People Operations Lead

About K1 Industries
For the first time in decades, power demand growth in the US has jumped 5x, driving multi-year lead times for critical power infrastructure. K1 builds and deploys modular power packages at scale, now.

The role

K1 is hiring a People Operations Lead to build and run the processes, policies, and programs that support our employees throughout their time at the company. We need someone who can establish reliable foundations, handle sensitive issues with sound judgment, and stay close to the details as we grow. You will partner with the founding team, managers, and external specialists to support employees and help teams do their best work. You will also oversee the priorities, budgets, and standards for K1’s offices and other spaces.

What the role owns

• Onboarding and offboarding: Own the employee transition process from accepted offer through departure. Coordinate managers, IT, and payroll so documentation, equipment, access, orientation, and handoffs happen accurately and on time.

• HR operations: Maintain accurate employee records and employment documentation, manage leave processes, and coordinate employee changes with payroll. Build clear workflows and reliable systems that make everyday employee requests easy to resolve.

• Policies and compliance: Own the employee handbook and policy updates. Partner with legal counsel and external specialists on employment requirements, maintain appropriate documentation, and help managers apply policies consistently.

• Employment immigration: Coordinate visa and immigration matters with employees, managers, and counsel. Track deadlines, organize documentation, and keep everyone informed throughout the process.

• Benefits: Manage benefits administration, enrollment, renewals, and employee questions. Work with brokers and providers to evaluate coverage, cost, and service, and communicate changes clearly.

• People programs and manager support: Build practical processes for performance reviews, ongoing feedback, learning, career development, and recognition. Help managers set expectations, address performance concerns, and follow through on employee development.

• Employee support: Serve as a trusted point of contact for sensitive workplace concerns. Handle issues with discretion, document appropriately, and involve leadership or external specialists when needed.

• Culture and engagement: Turn employee feedback into concrete improvements. Set the approach to engagement and internal people communications, partnering to deliver programs and experiences that reflect K1’s values.

• Places and spaces: Set priorities, budgets, and service standards for offices and other company spaces, with clear ownership for day-to-day execution.

• Systems and measurement: Use employee data and feedback to identify needs, anticipate problems, and improve processes. Introduce tools and automation where they reduce administrative work while protecting sensitive information.

Who does well here

• Has personally owned core People Operations responsibilities in a growing company, with concrete examples of processes built and problems resolved

• Brings hands-on experience across HR operations, benefits, employee relations, and manager support

• Can balance urgent employee needs with longer-term improvements, making clear decisions about what to prioritize

• Handles sensitive information carefully and knows when to act independently, involve leadership, or seek specialist advice

• Builds trust with employees and managers, communicates directly, and is comfortable pushing back when needed

• Creates simple, useful processes and follows through on the details that make them work

• Can manage a small team, external partners, and budgets while staying accountable for outcomes

Experience supporting engineering, manufacturing, or field operations teams; coordinating employment immigration; and managing workplace operations is a plus. K1 hires for its values: run toward hard problems, own your work, learn obsessively, and bias to action.

Compensation

Competitive salary and meaningful early-stage equity. Your equity participation will reflect the impact and ownership this role carries. Standard benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance.

Location

The role is based at K1’s headquarters in Carson City, Nevada, near Reno and Lake Tahoe. San Francisco-based candidates are welcome, though relocation is preferred. Remote candidates must be willing to spend substantial time onsite on a regular basis to build relationships with employees and managers and support our workplace operations.