Head of People and Talent Development - Harrisburg - Firstprinciples

Description

Head of People and Talent Development

FirstPrinciples is a non-profit organization that is transforming scientific exploration through the development of an AI Physicist—an intelligent system engineered to investigate and unveil the fundamental laws of nature. Our mission is to create a cutting-edge research platform that not only analyzes data but also poses significant scientific inquiries, integrates multidisciplinary reasoning, and accelerates the discovery of innovative ideas. By merging AI technology, symbolic reasoning, and autonomous research capabilities, we aim to revolutionize the way knowledge is obtained and push the boundaries of scientific advancement.

We are seeking a dynamic Head of People and Talent Development to oversee the entire employee journey at FirstPrinciples, from talent acquisition to long-haul employee engagement and retention strategies. Reporting directly to the Founder, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our hiring processes, people operations, and company culture, ensuring we attract mission-driven experts and provide our world-class talent with the resources they need to excel in their work. The ideal candidate is comfortable operating as a sole HR leader, proficient in developing and scaling people teams, and knows how to blend strategic talent objectives with hands-on HR management to foster a supported, engaged, and motivated team.

Key Responsibilities

Hiring Strategy:

• Collaborate with the executive team to create multi-year headcount strategies across essential functions, including AI research, engineering, data science, operations, administration, and fundraising.
• Translate long-term hiring strategies into a clear quarterly roadmap, detailing role priorities, skill requirements, and budget implications.
• Develop and sustain updated compensation bands that account for our nonprofit status, competitive market salaries, and cost-of-living variations in hiring jurisdictions.

Full-Cycle Recruiting Execution:

• Oversee the full recruitment process from initial screening to offer acceptance and onboarding.
• Implement innovative and diverse candidate sourcing strategies through LinkedIn engagement, participation in community events/conferences, and targeting outreach efforts to elite talent.
• Create structured interview frameworks with defined evaluation metrics to promote fairness and minimize biases.
• Enhance time-to-hire metrics by monitoring recruitment data, identifying bottlenecks, and deploying quick solutions and process improvements.

Onboarding & Culture Integration:

• Design and execute onboarding processes that interweave training, goal-setting, and cultural immersion.
• Utilize surveys and data analytics to continuously refine onboarding methodologies.
• Initiate programs for cultural alignment to ensure the ongoing development of FirstPrinciples' culture and integration within our larger team.
• Organize and facilitate quarterly team-building events in both in-person and virtual formats.

HR Operations & Compliance:

• Manage current systems for payroll, benefits, applicant tracking, and performance evaluations.
• Maintain the employee handbook, ensuring policies on time off, remote work, conduct, and data privacy are up-to-date with Canadian regulations and those of other regions where we hire.
• Oversee corporate documentation regarding employment contracts, tax filings, and other compliance-related matters to keep us audit-ready and accountable to CRA and other tax authorities.
• Stay informed about legislative changes from ESA, CRA, and additional regulatory entities, proactively updating procedures ahead of compliance deadlines.

Learning & Growth:

• Conduct workshops to assist managers and employees in developing soft skills crucial for their career advancement.
• Coordinate and facilitate quarterly and annual performance discussions with clear OKRs, feedback from peers and managers, and self-reflection.
• Administer a professional development budget; track its usage and encourage participants to document how their courses or conferences have impacted their work.

Qualifications:

• Educational Background: Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Experience: 5+ years in recruiting, talent acquisition, or HR generalist roles, with a specific focus on hiring engineers and technical talent.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency with HRIS and ATS platforms, understanding of Canadian labor laws, and data-driven methodologies.
• Collaboration & Communication:
  • Experience hiring engineers, researchers, and other technical team members.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
  • Comfortable functioning in a startup-style, cross-functional, remote team.
• Bonus Skills:
  • Interest or experience in physics and fundamental science topics.
  • Experience in building remote-first teams.

Application Process:

• Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their resume, a cover letter outlining their qualifications and vision for this role, along with references. Please be sure to mention "Head of People and Talent Development" in your cover letter.

Join us at FirstPrinciples and embark on a transformative journey where science paves the way for progress and unlocks the full potential of humanity.