Job Description
About Focused Energy
Focused Energy is the leading laser-driven fusion company pursuing the most promising path to clean, limitless fusion power. The global company, based in Darmstadt, Germany and the San Francisco Bay Area, has brought together the top scientific and engineering minds using proven technologies to unlock fusion power at commercial scale. Focused Energy is working to unleash the next chapter of economic growth and scientific innovation through the widespread adoption of clean, abundant fusion power.
We are seeking an HR Business Partner to join our People team in Darmstadt. As the only onsite HR, you will be the trusted point of contact for employees and managers, ensuring smooth day-to-day HR operations while also partnering with leadership on people topics. Your first mission will be to stabilize and strengthen the Darmstadt team through reliable HR processes, employee support, and strong compliance. Over time, you will also contribute to broader HR programs and initiatives across Focused Energy globally.
We're building something extraordinary – a place where innovation meets empathy, and where People Team isn't just a department, but the heartbeat of our organization.
What you'll do (Job Responsibilities)
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Act as the primary HR contact for all employees and managers in Darmstadt, handling day-to-day questions and providing care and guidance.
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Partner with local leadership to support organizational priorities, employee relations, and performance enablement.
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Own the onboarding and offboarding process in Darmstadt — from preparing documents and equipment to ensuring a smooth experience.
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Manage HR operations locally: employment contracts, personnel files, GDPR compliance, payroll input collection, and absence/leave tracking.
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Collaborate with the HR Ops team in Berlin on payroll, benefits, and systems while serving as the local point of accountability.
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Provide guidance on employee relations matters with empathy, discretion, and compliance in mind.
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Support and guide managers through performance reviews, feedback conversations, and career development planning.
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Foster engagement and culture by organizing and implementing HR initiatives for the Darmstadt team.
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Contribute to company-wide HR processes and programs — supporting the design, rollout, and continuous improvement of initiatives that enhance the employee experience across all the markets.
Who you are (Required Skills & Experience)
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5+ years of HR experience, ideally combining HR operations and HR business partnering.
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Solid knowledge of German labor law and compliance; GDPR familiarity required.
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Experience managing employment contracts, payroll inputs, and employee files with accuracy.
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Able to balance day-to-day operational responsibilities with strategic HR partnering.
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Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; able to build trust at all levels of the organization.
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Fluent in German and English.
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Comfortable with digital tools (Google Workspace / MS Office); open to adopting HR systems in the future.
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Experience in a startup or international environment is a strong plus.
Why Work with Us?
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Innovative Technology & Mission: Be part of a cutting-edge company working on groundbreaking research in clean energy and scientific discovery.
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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.
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Collaborative Culture: Work with great people in a dynamic, international environment with top-tier scientists, engineers, and professionals passionate about solving global challenges.
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Ownership: Take ownership from day 1 and drive impact by making decisions, solving challenges, and shaping the future of our company.
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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.
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Vacation Days: We support your work-life-balance by granting you 30 days of vacation per year.
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Flexibility: We believe that work should fit around your life, not the other way around. We offer the ability to work from our office, but some flexibility to work from home as well.
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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.
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Retirement Plan: If you decide for a private pension plan, we will finance 15% on top of your monthly contributions.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.