Head of People, US

Empathy is transforming the way families navigate life’s most difficult times - from the loss of a loved one to other major life transitions. By combining technology with compassionate human care, we bring clarity, comfort, and peace of mind when it matters most.

We partner with leading employers, insurers, and financial institutions to deliver meaningful, human-centric support at scale. Today, Empathy supports over 50 million people across the US, Canada, and the UK.

Backed by top-tier investors including General Catalyst, Index Ventures, Adams Street, Aleph and Entreé Capital. We've raised over $160 million to date, including a $72 million Series C, to expand our impact and scale our mission worldwide.

We are looking for a seasoned, hands-on people leader to join our team as Head of People, US. This is a high-impact role that blends strategic leadership with operational execution. You will serve as the senior HR partner for our US and Canada workforce, shaping how we attract, develop, and retain talent while ensuring our people programs run with precision and care.

The ideal candidate has navigated both high-growth startups and scaled organizations - ideally having experienced a company through a meaningful inflection point. You know how to build for today while designing for the future, and you bring the credibility, judgment, and empathy to partner with executives, managers, and front-line employees alike.

What You'll Do

Leadership Responsibilities

• Serve as the US subject matter expert on employment law, partnering closely with external counsel to ensure compliance and minimize risk
• Drive org design and workforce planning to support business growth and evolving team structures
• Lead compensation philosophy reviews, including market benchmarking, salary banding, and compensation program design
• Own culture initiatives, including in-office presence strategy and internal communications that reinforce our values
• Develop and deliver manager enablement programs (e.g., global manager training moments) that build leadership capability across the organization
• Serve as a consulted partner to the Talent team on offer letter approvals, policy changes, headcount decisions, and hiring strategy
• Lead performance management strategy: coaching managers on documentation, navigating difficult conversations, and making exit decisions when necessary
• Manage and develop the existing US/Canada People team, including:
• US/Canada People Operations
• US/Canada People Experience
• Executive Assistant (managing relationship only)
• Payroll (dotted line)
• Talent Acquisition (dotted line)

Execution/Operational Responsibilities

• Oversee end-to-end administration of incentive plans: annual review cycles, communication approach, and signature tracking
• Design, run, and debrief performance review cycles, including question design, manager training, calibration sessions, and reporting on top/bottom performer actions
• Lead the employee engagement survey process: question design, communications, synthesis, and action planning
• Manage employee relations matters and internal investigations with professionalism, discretion, and thoroughness
• Administer accommodation requests in compliance with applicable law
• Oversee benefit selection, evaluation, and renewal processes 
• Manage offboarding and exit processes, ensuring a respectful and legally sound experience
• Provide ongoing management coaching to help leaders navigate people challenges
• Prepare materials for global and local People team meetings, including presentations, data summaries, and talking points

• 8+ years of progressive HR/People experience at a tech company or high-growth startup in New York City
• 4+ years of people leadership experience
• Demonstrated experience in both a startup environment and a mid-to-large organization; exposure to a startup scaling through growth is a strong plus
• Experience working within a global company and navigating the complexities of a distributed, multi-region workforce
• Proven track record supporting front-line teams directly
• Comfort partnering with and coaching executives at all levels - from early-career managers to seasoned C-suite leaders
• Firsthand experience navigating large-scale organizational change, whether rapid team growth, restructuring, or reduction
• Strong working knowledge of multi-state US employment law
• Exceptional communication skills - able to translate complex people topics into clear, actionable guidance
• Builder's mindset: you design scalable systems while remaining willing to roll up your sleeves

Nice to Have

• SHRM-SCP, SPHR, or equivalent HR certification
• Familiarity with HRIS platforms commonly used in scaling companies (e.g., HiBob, JustWorks)
• Experience working closely with growing go-to-market teams within a high growth startup

The salary for this position ranges between $180,000-$200,000. This is decided based on many factors, including but not limited to: skills, qualifications, and geographic location. In addition to base salary, we are proud to offer stock options in the company and a competitive benefits package.

To support our employees, we offer comprehensive benefits both in and out of the office. These include premium healthcare, comprehensive paid time off, and flexible parental leave. Our bereavement care includes premium access to the Empathy platform and support for employees and their families. We support financial wellness with a company-sponsored 401(k) plan and up to a 4% employer match, along with competitive stock options. With annual retreats, team lunches for our NYC office, and a remote employee stipend, we prioritize spending time together and investing in our people. We hope you will want to join our exceptional team!