The People Business Partner is an early-career business partner role responsible for providing hands-on, on-site support to a large and dynamic employee population across manufacturing, engineering, and operational functions. This role works closely with Senior People Business Partners and business leaders to deliver consistent, responsive, and practical people support while building broad HR business partnering capability.
The People Business Partner serves as a highly visible resource to employees and front-line managers, helping address day-to-day employee relations matters, policy interpretation, performance concerns, workforce changes, and other employee lifecycle needs. The role requires a strong on-site presence, sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to build trusted relationships in a fast-paced environment.
This position is required to work on-site five days per week with the ability to work flexible hours as needed to support our growing 24x7 operation.
What you'll do:
- Partner closely with Senior People Business Partners to support a large employee population across manufacturing, engineering, and other technical or operational functions
- Serve as a first point of contact for routine employee and manager questions, escalating complex or high-risk matters to a Senior BP or appropriate HR subject matter expert
- Develop a strong understanding of the assigned organization, including workforce needs, organizational structure, operational priorities, and employee challenges
- Support Senior BPs in preparing for and following up on leadership meetings, talent discussions, workforce planning activities, organizational changes, and other people initiatives
- Help identify recurring people issues and trends and bring observations and recommendations forward to the Senior BP team
- Maintain strong visibility and accessibility with employees and managers by regularly spending time in assigned work areas
- Provide guidance and coaching to managers on routine employee relations matters, including attendance, performance, workplace behavior, policy interpretation, and interpersonal concerns
- Conduct or support fact-finding and preliminary employee relations reviews under the guidance of a Senior BP
- Assist with employee investigations, documentation, interviews, and follow-up actions as appropriate
- Support employee engagement, retention, recognition, onboarding, and communication initiatives
- Partner with managers to identify opportunities to improve the employee experience, communication, and team effectiveness
- Help ensure that employees working across shifts and functions have equitable access to People support and information
- Support administration and employee communication related to leaves of absence, accommodations, and return-to-work processes in partnership with the appropriate HR team members
- Assist with onboarding, internal transfers, promotions, organizational changes, and offboarding activities
- Help ensure employee records, HR documentation, and transactions are completed accurately and in a timely manner
- Support the implementation of company-wide People programs and initiatives within assigned client groups
- Assist with performance management, talent review, engagement surveys, compensation processes, and other annual HR cycles
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned
What we’re looking for:
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
- 2–5 years of progressive Human Resources experience, preferably in a manufacturing, engineering, technical, industrial, or other fast-paced operational environment
- Experience supporting or exposure to employee relations matters, including performance management, attendance, workplace conduct, and manager coaching
- Experience with or exposure to employee benefits administration, leave administration, or employee lifecycle processes
- Demonstrated ability to handle confidential information with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment
- Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills with the ability to work effectively with employees ranging from front-line technicians to senior leaders
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced and changing environment
- Experience supporting a large employee population or multiple business functions
- Experience in a manufacturing, engineering, R&D, startup, or rapidly scaling organization
- Experience supporting shift-based, hourly, exempt, and non-exempt employee populations
- Familiarity with employment law and HR compliance requirements
Bonus points for:
- PHR, SHRM-CP, or progress toward an HR certification
Must-have Requirements:
- Perform activities such as typing, standing, or sitting for extended periods of time
- Dedication to safety to mitigate industrial hazards that may include heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead (Pb), high voltage, and cryogenics
- Willingness to travel or work required nights/weekends/on-call occasionally
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or a related field, or equivalent education and experience
- 2-5 years of progressive Human Resources experience
- Experience supporting or exposure to employee relations matters, including performance management, attendance, workplace conduct, and manager coaching
- Experience with or exposure to employee benefits administration, leave administration, or employee lifecycle processes
- Ability to handle confidential information professionally and exercise discretion and sound judgment
- Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills with employees and senior leaders
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Highly organized and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, changing environment
- Experience supporting a large employee population or multiple business functions
- Experience in a manufacturing, engineering, R&D, startup, or rapidly scaling organization
- Experience supporting shift-based, hourly, exempt, and non-exempt employee populations
- Familiarity with employment law and HR compliance requirements
- PHR, SHRM-CP, or progress toward an HR certification
- Ability to type, stand, or sit for extended periods
- Dedication to safety in an industrial environment with potential exposure to heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead, high voltage, and cryogenics
- Willingness to work on-site five days per week and flexible hours as needed
- Willingness to travel or work occasional nights, weekends, or on-call shifts
What We Do
Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) has the fastest, lowest cost path to commercial fusion energy. CFS is collaborating with MIT to leverage decades of research combined with new groundbreaking high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet technology. HTS magnets will enable compact fusion power plants that can be constructed faster and at lower cost. CFS is now building SPARC, the world's first commercially relevant, net energy fusion demonstration device. SPARC will pave the way for the first fusion power plant, ARC, that will produce power on the grid. The ultimate mission is to deploy fusion power plants to meet global decarbonization goals as fast as possible. CFS has assembled a team of leaders in tough tech, fusion science, and manufacturing with a track record of rapid execution. Supported by the world’s leading investors, CFS is uniquely positioned to deliver limitless, clean, fusion power to combat climate change. If you are interested in joining our team, check out cfs.energy/careers for more information.
