VP, People at Fervo Energy in Houston, TX

Job description

About Fervo Energy Fervo Energy (NASDAQ: FRVO) is a modern power company developing next-generation geothermal resources to meet the growing demand for affordable, reliable, 24/7 carbon-free energy. Our mission is to transform geothermal into America’s most dependable and affordable source of clean, around-the-clock power. By combining innovations in horizontal drilling, fiber-optic sensing, and advanced reservoir engineering, Fervo has developed a repeatable approach to building utility-scale enhanced geothermal systems. Our flagship Cape Station development in Utah is planned to deliver 500 MW of firm, carbon-free power, and we are advancing a development pipeline of more than 50 GW. Join us and work alongside world-class engineers, geoscientists, operators, project builders, and business leaders working to make geothermal a cornerstone of a more reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy future. Position Description The VP of People will own Fervo’s people strategy and run the function independently. They will hold a high bar for themselves and their team as the architects of Fervo’s people strategy and culture. They will ensure we hire exceptional people, pay them fairly and competitively, develop them, and keep them highly engaged. They will also run high-stakes work such as compensation, compliance, and board governance, and they will work proactively with the leaders of every team to spot risks before they become problems, whether that is a project deadline that lands over the holidays or a staffing gap that is about to open, and put the morale and financial support structures in place early. This person will report to the COO, who will act as a strategic thought partner, but the role will operate with significant autonomy, proposing direction and translating it into a high-performing People function. We care more about how this person thinks than where they have worked, and they must have proven rigor in the fundamentals of running a people-first organization. We are at an inflection point, and the right leader will help design the organization deliberately, measure success, and make it easier to scale with every site we bring online. Responsibilities Own the long-range people strategy, including org design, workforce planning, and leadership development, and tie it to the GeoBlock deployment roadmap. Design the organization we need ahead of demand across field crews, plant operators, engineers, and corporate teams. Partner with all Fervo functions on headcount planning and organizational design, surfacing people risks and constraints before they become bottlenecks. Serve as the architect of our compensation, equity, and benefits philosophy and execution, including leveling, benchmarking, bonus design, annual equity refresh, and the annual benefits renewal. Run the annual merit cycle with pay-equity analytics and clear, transparent communication. Own engagement and retention strategy, understanding why people stay and why they leave, and act before trends manifest as attrition. Oversee and lead talent acquisition strategy and continually raise the hiring bar as we grow headcount across both hourly/field and salaried/technical roles. Build and develop a high-performing People team, with clear goals and strong accountability. Build the systems and analytics that make People a source of operational insight, not just administration. Be one of Fervo’s most visible culture carriers, including at our sites. Own public-company people disclosure and multi-state employment compliance in partnership with Legal and Finance. Own the board-level compensation committee preparation and delivery, from analysis and materials to presenting alongside the COO. Bolster an explicit and durable culture. Raise the performance bar through manager capability, honest feedback, and differentiated performance management systems. Qualifications Required Bachelor’s degree; advanced degree is a plus 10+ years in people leadership, including 5+ years