Director of HR

Unlearn•San Francisco, CA

About The Position

We are looking for a seasoned Director of HR to own and build the people function end-to-end. This is not a support role; it is a strategic leadership position that sits at the center of how Unlearn scales. You will report directly to the CFO/COO and operate as the company's senior HR leader, responsible for everything from systems and compliance to culture, performance, and organizational design. The right person has done this before at a high-growth startup, knows what good looks like at scale, and brings the judgment to distinguish what needs to be built now from what can wait. You operate with precision, move quickly, and communicate at the executive level.

Requirements

8+ years of progressive HR experience, with at least 3 years in a senior or head-of-HR role at a venture-backed startup.
Demonstrated track record of scaling a company from approximately 25 to 250 employees, with accountability across the full people function.
Hands-on experience implementing and operating Rippling; familiarity with Lattice or comparable performance management platforms strongly preferred.
Comfort with private company equity compensation; you can field employee questions on option grants, vesting schedules, exercise windows, and 409A valuations without needing Finance to translate.
Deep knowledge of California employment law, federal HR compliance, and multi-state people operations.
Experience building culture and accountability frameworks from scratch; not just running programs someone else designed.
Comfort sitting in the room with the board and ELT; ability to present people strategy at the same level as any other functional leader.
Strong background in change management; you have led organizations through rapid growth, leadership transitions, and structural shifts.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a dual-track environment (software + regulated life sciences or clinical) is a strong plus.
PHR, SPHR, or SHRM-CP/SCP certification preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Own the full HR stack: payroll, benefits administration, open enrollment, compliance (federal and state including California), leave management, and HRIS.
Drive the implementation and optimization of people systems including Rippling, Lattice, and supporting HRIS/payroll tooling as the company scales.
Ensure audit-readiness and regulatory compliance across all people-related matters.
Serve as the primary escalation point for employee relations, performance management, and sensitive HR matters.
Partner with the CEO, CFO/COO, and ELT to execute the annual hiring plan aligned with corporate goals.
Build and own recruiting infrastructure, including job architecture, offer frameworks, and onboarding programs.
Support and coach the internal recruiter; lead hiring for senior and critical roles.
Design and implement culture programs and accountability frameworks that reinforce Unlearn's mission and values at every stage of growth.
Lead engagement surveys, interpret results, and drive action plans at the company and team level.
Build communication and meeting structures that create organizational clarity as headcount scales.
Own the performance philosophy: performance review cycles (Q2 and Q4), calibration, succession planning, and feedback culture.
Operate as a strategic advisor to the CEO and CFO/COO on organizational design, team structure, and workforce planning.
Build and execute a benefits philosophy, including evaluation of competitive packages, equity programs, 401(k) structure, and emerging employee programs.
Lead change management initiatives as the company navigates growth, potential M&A, and evolving organizational needs.
Develop L&D programs and a professional development framework that reflects Unlearn's commitment to career growth.