Head of Talent & People

About the role

Sardine is seeking a Head of Talent & People to lead and grow its global talent function. This hands‑on, player‑coach position will set strategy, manage a team of recruiters and People Ops professionals, and stay involved in critical hiring and employee‑relations work.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of recruiters and People Ops/HR professionals, setting goals, capacity plans, and performance standards.
• Own end‑to‑end talent acquisition, including building interview processes, sourcing leadership hires, and tracking hiring metrics.
• Oversee People Ops functions such as onboarding, offboarding, benefits, HRIS administration, and compliance across jurisdictions.
• Manage performance review, compensation banding, leveling, and promotion cycles, ensuring credibility and scalability.
• Act as a trusted HR business partner, advising managers on org design, performance management, and employee relations.

Required profile

• 12+ years in talent, recruiting, and people operations, with deep expertise in talent acquisition.
• Proven experience running people functions at fast‑growing tech startups and managing combined Recruitment and People Ops teams.
• Strong generalist knowledge of offer negotiations, compensation structures, employee relations, and performance management.
• Player‑coach mindset with excellent judgment, discretion, and the ability to build trust with founders and employees.

What we offer

• Generous cash and equity compensation, including early‑exercise options.
• Remote‑first culture with hybrid work from the Berkeley office at least two days per week.
• Flexible paid time off, health, dental, and vision coverage (US & Canada), 401k/RRSP matching, and a home‑office stipend.
• Monthly meal and social meet‑up stipends, annual health & wellness and learning allowances.