HR Generalist - Talent Acquisition

About CycloKinetics

CycloKinetics is  advancing the next generation of high-performance propellants for aerospace and defense. Our highly innovative technology allows us to harness existing energy from biomass and convert it to superior performance fuels and propellants across aviation, aerospace, and defense applications. 

We are a team of engineers, scientists, and operators driven by performance, innovation, and national security impact focused on building scalable, domestic energy solutions that power the future of propulsion. CycloKinetics is based in Salt Lake City, Utah.  

Job Summary

The HR Generalist – Talent Acquisition is responsible for supporting the organization's human resources functions, with a primary focus on full-cycle recruitment, hiring, and new employee onboarding. This role plays an important part in attracting, identifying, and hiring qualified talent to support the company's research and development (R&D), engineering, scientific, technical, and operational needs.

Working closely with hiring managers and the HR team, this position coordinates recruitment activities for highly specialized technical positions, including chemical engineers, chemists, bioprocess engineers, metabolic engineers, mechanical engineers, and other scientific and engineering professionals, as well as corporate and operational support roles.

In addition to recruitment and onboarding responsibilities, the HR Generalist supports broader HR functions, including employee records administration, performance management processes, employee development initiatives, compensation administration, job description maintenance, and general HR operations. Responsibilities may shift based on hiring activity and organizational priorities.

Reporting to and working under the guidance of HR leadership, this position helps ensure consistent HR practices, accurate recordkeeping, compliance with applicable employment laws, and a positive candidate and employee experience.

The ideal candidate is a proactive, detail-oriented, and adaptable HR professional with strong recruitment, communication, and organizational skills. This individual should be comfortable recruiting for specialized technical positions, managing multiple hiring priorities, and supporting a variety of HR activities in a growing, fast-paced environment that combines research and development, engineering, and manufacturing operations. The ideal candidate should also be comfortable supporting a workforce involved in innovative aerospace and defense technologies, government-funded projects, and highly technical, safety-focused operations.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

Talent Acquisition & Recruitment

• Manage full-cycle recruitment activities for engineering, scientific, R&D, technical, manufacturing, and corporate support positions.
• Partner with hiring managers to understand staffing needs, technical qualifications, position requirements, and recruitment priorities.
• Maintain approved personnel requisitions, vacancy logs, and job postings to ensure accurate and timely recruitment activities.
• Source qualified candidates through job boards, LinkedIn Recruiter, professional networks, educational institutions, employee referrals, career fairs, and other recruitment channels.
• Develop sourcing strategies to identify candidates with specialized technical backgrounds and hard-to-find skill sets.
• Review resumes and applications to identify candidates who meet position qualifications.
• Conduct preliminary interviews to assess candidates' education, technical qualifications, relevant experience, skills, and salary expectations.
• Refer qualified candidates to hiring managers for additional interviews and selection consideration.
• Coordinate interviews, candidate communications, and scheduling logistics throughout the recruitment process.
• Develop and maintain candidate pipelines for current and anticipated workforce needs.
• Provide regular updates to hiring managers and HR leadership regarding recruitment progress, candidate availability, and hiring timelines.
• Support efforts to improve recruitment processes, sourcing effectiveness, and the overall candidate experience.

Hiring, Selection & Onboarding

• Coordinate the hiring process from candidate selection through offer acceptance and new employee onboarding.
• Prepare employment offers, salary-setting documentation, and other required hiring paperwork in coordination with HR leadership.
• Facilitate pre-employment processes, including reference checks, background investigations, employment verification, and education verification.
• Coordinate new hire documentation and ensure required employment records are completed and maintained.
• Work with hiring managers and internal departments to coordinate onboarding activities and ensure new employees are prepared for their start dates.
• Facilitate new employee orientation and participate in New Employee Training programs on a rotational schedule.
• Support new hire integration through onboarding follow-ups and communication with employees and managers.
• Identify opportunities to improve onboarding procedures and the new employee experience.

General HR Operations & Employee Support

• Provide administrative and operational support across various HR functions under the guidance of HR leadership.
• Assist with maintaining employee personnel files, HR records, and employee information systems.
• Respond to routine employee questions regarding HR policies, procedures, benefits, and company programs, escalating complex matters as appropriate.
• Assist with employee lifecycle processes, including internal transfers, promotions, position changes, and separations.
• Support the coordination, tracking, and documentation of employee performance reviews.
• Assist with employee engagement, recognition, and retention initiatives.
• Provide administrative support for employee relations matters, including documentation and follow-up, as directed by HR leadership.
• Assist with benefits administration, employee communications, and other HR-related activities as needed.

