Human Resources Business Partner

MaC VC; Kent (WA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 196,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity stock options

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Life and disability insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off (4 weeks)

Holidays 11 days

Paid family/parental leave

On-site gym

Dog-friendly offices

Job summary

Stoke Space is seeking an experienced Human Resources Business Partner to drive people strategy across our growing team in Kent, WA. You will partner with leaders to design and implement programs spanning workforce planning, performance, development, and organizational design.

You will balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution in a fast-paced startup environment, ensuring alignment with ITAR and compliance while fostering a culture of accountability and high performance.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of HR experience in fast-paced environments with a related degree.
• Strong problem-solving and judgement in ambiguous situations.
• Ability to translate strategic initiatives into tactical execution.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with strong listening.
• Experience with MS Suite, HRIS, ATS, Slack, Confluence, etc.

Responsibilities

• Advise leaders on people, talent, and org matters and translate priorities into people strategies.
• Guide leadership on performance, development, and employee relations to build strong teams.
• Manage complex employee relations with empathy and sound judgment.
• Partner on performance management, reviews, promotions, and development.
• Coach leaders on team dynamics and organizational design.
• Collaborate on organizational changes, headcount planning, and talent trends.
• Support Total Rewards in compensation decisions and leveling philosophy.
• Use data to identify trends and propose improvements.

Skills

HR strategy

Employee relations

Talent development

People analytics

Leadership coaching

Change management

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Tools

MS Office

HRIS

ATS

Slack

Confluence

Job description

Description

We are seeking an experienced Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) to help drive people strategy and execution across our growing company. This is an exciting opportunity to support and partner with the Nova team, who are responsible for designing, building, and testing our rapidly reusable rocket. You must be ready to stay focused, move fast, self-direct, and learn on the fly.

The HRBP will bring a combination of strong business acumen, sound HR judgment, and a practical, solutions-oriented approach. You’ll work across the full range of the employee lifecycle from workforce planning to performance, coaching, employee relations, and organizational development.

This is a hands-on role in a fast-growing environment. You should be comfortable operating strategically while also rolling up your sleeves to solve problems and get things done.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted advisor and thought partner to leaders and managers on people, talent, and organizational matters. Develop a deep understanding of business priorities and translate them into effective people strategies and solutions.
• Provide practical guidance on leadership effectiveness, communication, employee development, performance management, and navigating difficult employee situations. Help managers build strong teams, address performance concerns early, and create an environment where employees can do their best work.
• Manage complex employee relations matters and sensitive workplace issues with empathy, sound judgment, integrity, and discretion. Balance employee experience, business needs, and company policies while helping leaders navigate challenging situations effectively.
• Partner with leaders throughout the performance management cycle, including goal setting, performance reviews, talent development, promotions, and performance improvement. Collaborate with the broader HR team on leadership development, talent planning, and other initiatives that strengthen organizational capability.
• Coach leaders on team dynamics and management style, and act as a resilient partner who can hold their ground and thrive under pressure.
• Partner with leaders on organizational design, headcount planning, team effectiveness, and organizational changes. Identify organizational and people trends and translate insights into practical recommendations that support business objectives.
• Partner with leaders and the Total Rewards team on compensation decisions, promotions, and organizational changes. Support annual compensation and performance cycles and help leaders understand and consistently apply the company’s compensation and leveling philosophy.
• Leverage employee feedback, people data, and business insights to identify trends, anticipate challenges, and recommend solutions that improve organizational effectiveness and the employee experience.
• Collaborate across HR, Recruiting, and other functions to develop, improve, and implement practical, scalable HR programs and processes aligned with evolving business needs. Support company-wide people initiatives and organizational change efforts.
• Build credibility and trust with employees and managers through responsive, thoughtful, and solutions-oriented support. Foster strong partnerships across the organization and follow through to deliver meaningful outcomes.
• Demonstrate the Stoke values through everyday actions, exercise sound judgment, and reinforce a culture of accountability, integrity, and high performance.

Must-Have Qualifications

• 6+ years of progressive HR experience in fast-paced environments plus a degree in HR, business, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Problem-solving skills and ability to use judgement when navigating ambiguous situations.
• Ability to transition seamlessly from developing and implementing strategic initiatives through to executing tactical activities.
• Superior written and verbal communication acumen, including strong listening skills.
• Strong systems experience, including MS Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint), HR Information Systems, Applicant Tracking Systems, Slack, Confluence, etc.
• A positive, can-do attitude and a desire to be part of a fun, dynamic team.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience supporting complex engineering, hardware, or manufacturing groups
• Rippling and Greenhouse experience preferred but not required

Benefits

• Equity – We are pleased to offer equity in the form of stock options to all regular, full-time employees.
• Comprehensive benefits program including subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Company-paid life and disability insurance
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• 4 weeks’ Paid Time Off
• Holidays – 11 days (including an end-of-year closure)
• Paid Family/Parental Leave
• On-site gym or monthly wellness stipend (depending on location)
• Dog friendly offices!

Compensation

Target Levels:

• Level 3: $100,275 - $150,360
• Level 4: $117,495 - $195,720

Our job posts are intentionally written to attract a wide variety of experience levels, and we make decisions about the right fit on a per-candidate basis.

Your actual level and base salary will be decided based on your specific experience and skill level.

ITAR Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S. (i.e., current Green Card holder), or protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

Equal Opportunity

The Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including with respect to disability and veteran status. It is committed to compliance with all equal opportunity laws, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and Title VII. It does not discriminate on the basis of nationality, race, citizenship, immigration status, or any other protected class when it comes to employment practices, including hiring.

Employment at the Company is contingent upon satisfactory completion of reference and backgroundchecks, and on your ability to prove your identity and authorization to work in the U.S. for the Company. Employees must comply with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services employment verification requirements, and, therefore, they must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 at the start of employment and re-verify authorization to work periodically.

Separate from this I-9 process, as noted above, this position entails access to certain technology and technical data that is restricted under U.S. export control laws and regulations. Employment or continued employment may be conditioned on your legal authorization to work with or have access to export control materials as necessary to perform your job.

Candidate Rights & Accommodations

If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete the application or participate in the interview process, please contact [e-mail]. Requests will be handled in accordance with applicable laws. Please do not include medical or other confidential information in your initial request.

For more information about your rights, please refer to the "Know Your Rights" notice here.

E-Verify

Stoke Space uses E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires.

For more information on the right to work, please refer to the poster here.