Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in HR, business, or related fields; practical HR judgment is prioritized.
5-7 years of progressive HR experience, ideally in high-growth technical or startup environments.
Proven ability to manage employee relations and sensitive workplace situations independently.
Strong knowledge of U.S. employment laws and HR compliance, with the ability to identify when expert advice is needed.
Experience in developing and managing employee lifecycle processes such as onboarding and performance management.
Ability to influence leadership through practical recommendations and sound judgment.
Excellent communication skills, attention to detail, and discretion in handling confidential information.
Responsibilities
Manage daily HR functions across the employee lifecycle, including onboarding and offboarding.
Advise managers on employee relations, performance issues, and policy interpretation.
Develop scalable HR programs and policies that align with a fast-paced growth environment.
Lead investigations into employee relations matters and recommend resolutions.
Ensure accuracy and integrity of HRIS and employee data.
Collaborate with various departments to streamline HR processes and workforce planning.
Create training resources for managers on core HR responsibilities.
Benefits
Access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage.
Unlimited Paid Time Off.
Eligibility for long-term incentives through the Employee Stock Option and Equity Plan.
Relocation bonus and discretionary bonuses available.
Full Job Description
What You'll Do
Own the day-to-day HR function across the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, employee changes, leave and accommodations coordination, performance processes, offboarding, documentation, and employee support.
Serve as a trusted advisor to managers on employee relations, performance, feedback, team dynamics, policy interpretation, and difficult people decisions; help leaders act quickly while maintaining fairness and good judgment.
Build and improve practical HR programs, policies, and operating rhythms that can scale with Katalyst, balancing consistency and compliance with the speed and flexibility of a high-growth environment.
Lead employee relations matters from initial concern through investigation, documentation, recommendation, and resolution; recognize when issues require escalation or outside legal guidance.
Own or oversee HRIS and people-data integrity, ensuring employee records, job changes, compensation updates, leave information, reporting, and required documentation are accurate and timely.
Partner closely with Talent Acquisition, Finance, IT, Security, Payroll, Benefits, and functional leaders so hiring, onboarding, employee changes, workforce planning, and departures are coordinated cleanly.
Develop manager resources and lightweight training around feedback, performance expectations, documentation, interviewing, onboarding, leave, employee relations, and other core people-management responsibilities.
Support compensation, promotion, performance-review, engagement, workforce-planning, and organizational-design processes with clear data, thoughtful recommendations, and disciplined follow-through.
Identify people risks and recurring friction points, then build repeatable solutions that improve employee experience, manager effectiveness, compliance, and operational efficiency.
What We're Looking For
Required
Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience. HR, business, organizational psychology, employment relations, operations, or related backgrounds are relevant; demonstrated HR judgment and execution matter more than a specific degree.
Increasing responsibility and leadership in HR, People Operations, HR business partnering, employee relations, or generalist roles, ideally in a high-growth technical, aerospace, defense, manufacturing, or startup environment.
Strong working knowledge of U.S. employment practices and core HR compliance, with the judgment to recognize when state-specific requirements, counsel, or specialist expertise is needed.
Experience building, improving, or owning employee-lifecycle processes such as onboarding, leave, performance management, promotions, compensation changes, offboarding, and HR documentation.
Ability to influence managers and executives through clear recommendations, practical options, and sound judgment rather than relying only on policy or process.
Strong written and verbal communication, discretion, attention to detail, and the ability to handle confidential information appropriately.
Comfort operating hands-on in a fast-paced environment, moving between strategic people questions and detailed administrative execution without losing accuracy or follow-through.
Ability to comply with applicable confidentiality, export-control, employment-law, employee-data, and customer requirements.
Your Ideal Background
Preferred
Prior HR leadership or senior generalist / HRBP experience at a high-growth startup, aerospace, defense-tech, hardware, manufacturing, robotics, or other technical organization.
Hands-on experience with Rippling, benefits administration, payroll coordination, performance systems, employee-data reporting, and HR process documentation.
Experience building HR infrastructure during rapid company growth, including manager enablement, policy creation, performance processes, leveling / compensation support, workforce planning, or employee-relations frameworks.
Experience supporting multi-state employees and partnering with employment counsel on complex employee relations, leave, termination, accommodation, or compliance matters.
Demonstrated ability to operate as a high-trust partner to both employees and leaders while maintaining objectivity, confidentiality, and company standards.
Additional Requirements: This role is expected to work primarily onsite in Broomfield, Colorado and may occasionally require extended hours when urgent employee, leadership, or business needs arise.
Compensation and Benefits: Your base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. The anticipated salary range for this role is $90,000 - $135,000 annually.
Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at Katalyst. You will also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of the Employee Stock Option and Equity Plan, as well as a relocation bonus and other discretionary bonuses. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, and unlimited Paid Time Off.
