People & Culture Generalist

Job description

Company Overview Zeno Power is the leading developer of nuclear batteries – compact power systems that provide reliable, clean energy in frontier environments. By harnessing the heat from radioisotopes, Zeno’s batteries power critical missions on Earth, in space, and at sea. To bring this technology to market by 2027, Zeno is seeking out purpose-driven and innovative professionals who are comfortable working in a startup environment. Team members will have a direct impact in enabling commercial and national security missions from the depths of our oceans, to the surface of the moon, and in austere environments here on Earth. Zeno is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified, diverse, and dedicated work force. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. About the Role We’re hiring a People & Culture (P&C) Generalist to join our small team as Zeno grows beyond 100 employees. This is a hands-on generalist role for someone with experience supporting core P&C functions across the employee lifecycle, rather than a role focused on one specialty area. In this role, you will manage the details that shape an employee's experience, keep our records and systems reliable, and build processes that can scale with the company. This role is for someone who cares equally about people and operational quality. A welcoming first day matters – and so does an accurate I-9, a well-documented employee change, and HRIS data we can trust. You will be expected to notice gaps, work through ambiguity, and improve a process instead of accepting the status quo. You will work cross-functionally with Recruiting, Finance, IT, and Operations and will report to the Director of People & Culture. In this role you will: Own – and continuously improve – onboarding from offer acceptance through an employee's first weeks. This includes coordinating systems, documentation, equipment, schedules, and internal partners to create a thoughtful and consistent welcome. Manage employee lifecycle processes and documentation, including background checks, employment eligibility verification, employee changes, promotions, transfers, and offboarding. Maintain accurate employee records and HRIS data, conduct regular audits, and build reliable tracking and reporting mechanisms. Improve P&C workflows, templates, knowledge resources, and systems. Use automation and sound process design to reduce manual work, strengthen controls, and prepare the function for continued growth. Administer employee benefits, including enrollments, qualifying life events, terminations, employee education, vendor coordination, and support for annual open enrollment. Support employee leave processes in accordance with company policies and applicable requirements, coordinating with employees, internal stakeholders (e.g., Finance and IT), and managers. Serve as a dependable point of contact for employees’ questions about benefits, policies, leaves, and P&C processes. Must be able to explain information clearly, follow through, and know when to escalate. Maintain a strong working knowledge of federal, state, and local employment requirements for a multi-state workforce. Support development of compliance calendars, required notices and trainings, record retention, employee acknowledgments, audits, and regulatory reporting. Support the administration of performance review cycles, including system setup, communications, documentation, timeline management, data preparation, and follow-up. Partner with the recruiting team to create a smooth candidate-to-employee transition and maintain clear handoffs across P&C systems and processes. Draft clear employee communications about benefits, policies, programs, and organizational updates. Use people data to identify recurring issues, improve processes, and provide accurate recurring reports and practical insights. What Success Looks Like New hires experience an organized, welcoming, and consistent transition into Zeno. Employee records, documentation, and HRIS data are current, accurate, and ready for audits or reporting. Employees receive timely, thoughtful support with benefits, leaves, policies, and other P&C questions. Recurring P&C processes have clear owners, documented steps, dependable timelines, and effective handoffs. Manual or unclear workflows become simpler and more scalable through better systems, documentation, and automation. Key Qualifications and Skills 3-5+ years progressive, broad-based experience in Human Resources, People & Culture, People Operations, or a comparable generalist role, with responsibility across multiple core P&C functions. You have hands-on experience across several stages of the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, HRIS administration, benefits, leaves, employee records, compliance, performance processes, and offboarding. You know how to research questions, apply established guidance, and identify when an issue needs to be escalated. You take ownership of your work and can independently manage recurring processes with limited supervision. You are exceptionally organized and detail-oriented. You understand that data accuracy, documentation, and follow-through directly affect employees and the business. You are comfortable creating structure where it does not yet exist. When you find a manual, unclear, or inconsistent process, you investigate it and implement a practical improvement. You are curious about systems and automation and can translate operational needs into reliable workflows across an HRIS, ATS, and other workplace tools. You communicate clearly and with good judgment, whether you are answering an employee's question, drafting a company-wide message, or coordinating a sensitive employment change. You handle confidential information with care and exercise sound judgment about what to resolve independently and what to escalate. You can manage competing priorities and move between detailed administrative work, employee support, and longer-term projects without losing track of commitments. You enjoy working in a startup environment where priorities can change, resources are limited, and people often wear more than one hat. You care about the employee experience and bring warmth, patience, and a service-oriented approach to your work. Preferred Qualifications Experience with Rippling. Experience supporting HR or P&C programs in a heavily regulated industry and/or in a federal-contractor environment. Experience with applicant tracking, benefits, leave, and collaboration systems. Experience supporting benefits open enrollment, benefits audits, or vendor coordination. Experience supporting a company through rapid headcount growth or working in an organization with fewer than 250 employees. Experience with the fundamentals of multi-state employment compliance A SHRM, HRCI, or other relevant professional certification. Job Functions Position requires in-office presence in Seattle (South Lake Union) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, remote work is optional on Mondays and Fridays Travel: Travel is not required, <10% Motor Abilities: Sitting and/or standing for extended periods, bending/stooping, grasping/gripping, fine motor control (hands) Physical exertion and/or requirements: Minimal, with ability to safely lift up to 15 pounds Repetitive work: Prolonged Special Senses: Visual and audio focused work Work Conditions: Stairs, typing/keyboard, standard and/or sitting working environment of >8 hrs./day Compensation and Benefits The anticipated salary band for this position is $95,000 - $120,000 . The final job level and compensation will be determined by factors including a candidate's relevant work experience, years of relevant experience, skills, qualifications, certifications, and other business considerations. In addition to competitive compensation, we also offer a generous benefits package, which includes: Stock options Flexible paid time off 401k plan with employer match 16 weeks of paid family leave ⁠11 observed company holidays Employer HSA contributions Life insurance Transit benefits to put toward commuting expenses Medical, dental, and vision insurance Relocation assistance Professional development Employee recognition program ⁠Company-sponsored ClassPass benefit to support employee wellness ⁠Dog friendly office Physical Demands and Work Environment The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this position successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Note This job description does not state or imply that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee in this position. Employees will be required to follow other job-related instructions and perform other job-related duties requested by anyone authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and may be modified to accommodate individuals with disabilities reasonably. To perform this job successfully, the incumbent will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities needed to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to their own health or safety or that of others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an at-will relationship. Export Control Applicants for employment at Zeno Power must be a U.S. person. The term “U.S. Person” means (i) a U.S citizen or U.S. national; or (ii) any natural person who is a U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident (i.e., holds a Green Card), as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20) or as a “protected individual” defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) (i.e., admitted as a refugee or is granted asylum).