Founding Recruiter

Coastal Wave Recruiting • San Francisco, CA

2d

About The Position

Our client, an AI company redefining how insurance operates, is seeking a Founding Recruiter to build and scale their talent engine from the ground up. This is a rare opportunity to own end-to-end recruiting across technical and go-to-market roles while partnering directly with the founding team during a high-growth phase.

Requirements

• 5 to 10 years of full-cycle recruiting in high-growth startups (Series AE), ideally in AI, SaaS, or deep tech
• Proven record of sourcing and closing 10 to 15 hires/year across technical and GTM roles
• Experienced in building recruiting functions (01) or stepping into a Head of Talent path
• Proficient with ATS and sourcing platforms such as Greenhouse, Ashby, Gem, or HireEZ
• Strong operational mindset data-driven, process-focused, and continuously improving
• Excellent storyteller who can sell the mission and vision of a fast-scaling startup
• Scrappy, hands-on, and thrives in ambiguous, high-velocity environments

Responsibilities

• Own full-cycle recruiting for engineering, product, and GTM roles managing 8 - 12 searches at once
• Develop and execute a scalable hiring strategy to support a 4× team expansion
• Source, engage, and close top talent, delivering 10-15 hires per year in competitive markets
• Build and optimize the recruiting process from job descriptions to candidate experience
• Drive diverse, inclusive hiring practices that attract exceptional and underrepresented talent
• Partner with leadership on headcount planning, org design, and talent strategy
• Provide market intelligence on compensation, competitor insights, and positioning vs. big tech
• Manage sourcing channels direct sourcing, agencies, investor networks, and tools like Gem, Ashby, or HireEZ
• Define and track key recruiting KPIs: source of hire, conversion rates, and time to fill
• Champion employer branding and storytelling, helping candidates see the mission, momentum, and equity upside
• Eventually build and lead the recruiting team, setting the tone for a world-class talent function

Benefits

• Competitive equity, benefits, and a culture that values autonomy, ownership, and speed

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed