The Head of People Ops will lead a small but high-impact People team that serves as a critical partner to leadership and employees across the company supporting day-to-day employee needs and scaling the organization. This person will report directly into our COO and serve as a trusted advisor to the executive team and drive People strategy and systems across the organization.
Responsibilities:Strategic People Leadership- Serve as a strategic partner to the COO and executive team on people strategy and organizational design
- Support executives in scaling teams, refining organizational structures, and strengthening leadership capabilities
- Lead change management to ensure smooth transitions and transformation during growth
- Align HR initiatives directly with business objectives, ensuring people strategy drives business results
- Design company-wide people programs and frameworks (performance management, compensation, career development)
People Operations & Infrastructure- Own and optimize people operations systems, processes, and technology stack (HRIS, benefits platforms, compliance tools)
- Collaborate with the Director of Talent Acquisition, who owns recruiting execution, to align hiring strategy, headcount planning, and operational scalability
- Build and manage operational infrastructure including benefits strategy, vendor relationships, and compliance
- Manage people operations budget including headcount, benefits, tools, and programs
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws across all locations
- Design compensation and rewards structures that are competitive and equitable
- Administer performance management systems that encourage accountability and excellence
Team Leadership- Lead, mentor, and support a small but impactful People team
- Provide clear direction while empowering team members to own their areas of expertise
- Set strategic direction for how the People team operates and delivers value
- Build additional people operations capability as the company scales
Culture & Employee Experience Strategy- Set strategic direction for culture, engagement, and employee experience
- Partner with Director, HRBP to ensure consistent implementation across all business functions
- Foster an environment where employees feel engaged, supported, and motivated to grow
Requirements:- 8+ years of progressive HR/People experience, including direct ownership of HR strategy and operations in a high-growth tech or startup environment
- Proven experience building and managing people operations teams
- Proven ability to design scalable people systems and infrastructure while also being hands-on with operational needs
- Experience advising and influencing executives at C-suite level
- Strong knowledge of HR compliance, employment law, and global workforce planning
- Deep expertise in HRIS systems, benefits design, and people operations
- Data-driven approach to decision-making with experience using HR metrics to guide strategy
- Excellent leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills
- Successful completion of a background check
What You'll Receive:- The competitive base pay for this position ranges from 200k-250k usd. This salary range may be inclusive of several career levels at Runpod and will be narrowed during the interview process based on a number of factors, including the candidate's experience, qualifications, and location
- Meaningful equity in a fast-growing company- everyone on the team receives stock options - your impact drives our growth, and you share in the upside.
- Generous medical, dental & vision plans
- Flexible PTO- take the time you need to recharge
- Most roles are remote work first with an inclusive, collaborative teams utilizing slack as the main form of internal communication
- Join a passionate team on the cutting edge of AI infrastructure - where culture, learning, and ownership are at the heart of how we scale.
- $1,200 Home Office & Equipment Stipend-We set you up for success from day one with gear and support to create your ideal workspace
