Director of HR

New York, Hybrid

About the Position

Our client, a fast-growing AI marketing technology startup, is looking for a seasoned and people-first HR leader to build and own the full people function as they scale. As the company's first Director of Human Resources, you will be responsible for designing and executing a people strategy that supports a high-performing, inclusive, and engaged workforce.

In partnership with leadership, you will build the HR infrastructure from the ground up — spanning talent acquisition, onboarding, performance management, compensation and benefits, employee relations, compliance, and culture.

This role is ideal for someone who is equally strategic and hands-on, comfortable developing long-term strategy while also rolling up their sleeves to execute. You thrive in fast-moving startup environments, care deeply about the employee experience, and know how to build scalable people programs that don't sacrifice culture.

What You Will Be Doing

• Own and evolve the company's people strategy across the full employee lifecycle, ensuring programs are scalable, equitable, and aligned with company goals
• Lead and continuously improve talent acquisition efforts across technical, GTM, and operational roles, including full-cycle recruiting, agency management, and employer brand development
• Design and implement onboarding programs that set new hires up for success and reinforce company culture from day one
• Build and manage performance management frameworks, including goal-setting, review cycles, feedback processes, and career development pathways
• Develop and administer competitive compensation and benefits programs, conducting regular benchmarking to remain an employer of choice
• Serve as a trusted advisor and first point of contact for employee relations matters, navigating complex situations with discretion, empathy, and sound judgment
• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations, proactively managing risk and maintaining up-to-date HR policies and documentation
• Partner closely with executives and hiring managers to support workforce planning, organizational design, and headcount strategy
• Champion a strong, inclusive company culture and drive initiatives around employee engagement and belonging
• Track and report on key people metrics — including retention, engagement, time-to-fill, and headcount — to inform decision-making at the leadership level
• Manage and develop HR tools, systems, and workflows, ensuring the people tech stack scales with the business

What We're Looking For

• 8–12 years of progressive HR experience, including at least 3 years in a leadership or Director-level role, ideally within a high-growth SaaS or startup environment
• Proven ability to build and scale people programs and HR infrastructure from the ground up
• Broad HR generalist expertise spanning talent acquisition, employee relations, performance management, compensation, benefits, and compliance
• Strong business acumen with the ability to translate strategy into measurable business outcomes
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and executive presence; comfortable advising founders and senior leadership on sensitive people matters
• Deep knowledge of employment law and HR compliance across federal and state jurisdictions, particularly in New York
• Ability to operate at all altitudes — equally comfortable designing a compensation philosophy and processing an offer letter
• High emotional intelligence, discretion, and the ability to build trust across all levels of the organization
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail, follow-through, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Excited to thrive in an ambiguous, evolving startup environment where the scope of this role will grow with the company

Nice-to-Haves

• Experience scaling a company from ~20 to 200+ employees
• SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR certification
• Familiarity with HRIS platforms, ATS tools, and people analytics
• Background in talent acquisition or employer branding in addition to core HR responsibilities

About the Company

Our client is a venture-backed startup building a platform that helps brands engage consumers through AI-driven marketing, with enterprise tools for AI brand safety and personalized marketing experiences. The team includes mar-tech industry veterans with experience at major ad-tech platforms. The company has raised institutional venture funding and operates as a globally distributed team.

Compensation: $160,000–$190,000 base

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