You’ll Do:

• Serve as the day-to-day People partner for assigned areas at Darmstadt HQ, building trusted relationships with managers and being their first point of contact for people matters.

• Handle employee relations cases end-to-end, including performance management and conflict resolution, ensuring consistency, fairness, and compliance with German employment law.

• Coach and upskill line managers on core people processes - feedback conversations, probation reviews, team dynamics - reducing escalations and building manager confidence over time.

• Support company growth in close partnership with the wider People function and business managers - covering workforce planning, headcount tracking, talent reviews, succession planning, and hiring, while also driving onboarding quality and early retention for new joiners.

• Support the rollout and continuous improvement of people processes (onboarding, performance cycles, offboarding) across HQ teams, in close coordination with the senior PBP.

• Contribute to building out the BP operating model — documenting how we work, identifying gaps in current processes, and proposing practical solutions that can scale.

Who You Are:

• Min 5 years in People/HR, combining a solid generalist foundation across ER, talent, and people processes with hands-on business partnering experience

• Working knowledge of German employment law and HR practice

• Experience managing employee relations cases independently

• Familiarity with career frameworks and compensation structures

• Ability to advise and coach managers on everyday people matters

• Comfortable working with HR data and using it to inform decisions

• Strong relationship-building skills, able to earn trust quickly across levels

• Clear and direct communicator, written and verbal, in both German and English

• Self-driven, solutions-focused and collaborative, excited by the opportunity to build

• Comfortable with ambiguity; able to make progress without a fully defined playbook

• High level of discretion sound judgment in sensitive situations

Preferred:

• Experience in a scale-up, deep tech, or high-growth environment

• Exposure to org design or workforce planning processes

What we offer:

• Innovative Technology & Mission: Be part of a cutting-edge company working on groundbreaking research in clean energy and scientific discovery.

• Career Development: We invest in our people. This is an opportunity to join an early, growing company at the forefront of new technology, where you’ll have the opportunity to develop and grow your career.

• Collaborative Culture: Work with great people in a dynamic, international environment with top-tier scientists, engineers and professionals passionate about solving global challenges.

• Ownership: Take ownership from day 1 and drive impact by making decisions, solving challenges and shaping the future of our company.

• Your Success is our Success: We offer a competitive salary and company ownership in the form of stock options, giving you a direct stake in our success and ownership in what we build together.

• Vacation Days: We support your work-life-balance by granting you 30 days of vacation per year.

• Snacks and Drinks: Our office fridges are never empty. Enjoy our healthy snacks and drinks. Our Darmstadt office even offers a subsidized canteen with delicious lunch options daily.

• Retirement Plan: If you decide for a private pension plan, we will finance 15% on top of your monthly contributions.

• Equipment: Choose between a state-of-the-art Windows or Apple Laptop. In addition, you will receive a keyboard, mouse and headset so you are fully equipped from day 1.

• Events: We organize regular events to foster team bonding, encourage collaboration, and build a strong, supportive company culture. Connect with colleagues across departments, share ideas, and have fun together, both in and outside of the workplace.

• Mobility with NAVIT: We partner with NAVIT to support your flexible commuting needs—whether it’s a public transportation ticket, taxi rides or car-sharing you choose what fits your lifestyle.

• Fitness with Wellhub: We care about your health. Get access to a wide range of gyms, fitness studios and wellness services across Europe through our partnership with Wellhub.

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.