Lead Recruiter

VCV; New York (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

VCV Digital is seeking a Founding Lead Recruiter to shape the recruiting function across executive leadership, technology, AI infrastructure, and corporate roles, partnering directly with senior leaders from strategy to offer.

In this founding role, you will own processes, tools, and hiring practices to scale our businesses. You should have built or improved recruiting infrastructure, thrive in an entrepreneurial setting, and be adept at strategy, passive sourcing, and closing difficult searches.

Qualifications

• 5–8 years of relevant experience in recruiting, startup, or venture studio environments.
• Proven success closing executive-level and technical hires.
• Experience building recruiting processes and workflows in high-growth settings.
• Hands-on sourcing with passive candidate engagement.

Responsibilities

• Lead searches from intake through market mapping, sourcing, interviews, offer strategy and close.
• Recruit and close executive-level, senior leadership, and highly technical talent across our portfolio.
• Build targeted pipelines through direct sourcing, referrals, networking, and market research.
• Partner with executives and hiring managers to define candidate profiles and evaluation criteria.
• Advise leadership on candidate quality, compensation dynamics, and closing risks.
• Build and implement recruiting infrastructure including workflows and interview frameworks.

Skills

Executive recruiting

Technical recruiting

Sourcing passive candidates

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Tools

LinkedIn Recruiter

ATS/CRM tools

Greenhouse

Job description

VCV Digital is a venture studio that builds companies from the ground up, we work alongside leadership teams to shape strategy, build operations, recruit talent, develop partnerships, and drive sustainable growth.

We operate in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment where ownership, adaptability, and problem-solving are essential. Our team combines capital with hands-on execution to turn ambitious ideas into scalable, enduring businesses.

At our core, we are builders, operators, and investors committed to innovation, execution, and long-term value creation.

About The Role

We’re looking for a Founding Lead Recruiter to help shape the teams behind VCV Digital and our related businesses.

This is an opportunity to build a recruiting function while remaining close to the work that matters most: finding and closing exceptional people. You’ll lead high-impact searches across executive leadership, technology, AI infrastructure, and corporate functions—partnering directly with senior leaders from the initial search strategy through offer acceptance.

As our founding recruiting leader, you’ll have the ownership to implement the processes, tools, and hiring practices needed to help our businesses scale. We’re looking for someone who has built or improved recruiting infrastructure before, thrives in an entrepreneurial environment, and is equally comfortable designing the strategy, sourcing passive talent, and closing a difficult search.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead searches from initial intake and market mapping through sourcing, interviews, offer strategy, negotiation, and close.
• Recruit and close executive-level, senior leadership, and highly technical talent across our portfolio-Line businesses.
• Build targeted pipelines through direct sourcing, referrals, networking, market research, and creative outreach, with a strong focus on passive candidates.
• Partner directly with executives and hiring managers to define candidate profiles, establish evaluation criteria, and develop the right strategy for each search.
• Advise leadership on candidate quality, talent availability, compensation, competitive dynamics, and closing risks.
• Build and implement our recruiting infrastructure, including workflows, interview frameworks, scorecards, reporting, tools, and operating rhythms.
• Create tailored outreach and employer messaging that engages candidates and communicates the distinct opportunity within each business.
• Develop trusted relationships with candidates, understand their motivations and concerns, and create thoughtful closing strategies for competitive searches.
• Manage multiple executive, technical, and business searches while maintaining urgency, organization, and consistent follow-through.
• Identify bottlenecks, secure timely feedback, and keep hiring teams aligned and moving toward decisions.
• Develop deep knowledge of each business and its talent market so you can evaluate candidates effectively and represent opportunities with credibility.
• Deliver a thoughtful, high-touch candidate experience through clear communication, transparency, and consistent piger involvement.
• Monitor pipeline health, conversion, hiring velocity, and search risks, providing leadership with clear and actionable updates.
• Help determine when additional recruiting resources are needed and support the development of the recruiting function as the organization grows.

Qualifications

• 5-8 years of relevant experience either in a related industry or recruiting agency setting
• Demonstrated success recruiting and closing executive-level, senior leadership, and highly technical talent.
• Previous experience building or implementing recruiting processes, systems, tools, and interview practices within a startup, high-growth company, venture studio, or similarly evolving environment.
• A hands‑on sourcing background with the ability to identify and engage high-quality passive candidates.
• Strong closing and negotiation skills, including experience navigating competing offers and complex candidate motivations.
• The ability to move between strategic leadership and hands‑on execution without losing momentum.
• Sound judgment and the confidence to advise, challenge, and influence senior leaders.
• Comfort working across multiple businesses, industries, and talent markets in a fast-moving environment.
• A builder’s mindset, strong sense of ownership, and willingness to create practical solutions without waiting for perfect conditions.

You’ll Thrive Here if..

• You like closing roles and get energy from turning a difficult search into an accepted offer.
• You're a hunter. When the right candidates aren't applying, your instinct is to go find them.
• You know that recruiting doesn't stop when a candidate enters the interview process — you stay close, understand what matters to them, and actively manage the close.
• You don't need a perfect brief to get started. You ask the right questions, calibrate quickly, and build momentum.