Vice President of People

Second Dinner; United States; Remote; USD 240,000 - 320,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks a Vice President of People to shape their remote-first culture and lead their People Operations and Talent Acquisition teams. This strategic leadership role offers the chance to optimize workplace practices and enhance employee engagement while driving continuous improvements across the organization. The ideal candidate will have extensive HR leadership experience, a passion for fostering an inclusive environment, and a hands-on approach to problem-solving. If you thrive in a dynamic, high-growth setting and are eager to make a significant impact, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

100% medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums for employees

401(k) contribution with no waiting period

16 weeks paid parental leave

Home office improvement bonus

Paid Vacation & Sick time

Up to 10 BetterHelp sessions covered

Company Winter Holiday shutdown

Company Summer Holiday shutdown

Company Events throughout the year

Qualifications

• 10+ years of HR leadership experience, with 4+ years in Talent Acquisition.
• Proven experience scaling HR functions in high-growth tech or gaming companies.

Responsibilities

• Set vision and strategy for People Operations and Talent Acquisition.
• Champion initiatives for an inclusive and diverse workplace.
• Lead Learning & Development strategy for employee success.

Skills

HR Leadership

Talent Acquisition

Employee Engagement

HR Technology

Compliance Knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

Master's degree in HR or Business Administration

Tools

HR Analytics Tools

Job description

Who We Are

Second Dinner is an award-winning independent game development studio that is here to make the most fun games in the world. Not super fun games. Not SUPER DUPER fun games. We mean the MOST fun games. In fact, our game MARVEL SNAP has earned multiple Mobile Game of the Year Awards (Game Awards , DICE ), Best Strategy Game (IGN) , and the Apple Design Award for Innovation !

Second Dinner is a remote-first studio, so while we are headquartered in Irvine, California, most of our team is fully remote across the United States. We want the most talented teammates wherever they call home. A diverse team with varied perspectives makes us a better company and will help us make better games. If you can bring something new to the table and expand our point of view, that's a huge upside.

Your Role

Join us at a pivotal moment in our journey as our next Vice President of People! Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you’ll lead and evolve the people strategies that will define our next chapter in the gaming industry. As a key member of the leadership team, you’ll shape our remote-first culture during a period of transformative expansion, while leading our accomplished People Operations and Talent Acquisition teams.

This is more than just an HR leadership role – it’s an opportunity to optimize and refine a world-class workplace. You’ll partner closely with leaders across the company to enhance existing programs, improve efficiencies, and drive continuous improvements in how we attract, develop, and retain the industry’s top talent.

While this is a strategic leadership role, we’re looking for someone who is comfortable rolling up their sleeves and getting hands-on when needed. Whether it’s leading a key initiative, solving a complex challenge, or stepping in to support the team, you’ll balance high-level leadership with a willingness to dive in where necessary.

If you're energized by the opportunity to scale a high-impact People function in a remote-first environment and are passionate about fostering an environment where people can do their best work, we’d love to chat with you!

What You’ll Do:

Strategic Leadership & Culture

• Set the vision and strategy for People Operations, Talent Acquisition, and Learning & Development, ensuring alignment with business goals
• Partner with the executive team to shape and evolve company-wide people strategies and organizational design
• Ensure our compensation, benefits, and total rewards programs remain competitive and effective
• Act as a thought leader on organizational culture, engagement, and employee experience

• Champion initiatives that foster an inclusive, equitable, and diverse workplace, ensuring our culture and policies support employees of all backgrounds

People Operations & Compliance Oversight

• Provide strategic guidance and accountability to the People Operations team on HR policies, performance management, and employee relations
• Ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations across multiple jurisdictions, working through People team leaders who own execution
• Champion HR technology and analytics improvements, ensuring teams have the right tools and data to drive efficiency and effectiveness

• Be eager to roll up your sleeves to drive best-in-class execution, tackle challenges, and step in when needed to solve problems

Talent Acquisition & Employee Development

• Empower and guide the Talent Acquisition team to refine and optimize recruiting strategies to attract and retain top talent
• Oversee and provide strategic direction for employer branding, onboarding, and candidate experience initiatives
• Lead the overall Learning & Development strategy, ensuring leadership development, career growth, and employee success programs are in place

• Support the succession planning process, ensuring key talent pipelines are nurtured and prepared for future leadership roles

What You’ll Need:

• 10+ years of HR leadership experience, including:
  • 4+ years in or leading Talent Acquisition
  • 5+ years at the Director level or above
• Proven experience scaling HR & Talent Acquisition functions in high-growth technology or gaming companies
• Deep knowledge of HR best practices, employment law, and compliance requirements, with experience guiding teams responsible for execution
• Strong ability to lead and execute People Operations, Employee Engagement, and Talent Acquisition initiatives

• Experience leveraging HR technology and data analytics to inform decision-making and drive improvements

Nice to Have, But Not Necessary:

• Experience leading remote/distributed teams
• Master’s degree in HR, Business Administration, or related field; SPHR/SHRM-SCP certification

• International HR experience

The total compensation for this position includes a new hire offer base salary range of $240,000 to $320,000 USD + equity + comprehensive benefits + potential for discretionary performance bonuses.

Individual pay within this salary range may span multiple levels within the discipline and is determined by assessed job-related skills, experience, relevant education or training. It also factors in market demands and business needs. The disclosed range is not adjusted based on location and may be subject to change or modification based on business needs in the future. Your recruiter can answer any questions about new hire total compensation during the hiring process.

An overview of the benefits and perks at Second Dinner:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans with Second Dinner paying 100% of premiums for employees and 75% for dependents for many plans
• 401(k) contribution with no waiting period
• 16 weeks paid parental leave with no waiting period
• Home office improvement bonus
• Paid Vacation & Sick time
• Up to 10 BetterHelp sessions covered each benefits plan year
• Remote-first with core overlap hours between 10AM and 4PM PT
• Company Winter Holiday shutdown (Dec 25-Jan 1)
• Company Summer Holiday shutdown (week of July 4)

• Company Events - In-person Summer all-hands gathering, in-person holiday party, and virtual events throughout the year

We are an equal opportunity employer that places high value on diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, disability status, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, military status, or veteran status.

You must be eligible to work in the United States to be considered for this position.