Workforce Planning, Compensation & Employee Development

• Support internal recruitment, employee transfers, promotions, and workforce planning initiatives.
• Assist with the development, review, and maintenance of job descriptions.
• Support HR leadership with maintaining job levels, career progression structures, and compensation pay bands.
• Assist with salary benchmarking, compensation research, and salary adjustment documentation.
• Support employee training and development programs, including training assignments, tracking, and follow-up.
• Assist with HR projects and initiatives focused on employee development and process improvement.

HR Systems, Reporting & Compliance

• Maintain accurate applicant and recruitment records within the Applicant Tracking System (ATS), ensuring data integrity and confidentiality.
• Assist with maintaining employee records and documentation within HR information systems.
• Track recruitment metrics, including time-to-fill, candidate sources, hiring activity, and other relevant indicators.
• Prepare recruitment and HR reports as requested by HR leadership.
• Ensure assigned recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and HR activities comply with applicable employment laws, company policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Support HR audits, recordkeeping, and compliance-related initiatives.
• Identify opportunities to improve administrative processes and HR operational efficiency.

Collaboration & Communication

• Build positive working relationships with hiring managers, employees, candidates, and internal departments.
• Serve as a point of contact for candidates and hiring managers throughout the recruitment and onboarding processes.
• Collaborate with HR leadership to ensure consistent implementation of HR policies, procedures, and practices.
• Maintain professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality when handling sensitive employee and candidate information.

Other

• Perform job duties in a safety-regulated environment where chemicals are used.
• Support additional HR projects and responsibilities as organizational needs evolve.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Psychology, Communications, Organizational Development, or a related field; an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience may be considered. 
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience in human resources, recruitment, talent acquisition, or a related field, including hands-on full-cycle recruiting experience. 
• Experience recruiting for technical, engineering, scientific, manufacturing, aerospace, defense, or research and development (R&D) positions strongly preferred. 
• Experience supporting employee onboarding and general HR administrative functions. 
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple requisitions and competing priorities in a fast-paced environment. 
• Experience working with hiring managers to understand position requirements and coordinate recruitment activities. 
• Familiarity with applicant tracking systems (ATS), HR information systems (HRIS), and employee recordkeeping. 
• Exposure to additional HR functions, such as performance management, compensation administration, benefits, or employee development, preferred. 
• Professional HR certification, such as SHRM-CP or PHR, preferred but not required.

Requirements

• Strong knowledge of full-cycle recruitment, candidate sourcing, interviewing, and hiring practices. 
• Ability to understand specialized technical job requirements and effectively evaluate candidate qualifications. 
• Familiarity with recruiting tools, ATS platforms (Greenhouse preferred), LinkedIn Recruiter, and candidate sourcing techniques. 
• Working knowledge of general HR practices and applicable employment laws. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills. 
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain attention to detail. 
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive employee and candidate information with professionalism and discretion. 
• Strong problem-solving skills, initiative, and ability to work independently while collaborating with the HR team. 
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and the ability to learn new HR systems. 
• Ability to maintain accurate records, track recruitment activity, and prepare reports. 
• Adaptability and willingness to support additional HR responsibilities based on organizational needs.

Physical Demands

Physical requirements may include lifting and/or moving items weighing up to twenty-fifty (25) pounds, bending, standing, reaching, climbing, walking, and prolonged sitting may be required. Must have safe work habits and perform all duties in accordance with company safety policies. Personal protective equipment is provided by the company, and its use is mandatory.

General

This position is based in Salt Lake City, Utah, with work performed on-site. CycloKinetics is an At-Will, VEVRAA, Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, E-Verify, and Drug Free Workplace. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background verification and drug screens.

Benefits

CycloKinetics offers a competitive compensation and benefits package including:

• 15 Days of PTO 
• 12 Paid Holidays
• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• 401(k) Savings Plan (including Roth options)
• Basic Life Insurance
• Dependent Life Insurance
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
• Short-Term Disability (STD)
• Long-Term Disability (LTD)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Paid Parental Leave
• ESOP
• Bonus Potential

EEO Statement

CycloKinetics is an Equal Opportunity Employer and embraces diversity in our employee population. We are excited to work with talented individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. All employment decisions at CycloKinetics are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or special disabled veteran status, marital status, parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, or any other legally protected status.

We’re looking for detail-oriented team members who pride themselves on solving problems while bringing positive energy and strong communication skills to the table. If this describes you, come join our team today and contribute to the success of our organization!

FLSA Classification: Exempt

No outside recruiters, please. This position is being filled directly by our internal hiring team.  We do not accept inquiries or candidate submissions from third-party recruiters or staffing agencies.