Head of People
Leads people strategy at a high-growth AI fintech startup, building performance management, compensation frameworks, and culture initiatives from foundational to strategic level. Partners with CEO on talent decisions, org design, and scaling from 50 to 200+ employees; requires 5-8+ years HR experience in startups.
About the job
What You'll Do
- Build and own our people strategy - performance management, compensation, employee development, and culture
- Partner with leadership on organizational design, headcount planning, and talent decisions
- Evolve HR infrastructure - refine policies, ensure compliance, optimize benefits programs
- Design and implement performance management frameworks - goal-setting, reviews, promotion cycles, career development
- Lead compensation strategy - maintain equitable pay bands, manage equity grants, conduct market benchmarking
- Drive culture and engagement initiatives - team events, values definition, employee feedback loops, DEI programs
- Manage employee relations - coach managers on difficult conversations, resolve conflicts, handle sensitive situations
- Build manager enablement programs - training on feedback, performance management, hiring decisions
- Ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations across all locations
- Partner with recruiting lead on hiring strategy and process improvements
What We're Looking For
Must-Haves:
- 5-8+ years in People/HR roles at high-growth startups, with at least 2 years in leadership
- Experience scaling people functions at early-stage companies (50-200 employees)
- Track record designing and implementing people processes (performance management, compensation, onboarding, career frameworks)
- Business partner mentality - you advise leadership on strategic decisions, not just execute HR tasks
- Strong coaching skills - you develop managers and help them navigate people challenges
- Comfort with ambiguity - you build infrastructure without waiting for perfect clarity
- Excellent judgment on sensitive employee matters
Nice to Have:
- Experience in fintech, lending, or regulated industries
- Background in AI/ML or technical product companies
- Previous experience scaling a company through hyper-growth (50→200+ employees)
- Knowledge of multi-state employment compliance
Skills
Performance Management, Compensation Strategy, Hr Infrastructure, Employee Relations, Organizational Design, Talent Management, Dei Programs, Manager Enablement, Employment Compliance, Headcount Planning
Similar jobs
People Ops jobs
Steno
United States
Leads the company’s Total Rewards, HRIS, and People Data strategy, building scalable compensation, benefits, systems, and analytics programs while managing the function’s team, budget, and vendors. Requires 10+ years in total rewards or a related HR discipline and experience in high-growth organizations.
Instacart
United StatesLeads Instacart’s broad-based compensation strategy, programs, equity approach, and international expansion work while advising senior leaders and managing a compensation team. Requires 10+ years of progressive compensation experience, deep equity expertise, and experience supporting large R&D or Engineering organizations.
Upstart
United States
Leads enterprise People programs spanning performance and compensation cycles, employee listening, GenAI adoption, engagement planning, and employee resource groups. This individual contributor director role requires 10+ years of related experience, strategic systems thinking, senior stakeholder influence, and strong execution.
Harvey
San Francisco, CALeads Harvey’s global Executive Assistant function, including hiring, team development, support standards, coverage planning, and interim executive support. The role requires prior management of executive-support professionals, experience supporting senior leaders, and strong operational and cross-functional leadership skills.
Flexport
Bellevue, WALeads the HR strategy and team supporting Flexport’s multi-site fulfillment network, including workforce conversion, compliance, talent acquisition, employee relations, and culture initiatives. Requires 12+ years of progressive HR experience and substantial leadership experience in large-scale operational environments.