Head of People

Downstream System Inc.; United States; Remote; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Company equity

Paid time off, holidays, and floating/

Parental and bereavement leave

Job summary

Downstream is a marketplace platform transforming the waste and construction industries. We’re seeking a Head of People to own the employee experience and build the people infrastructure for rapid growth. This is a remote role.

You will lead recruiting, onboarding, payroll and benefits administration, compensation coordination, and workforce planning while partnering with leadership to address current and future hiring needs. You’ll manage HR policies, employee support, and vendor relationships.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive experience in Human Resources or People Operations.
• Experience owning or significantly contributing to recruiting and talent acquisition.
• Hands-on experience with payroll, benefits administration, onboarding, and employee records.
• Strong understanding of compensation, employee benefits, and HR practices.
• Experience partnering directly with leadership and hiring managers.
• Experience in a high-growth startup, technology company, marketplace, or construction-fast-paced environment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end recruiting process, from identifying hiring needs through accepted offers.
• Partner with department leaders to develop current and future hiring plans.
• Create and maintain job descriptions and postings; manage candidate sourcing, screening, interviewing, and coordination.
• Own onboarding, including documentation, payroll setup, benefits enrollment, system access, and manager onboarding plans.
• Serve as a trusted employee resource for policies, payroll, compensation, benefits, and employment matters.
• Support employee transitions, promotions, compensation changes, and offboarding.
• Own payroll administration and maintain accurate compensation, payroll, and employment records.
• Manage benefits administration and relationships with payroll, benefits, and other HR vendors.
• Support leadership with compensation benchmarking and evolving organizational needs.
• Track recruiting and people metrics and continuously improve the employee and candidate experience.

Skills

HR experience

Recruiting

Payroll

Benefits administration

Onboarding

Compensation knowledge

Job description

Downstream is a marketplace platform transforming the waste and construction industries from the ground up. We're on a mission to bring simplicity, transparency, and sustainability to two of the most essential — but often overlooked — sectors of our economy.

We make it easy for contractors, builders, and businesses to find and book critical services like dumpster rentals, hauling, site services, and equipment — all in a few clicks. No endless calls, no confusing pricing, no waiting around. Our platform connects customers with vetted, reliable providers so they can get what they need, when they need it.

We're not just about convenience — we're about impact. By streamlining logistics and digitizing the supply chain, we're helping reduce waste, cut emissions, and build a cleaner, more sustainable future. Let's build better, together.

About the role

We're looking for a Head of People to own the employee experience at Downstream and build the people infrastructure needed to support a rapidly growing company.

You'll lead recruiting, onboarding, payroll and benefits administration, employee support, compensation coordination, and workforce planning while partnering closely with leadership to address current and future hiring needs.

This is a remote role.

What you'll do

• Own Downstream's end-to-end recruiting process, from identifying hiring needs through accepted offers
• Partner with department leaders to develop current and future hiring plans
• Create and maintain job descriptions and postings and manage candidate sourcing, screening, interviewing, and coordination
• Own onboarding, including documentation, payroll setup, benefits enrollment, system access, and manager onboarding plans
• Serve as a trusted employee resource for company policies, payroll, compensation, benefits, and employment matters
• Support employee transitions, promotions, compensation changes, and offboarding
• Own payroll administration and maintain accurate compensation, payroll, and employment records
• Manage benefits administration and relationships with payroll, benefits, and other HR vendors
• Support leadership with compensation benchmarking and evolving organizational needs
• Track recruiting and people metrics and continuously improve the employee and candidate experience

Role specifics

• Core ownership: recruiting, onboarding, payroll, benefits, compensation coordination, and employee support
• Primary partners: company leadership, department leaders, Finance, and external HR/payroll vendors
• Key outcomes: strong hiring execution, seamless onboarding, accurate payroll, clear employee support, and scalable People processes
• Operating environment: high-growth, remote B2B marketplace

Who you are

• 5+ years of progressive experience in Human Resources, People Operations, recruiting, or a related field
• Experience owning or significantly contributing to recruiting and talent acquisition
• Hands-on experience with payroll, benefits administration, onboarding, and employee records
• Strong understanding of compensation, employee benefits, and general HR practices
• Experience partnering directly with leadership and hiring managers
• Excellent communication, judgment, confidentiality, organization, and ability to manage multiple priorities
• Experience in a high-growth startup, technology company, marketplace, construction, or similarly fast-paced environment preferred

Compensation

$90,000–$100,000 per year.

Downstream is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with a company match
• Company equity — be an owner in what we're building
• Paid time off, paid holidays, and floating holidays
• Parental and bereavement leave