Head of People

Join Archive in our mission to change consumer behavior for the better. If you think humans buy too much stuff and throw too much away, then this problem is for you. We’re starting with fashion and expanding from there.

Archive is the leading technology platform for branded resale. The company works with more than 50 global brands including The North Face, Diane von Furstenberg and New Balance, to develop innovative resale programs that keep products out of landfill.

As our first-ever Head of People, you’ll build People Operations from the ground up to create a high-performing, inclusive environment where everyone at Archive can thrive. We are scaling rapidly, and this role is essential to ensuring sustainable growth and making Archive one of the best places to work. You’ll develop our recruiting strategy and take full ownership of our recruiting process, to ensure it delivers an exceptional experience for every hire and prospect. You’ll focus on scaling the People organization, designing, implementing, and leading People initiatives that support our growth and foster a cohesive, values-driven culture.

Responsibilities

• Develop and Implement a Scalable Recruiting Process: Design and own a high-volume recruiting strategy, actively manage hiring processes, and build a strong talent pipeline to support rapid growth. Hire 1-2 recruiters in year 1, and build the recruiting function over time. Ensure clear accountability and results in filling roles quickly.
• Create a Comprehensive Onboarding Experience: Develop an onboarding program that immerses new hires in our culture, values, and workflows, ensuring they’re set up for long-term success from day one.
• Lead on Culture: Define and champion core company values, working with leadership to integrate these values into daily practices and policies, creating a cohesive and supportive culture.
• Establish Core People Policies: Develop foundational HR policies around employee conduct, benefits, compliance, time off, and hybrid work to provide structure, clarity, and consistency as we grow. Refine and develop our benefits and compensation philosophy, running regular compensation review cycles to ensure fairness and market competitiveness.
• Build Performance and Development Frameworks: Implement regular feedback cycles, establish career paths, and support continuous learning initiatives to promote professional growth and high performance.
• Advise Leadership on HR Best Practices: Act as a trusted advisor to founders and managers, guiding them on performance management, compliance, career development, and team dynamics to support sustainable growth.

What We’re Looking For

• Experienced People Leader: 8+ years of experience in startups or tech, with at least 3 years in a dedicated People Operations or HR role. You have a track record in recruiting, onboarding, culture-building, and performance management, supporting teams or entire organizations.
• Startup Experience: You thrive in high-growth startup environments where agility and adaptability are essential. You’re willing to roll up your sleeves, own processes fully, and get things done.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: You’re excited to build People Operations from the ground up, approaching new challenges with a “just-try-it” attitude and taking ownership of results.
• Strong Manager and Mentor: You have experience managing and developing teams and are passionate about building People Operations with a leadership focus.
• Empathetic Advocate: You bring strong emotional intelligence and are committed to creating a safe, supportive culture that meets diverse employee needs.

Bonus Points

• Experience with Cultural Resets: You’ve successfully led cultural shifts or resets, aligning teams around shared values and fostering a cohesive culture.
• Background in High-Volume Hiring: You’ve scaled recruiting efforts in fast-growing environments, particularly in startups or tech.
• Proficiency in People Operations Tools: Experience with tools like Lever or Lattice to streamline processes and support HR initiatives
• Compliance Experience with Remote/International Teams: Familiarity with managing compliance across geographically dispersed teams.

Likely Not a Fit

• Looking to Lead a Large Team Immediately: This role focuses on building the foundation of our People function, with the opportunity to hire key team members, such as recruiters, early in the process.
• Preference for Strategy over Execution: We need someone who’s not only strategic but also hands-on, taking full responsibility to see initiatives through to completion.
• Requiring for Strong Guidance and Structure: This role requires adaptability, self-direction, and a willingness to wear many hats with a low-ego approach.

Archive is a Series A startup backed by top-tier investors including Lightspeed and Bain Capital. We’re a fast growing team, working with over 50 brands including The North Face and New Balance. The founders, Emily and Ryan, bring a mix of business and technology experience including 2 startups and a successful exit.

We are honored to be named Fast Company's #2 Most Innovative Company in Retail in 2024.

The team is currently remote-first with a hub office in NY and optional in-person work for those located in the area. We have company offsites twice a year to bring the full team together in person, and occasional travel is expected as part of the job.

We consider applicants of all backgrounds. If you are excited about what we’re building but don't meet some of the criteria above, please don’t let that discourage you from applying. Please note, we are unable to accept applications from candidates outside of the US at this time.

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