Director of People (Investment Firm)

livingHR, Inc.; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 200,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

A high-growth firm in Austin is seeking a strategic Director of People to lead the employee lifecycle. The ideal candidate will have over 8 years of HR leadership experience, a background in Private Equity or similar fields, and strong emotional intelligence. This role offers a hybrid work schedule and the opportunity to shape a results-driven organizational culture.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in a People/HR leadership role in small to medium-sized organizations.
• Background in Private Equity, Financial Services, Professional Services or similar within a Partnership model.
• Proven success in building and scaling people strategies in fast-paced environments.
• Experience with performance systems and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Lead the full employee lifecycle from hiring to offboarding.
• Drive initiatives promoting employee engagement and collaboration.
• Manage benefits programs that support employee wellness.
• Design learning strategies and ensure HR compliance.

Skills

People Operations & Risk Management

Culture & Engagement

Performance & Development

Total Rewards & Wellbeing

Learning & Growth

Compliance & Policy

Talent Programs

Cross-functional Collaboration

Job description

This range is provided by livingHR, Inc.. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

$200,000.00/yr - $220,000.00/yr

Overview

We are seeking a strategic Director of People with high emotional intelligence and strong executive presence to join our client, a high-growth firm. This is a unique opportunity to shape and scale the people function at a purpose-driven, results-oriented organization that supports innovation with an entrepreneurial mindset.

About The Role - Reporting directly to the COO, the Director of People will lead the full employee lifecycle—from hiring and onboarding to performance, engagement, learning, compliance, and benefits. This role is both strategic and operational, requiring a leader who can build scalable people programs while fostering a high-performance, feedback-driven culture. You’ll work closely with senior leadership, cross-functional teams, and external partners to drive initiatives that support employee growth, well-being, and organizational success.

WORK ENVIRONMENT - Hybrid schedule: 2–3 days in-office in Austin

What You'll Do

• People Operations & Risk Management: Managing sensitive employee matters, supporting internal investigations, and overseeing relationships with external partners and vendors related to people operations
• Culture & Engagement: Driving initiatives that promote employee engagement, collaboration, and a strong sense of purpose, using data and feedback to inform strategy
• Performance & Development: Leading performance management processes, including feedback frameworks and 360 reviews, while building and implementing programs that support leadership development and career growth
• Total Rewards & Wellbeing: Collaborating with internal stakeholders to manage benefits programs and recommend enhancements that support employee wellness and retention
• Learning & Growth: Designing and implementing learning and development strategies, including manager training, career pathing, and succession planning
• Compliance & Policy: Ensuring HR practices and policies are compliant with applicable laws and reflect best practices, including regular updates to internal documentation
• Talent Programs: Overseeing the full employee lifecycle, including hiring, onboarding, and offboarding, with a focus on creating seamless and engaging experiences
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Partnering with leadership, finance, and legal teams to align people initiatives with broader organizational priorities

What We're Looking For

• 8+ years of experience in a People/HR leadership role in small to medium-sized organizations
• Background in Private Equity, Financial Services, Professional Services or similar within a Partnership model
• Proven success in building and scaling people strategies in fast-paced environments
• Experience with performance systems (Lattice a plus), benefits, and compliance
• Strong coaching, communication, and stakeholder management skills
• High emotional intelligence and executive presence

Seniority level

• Not Applicable

Employment type

• Full-time

Job function

• Finance and Sales

Industries

• Software Development