Head of People

About General Flash

General Flash is re-inventing the process to convert metal oxides to metal. We are a dedicated team of builders - experts in materials, physics, chemistry, process and hardware engineering - united in our goal to re-shore metal production for critically important metals. We’re looking for exceptional candidates to join us!

The Role

As Head of People, you will own General Flash’s people function, combining strategic judgment with hands-on execution. You will work closely with the CEO and business and technical leadership to recruit exceptional people, support our employees, and build the organization needed to scale production.

Your scope will span recruiting, people operations, compensation, performance, and organizational development. You should be equally comfortable sourcing a technical candidate, coaching a manager, and answering employee questions. Initially, you will be the sole internal people leader, supported by external providers and counsel.

This is an opportunity to establish the systems, practices, and culture that will support General Flash as we expand into our planned metal-production factory in 2027.

What You’ll Do

• Own hiring end to end. Partner with founders and hiring managers to prioritize roles; personally source, screen, coordinate interviews, and close candidates across technical, operations, and business functions.

• Build repeatable recruiting processes. Establish clear job descriptions, interview plans, assessment criteria, and pipeline reporting; keep hiring teams accountable for timely decisions.

• Create practical onboarding and offboarding. Manage documentation, first-week plans, and role expectations; coordinate job-specific and safety training with managers.

• Run day-to-day people operations. Own HR systems, benefits administration, payroll coordination, leave, and employee questions; manage external providers and maintain accurate, confidential records.

• Develop compensation and equity practices. Partner with leadership, finance, and counsel on pay bands, levels, offers, and compensation reviews within approved budgets.

• Establish performance and development practices. Help managers set expectations, give feedback, support employee growth, and address performance issues early and fairly.

• Own people policies and employee relations. Maintain the handbook, handle sensitive issues, and coordinate employment compliance with professional employer organization (PEO) partners and counsel.

• Partner with leadership on workforce planning, organizational design, and retention. Build communication routines and trust across office, laboratory, and factory teams.

What You Bring

• 7+ years of People/HR experience, including hands-on ownership at a growing startup.

• A track record of personally recruiting technical and operational talent, from sourcing through signed offers.

• Experience running people operations, including onboarding, benefits, payroll coordination, compensation, performance, and employee relations.

• Practical knowledge of U.S. employment practices and judgment on when to involve counsel.

• Ability to prioritize, build simple systems, and execute with a lean team.

• Clear communication, discretion, and confidence to earn employee trust and challenge leadership constructively.

• Experience in manufacturing or science-driven startups, hourly workforces, Massachusetts employment practices, PEOs, or equity compensation is a plus.

Work Environment and Safety

This is a 100% in-person position based in Cambridge, MA, with time at our planned Massachusetts factory as the team grows.

This role includes time in laboratory and factory environments; it does not require operating process equipment. Site safety training and appropriate protective equipment will be provided.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary, commensurate with, and based on, skills and experience.

• Equity sign-on package.

• Opportunity to build and own the people function through a defining stage of company growth.

• Work in a small team, where your contributions directly shape our company.

• Benefits: Employee health insurance and dental plan.

• Highly collaborative, 100% in-person environment

• Paid holidays and flexible PTO

General Flash Corp. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.