JOB DESCRIPTION
Senior Vice President, Human Resources
Department
People/HR
Reports To
CEO
Location
Austin, TX
FLSA Status
Exempt
Employment Type
Full-Time
Position Summary
CMG is a federally licensed energetics manufacturer on a mission to rebuild America's defense industrial base. The Senior Vice President, Human Resources is CMG's most senior People leader, owning the strategy, infrastructure, and execution of the full HR function — talent acquisition, total rewards, HR compliance, employee relations, and organizational development — as the company scales rapidly across its Texas and Colorado sites. Reporting directly to the CEO and partnering closely with Senior Leadership and the Board, this role builds the people infrastructure that will carry CMG from early-stage startup to a scaled defense manufacturer.
Key Responsibilities
HR Strategy & Organizational Leadership
• Own CMG's overall HR strategy, aligning people initiatives with business priorities and growth plans.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO, Senior Leadership, and the Board on organizational design, workforce planning, and culture.
• Build and lead the People function as CMG scales, including future People team hiring.
Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning
• Set strategy and priorities for full-cycle talent acquisition across all CMG functions.
• Partner with executive leadership on headcount planning and org design as CMG scales.
• Ensure CMG's hiring practices meet the compliance needs of a federally licensed defense manufacturer (ATF, ITAR/export control, security clearances).
Total Rewards & HR Systems
• Own compensation strategy and structure, including oversight of CMG's compensation benchmarking tools and pay bands.
• Oversee benefits strategy and administration.
• Own CMG's HRIS (Rippling) and related People systems and processes.
Compliance & Employee Relations
• Ensure HR policy and practice compliance with applicable federal and state employment law, as well as CMG's regulatory environment (ATF, DoD, export control).
• Own employee relations strategy, including policy development and escalation handling.
• Partner with Legal on employment matters as needed.
Culture & Organizational Development
• Build and champion CMG's culture and values as the company scales headcount rapidly.
• Design and oversee onboarding, training, performance management, and career-development programs.
• Lead organizational change management as CMG grows and evolves.
Qualifications
Required
• 7+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, including senior/executive-level HR leadership.
• Proven experience building or significantly scaling an HR function at a high-growth or startup company.
• Strong command of total rewards, HR compliance, and organizational development.
• Excellent executive presence and the ability to partner effectively with a CEO, executive team, and Board.
• High tolerance for ambiguity and a hands-on, build-from-scratch mindset.
Preferred
• Experience in a manufacturing, defense, or government-contracting environment.
• Familiarity with ATF, ITAR/export control, or security-clearance considerations as they affect HR practice.
• SPHR, SHRM-SCP, or equivalent HR certification.
This job description reflects the general nature and level of work performed and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Critical Materials Group reserves the right to amend this description at any time.
Skills Required
- 7+ years of progressive HR leadership experience, including senior or executive-level HR leadership
- Experience building or significantly scaling an HR function at a high-growth or startup company
- Strong command of total rewards, HR compliance, and organizational development
- Excellent executive presence and ability to partner with a CEO, executive team, and Board
- High tolerance for ambiguity and a hands-on, build-from-scratch mindset
- Experience in a manufacturing, defense, or government-contracting environment
- Familiarity with ATF, ITAR/export control, or security-clearance considerations affecting HR practice
- SPHR, SHRM-SCP, or equivalent HR certification
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What We Do
Critical Materials Group (CMG) is a federally licensed manufacturer and importer focused on military-grade explosive materials and energetics. The company aims to eliminate single points of failure in defense-materials supply by building next-generation manufacturing processes and facilities, delivering mission-critical capabilities to defense arsenals. Its operations comply with ATF regulations and ITAR requirements, supporting government and military procurement with scalable, reliable supply.









