Head of People & Talent; HR Recruiting

Overview

Location: Hybrid | Full-Time

Brand: Cove

Compensation: $90,000 — $110,000 base performance-based bonus

Who We Are

Cove is a rapidly scaling direct-to-consumer apparel brand built on the mindset of living with intent — Die on Empty. We don’t just sell gear; we enable a lifestyle. Our customers are loyal, our drops sell out, and we’re building something meaningful with long-term staying power.

This is a hunter operator role. You’ll own recruiting end-to-end while also running core HR and people operations. Your primary mandate is to find, attract, and close high-caliber talent, while building simple systems that support a fast-moving, founder-led company.

You’ll partner closely with the founder and leadership team to ensure Cove hires well, moves fast, and maintains a strong culture as we grow.

• Headhunt and close high-impact talent across growth, creative, operations, merchandising, and leadership roles
• Leverage a strong personal recruiting network (this is not a post-and-pray role)
• Own sourcing, outreach, interview pipelines, scorecards, and closing strategy
• Act as the face of Cove to candidates and future team members
• Run payroll, onboarding, benefits administration, and people systems
• Own HR compliance and documentation, with a strong understanding of California labor law
• Serve as a trusted point of contact for employees across the organization

• A proven headhunter with real connections and closing experience
• Comfortable recruiting for founder-led, high-growth companies
• Organized, discreet, and execution-oriented
• Equally capable of high-level talent strategy and hands-on HR administration
• Aligned with our tone: honest, bold, purpose-driven — never corny or corporate

• You’ve only worked in highly bureaucratic or slow-moving organizations
• You rely on job boards instead of proactive sourcing and relationships
• You’re not comfortable owning both recruiting and HR operations

• Experience recruiting for DTC, consumer brands, or startups
• Background in agency recruiting before moving in-house
• Experience building people functions from an early or growth stage

• Priority roles are filled quickly with high-performing, culture-aligned hires
• Recruiting pipelines are proactive, not reactive
• People operations run smoothly with minimal friction or compliance issues
• Employees feel supported while leadership stays focused on growth

Cove is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and foster an inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy or related conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs unless it causes undue hardship. In compliance with California law, the base salary range for this role is $90,000–$110,000, depending on experience, qualifications, and location. Applicants are not required to disclose salary history and are protected from retaliation for discussing or inquiring about pay.

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