International HR & People Lead
Genomines
People & HR
Paris, France
Posted on Sep 17, 2025
COMPANY DESCRIPTION
At Genomines, our mission is to pioneer a new era of sustainable metal production by farming plants
that hyperaccumulate metal. Through synthetic biology and cutting-edge technology, we harness the power of nature to create plants that can farm for metals while decontaminating soils and creating cleaner lands for agriculture. Our ultimate goal is to become the world's first carbon-negative nickel producer, using sustainable, eco-friendly methods to extract the valuable resources our society needs for the energy transition.
ROLE OVERVIEW
We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced HR & People Lead to establish and lead the HR function at Genomines. As one of the first people-focused hires, this role will be responsible for building the department from the ground up, designing and implementing HR processes, and supporting the leadership team in scaling the company. The ideal profile excels in a fast-paced environment, is highly organized, has experience recruiting and onboarding highly technical profiles, and has previous experience in HR & people functions at an early or growth-stage start up. The role will report directly to the CEO and co-founder.
The HR & People Lead will own all aspects of the employee lifecycle – from recruitment to onboarding, performance management, career development, and strengthening our culture team building activities – while ensuring compliance with labor laws in our countries of operation (France and South Africa). As the company expands into new geographies, the HR & People Lead will be responsible for ensuring the company culture is embedded in newly established subsidiaries and building out the first local hires.
The HR & People Lead will be expected to establish company best practices that serve as the HR infrastructure suitable for a fast-growing Series A company. The HR & People Lead will also be responsible for establishing a strong employer brand to attract top talent in biotech, operational, and corporate development functions.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- RECRUITMENT MANAGEMENT
- Build and maintain a preferred recruiters list
- Negotiate recruiter contracts and manage vendor relationships
- Develop and maintain job profiles across functions
- Provide reporting and analytics on the hiring pipeline
- RECRUITMENT PROCESS
- Manage end-to-end candidate experience
- Coordinate assessments, reference checks, and psychometric valuations
- Train and prepare internal teams for structured interviews
- Support immigration processes for Genomines team members
- EMPLOYEE MANAGEMENT
- Maintain employee files and records
- Draft and manage employment agreements, NDAs, and job descriptions
- Maintain salary and ESOP benchmarks to support Genomines’ talent retention
- Implement performance evaluation, promotion, and disciplinary processes
- PAYROLL AND LEAVE ADMINISTRATION
- Oversee payroll processing and compliance
- Manage leave tracking and reporting
- ONBOARDING & OFFBOARDING
- Design and execute pre-employment and onboarding checklists
- Ensure smooth handover and knowledge transfer during offboarding
- CAREER DEVELOPMENT
- Launch training initiatives and mentorship programs
- Develop professional growth plans for team members
- TEAM BUILDING & CULTURE DEVELOPMENT
- Develop internal communication practices
- Organize team events, workshops, and culture-building initiatives
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
- 5+ years of progressive HR experience, preferably in start-ups or fast-growing companies
- Strong knowledge of French labor law and HR compliance requirements
- Proven track record in managing recruitment and scaling teams
- Demonstrated cross-functional work experience with highly technical teams
- Experience using HR and recruitment management tools like Factorial and Lever
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Professionally fluent in English and French
TECHNICAL AND OPERATIONAL COMPETENCIES
- Strong negotiation and vendor management skills
- Ability to design and implement HR processes from scratch
- Familiarity with psychometric evaluation tools and methodology
- Familiarity with biotechnology or PhD recruitment is an advantage
SOFT SKILLS
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- High level of integrity, confidentiality, and professionalism
- Strong organizational and project management abilities
- Proactive, problem-solving mindset with a hands-on approach
- Ability to thrive in a dynamic, early-stage startup environment
POSITION INFORMATION
- Place of Work: 5 days/week at the company lab in Les Ulis, France
- Travel: Occasional travel within France and Europe for company events, occasional travel to subsidiary locations in South Africa