People Operations Lead

Last Energy

Austin, TX

Posted on: 2026-07-22

Category: energy

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Employment type:

Full time

Experience required:

Intermediate

Salary

Salary not provided

About the company:

Last Energy is a nuclear energy company that designs, builds, owns, and operates small modular reactors (SMRs) for industrial and commercial customers. The company's flagship product, the PWR-20, is a 20 MWe pressurized water reactor that is fully modular and factory-produced, enabling faster and more cost-effective deployment than traditional nuclear power plants. Last Energy serves as a behind-the-meter independent power producer, supplying reliable baseload electricity to energy-intensive industries including data centers, metals production, food and beverage, pulp and paper, chemicals, and cement manufacturing. The company's mission centers on making nuclear power radically simpler and more accessible by removing the burden of development, financing, and operations from customers through a power purchase agreement model. This approach aligns nuclear energy deployment with the urgent need for resilient, low-carbon power, particularly as demand from AI infrastructure and industrial growth accelerates. Last Energy's use of proven reactor technology combined with proprietary steel containment systems is designed to streamline licensing and reduce construction timelines. Last Energy represents a new generation of nuclear developers focused on decarbonizing hard-to-abate industrial sectors with firm, emissions-free power. By standardizing and modularizing the entire plant through factory manufacturing, the company aims to bring predictable costs and schedules to a sector historically challenged by both, positioning SMRs as a practical climate solution at commercial scale.

Last Energy seeks a People Operations Lead to own the systems and processes that support our employees across their full lifecycle — from onboarding through offboarding. This role will serve as the primary owner of HRIS administration, benefits, performance process infrastructure, and employee experience.

This role will work closely with senior leadership and department heads to build scalable people processes, ensure compliance, and maintain a strong employee experience as the company grows.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Own the employee onboarding process end-to-end: offer letters, new hire paperwork, system and building access coordination with IT and operations, and first-week experience
Serve as primary HRIS system administrator; own data integrity and perform quarterly data audits to ensure full employee compliance
Manage outside benefits consultants; own benefits renewals, open enrollment, and new employee benefits onboarding
Partner with the C-Suite to build the performance review process and cadence, coach managers on best practices, and maintain records of feedback
Partner with the General Counsel on employee handbook maintenance, HR policy development and compliance, state employment compliance, and employee training programs
Partner with the CFO and legal to manage equity issuances
Coordinate employee relocations, visa filings, and background checks, and maintain required employee data for DOE compliance
Coordinate employee offboarding with legal, IT, and operations to ensure smooth transitions
Oversee employee experience and morale: lead planning of monthly team happy hours and quarterly events, and support the Chief of Staff on annual onsites/offsites, all-hands, and internal communications
Answer candidate questions about benefits, compensation, and equity during the hiring process, including communicating the equity opportunity to candidates
Work with the CFO to establish processes for hourly employee timekeeping and management
Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

10+ years of experience in people operations, HR operations, or a similar function, ideally in a high-growth environment
Bachelor's Degree is a plus
Hands-on experience administering HRIS platforms and maintaining employee data integrity
Working knowledge of benefits administration, open enrollment, and vendor management
Familiarity with employment compliance requirements; experience partnering with legal teams is a plus
Experience managing equity administration platforms
Strong organizational skills, discretion, and attention to detail
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; comfortable working with employees at all levels
Based in Austin, TX (or open to relocation)