Senior HR Business Partner

K2 Space; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

K2 Space is seeking an HR Business Partner to shape its culture and people strategy. This role involves overseeing the employee lifecycle, ensuring HR compliance, and driving initiatives to foster engagement in a fast-paced startup environment focused on innovative spacecraft development.

Benefits

Unlimited paid time off

Comprehensive medical/dental/vision coverage

Paid parental leave

Qualifications

• 6+ years as an HR Business Partner, preferably in a fast-paced startup environment.
• Knowledge of California labor law, including wage and hour matters.
• Experience managing complex employee relations matters.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the full employee lifecycle, ensuring a seamless experience.
• Drive internal initiatives that foster employee engagement and retention.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws.

Skills

Problem Solving

Compliance Knowledge

Employee Relations

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or related field

Job description

K2 Space is building large, high-powered spacecraft for the next generation of space development. Backed by Lightspeed Venture Partners, Altimeter Capital, and many others ($180M raised to date) , we intend to mass produce the highest-powered satellite platforms ever built for missions across LEO to Deep Space.

The rise of launch vehicles like Falcon 9 and Starship enables the move from an era of mass constraint to one of mass abundance. We believe this new era requires spacecraft with a fundamentally different design in order to fully utilize the massive rockets coming to market.

We’re a team that believes the future lies in building large, high-powered satellites that can handle multiple orbits. This is a necessity if we ever want to develop the solar system, and become a Kardashev Type II (K2) civilization.

If you are a motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and you're excited about contributing to the success of a groundbreaking Series B space startup, we’d love for you to apply.

The Role

As the first HR Business Partner at K2 Space you will play a pivotal role in shaping our company's culture and people strategy. You will work closely with leadership to design and implement HR initiatives that align with our mission, fostering an innovative and inclusive environment where top talent can thrive. You will leverage your well-honed understanding of applicable labor and employment law to ensure the company is as compliant as it is compelling. This is a unique opportunity to build the HR function from the ground up in a dynamic, cutting-edge industry, driving impact at every level of the organization. If you're passionate about people and space, this is the role for you.

Responsibilities

Serve as a strategic partner and reliable resource for people managers and individual contributors, fostering a positive and productive work environment

Oversee the full employee lifecycle, from onboarding to offboarding, ensuring a seamless and positive experience for all employees.

Respond to employee questions and provide information, guidance, and direction on core HR functions

Foster a healthy and productive workplace by proactively identifying and addressing potential employee relations matters before they materialize, and by managing and driving solutions to existing employee relations matters in a timely, collaborative, and fair way

Identify, develop, and collaborate with internal stakeholders to deploy HR policies, programs, and processes that are required to meet contractual requirements, at law requirements, and that enable the business to scale

Drive internal initiatives that foster employee engagement and satisfaction, and that promote employee retention

Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws across multiple states.

Partner with leadership to ensure a safe, inclusive, and productive work environment across all sites.

Contribute to strategic initiatives that support the company’s goals, such as diversity and inclusion efforts and workforce development programs.

Qualifications

6+ years as an HR Business Partner, preferably in a fast-paced startup environment

Hand-on experience working with relevant internal stakeholders and independently managing complex employee relations matters, internal investigations, and similar contentious matters

Direct experience with California labor and employment law, including working with both non-exempt and exempt workers, wage and hour matters, employee entitlements, and similar laws and regulations

Demonstrated ability to influence and coach both people managers and individual contributors throughout an organization, achieving positive resolutions to complex matters without damaging relationships

Knowledge of how to scale a fast-paced startup

Nice to Have

Professional HR certifications such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR

Experience working in a California-based aerospace, engineering, technology, or hardware manufacturing technology startup

Experience with people data analytics

Experience managing HR functions for non-exempt employees with a deep understanding of hourly workforce dynamics and challenges, including developing and implementing compliant policies under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and other wage and hour regulations, advising managers on timekeeping, overtime, and scheduling best practices, and fostering trust and engagement to promote retention and productivity.

Compensation and Benefits:

Base salary range for this role is $120k - $150k + equity in the company

Salary will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level

Comprehensive benefits package including unlimited paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks

If you don’t meet 100% of the preferred skills and experience, we encourage you to still apply! Building a spacecraft unlike any other requires a team unlike any other and non-traditional career twists and turns are encouraged!

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

Export Compliance

As defined in the ITAR, “U.S. Persons” include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain protected individuals (e.g., refugees/asylees, American Samoans). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a “U.S. Person.”

The person hired for this role will have access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations, including the export control regulations outlined in the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). The person hired for this role must therefore either be a “U.S. person” as defined by22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.

K2 Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with K2 Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

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