Head of People
ABOUT FAST FORWARD
Fast Forward launched in 2014 with a simple belief: tech can help solve the world’s biggest challenges. Back then, the intersection of tech and social impact was still undefined. The term “tech nonprofit” didn’t even exist. So, we coined it and founded Fast Forward to support the builders using tech for social good.
Since then, Fast Forward’s annual flagship Accelerator has supported an impressive portfolio of 100+ tech nonprofit builders with funding, resources, and partnerships. The result? 262M lives impacted and $1B+ in follow-on funding for tech nonprofits raised to date. Outside of the Accelerator, Fast Forward is growing the sector by offering the world’s 1,000+ tech and AI-powered nonprofits resources and tools to scale. Learn more.
THE POSITION
You will be Fast Forward’s first dedicated People leader, with the opportunity to build the People function from the ground up and shape the organization during a period of growth. This is a high-impact role where you will oversee the entire employee lifecycle, design the systems, policies, and practices that support a positive company culture, strengthen staff and leadership, and make a lasting impact on our team and culture. This is a unique opportunity to bring your People leadership skills to an organization accelerating tech solutions for social good.
As Head of People, you will be both a strategic partner and a hands-on operator. You will work closely with Fast Forward’s leadership team to align people strategy with organizational goals, while also leading the day-to-day practices that keep our staff supported, aligned, and engaged.
This role may be structured as full-time or part-time, depending on candidate experience and organizational needs.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
People Strategy & Culture
- Develop and lead a people strategy that strengthens organizational performance, aligns with Fast Forward’s goals, and cultivates a culture rooted in our values.
- Partner with the executive team to assess talent needs, shape organizational design, and ensure the structure supports both current priorities and future growth.
- Serve as a trusted resource for staff, offering guidance, support, and clarity.
- Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion across the employee experience.
- Collaborate with the Office Manager to design initiatives that build engagement and connection.
Performance & Leadership Development
- Provide coaching and guidance to strengthen management and staff capability.
- Design and oversee professional development efforts that build skills and support long-term growth.
- Lead performance management cycles, ensuring clarity in expectations, goal-setting, and feedback.
- Sustain career development frameworks that give staff clarity and growth opportunities.
Portfolio Support and Training
- Provide guidance to tech nonprofits in Fast Forward’s portfolio around People Ops, HR strategy, and talent development.
- Assist our portfolio in scaling talent and organizational design.
- Create content to educate tech nonprofits on best practices in HR and People Ops.
People Operations & Compliance
- Manage and support our Recruiter, ensuring our hiring practices are equitable, consistent, and aligned with Fast Forward’s values.
- Lead a clear, consistent onboarding experience that sets new hires up for success from day one.
- Oversee payroll, benefits, compensation, and HR systems (currently managed in Gusto).
- Partner with the leadership team on compensation decisions.
- Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and implement required training.
- Maintain accurate, compliant documentation and HR records.
- Advise managers on employee relations to keep practices fair and consistent.
WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR
- 8+ years of HR/People Ops leadership experience, with proven success owning or leading the People function.
- Experience running recruiting, including full-cycle hiring, interviewer training, and building consistent, equitable hiring practices.
- Enthusiastic about Fast Forward’s mission and the power of tech for good.
- Strong track record of building and scaling people systems that balance compliance, clarity, and culture.
- Skilled manager and coach who can support leaders, guide decision-making, and strengthen team performance.
- Experience with payroll, benefits, compensation, and employee relations.
- Commitment to equity-centered People practices that foster inclusion, engagement, and belonging.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to navigate sensitive conversations and build trust across the organization.
- Strategic thinker who can design long-term people and talent strategies while staying hands-on with day-to-day execution.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
- Unlimited paid time off (PTO)
- 401k retirement plan & employer matching
- Office is located in a beautiful national park - The Presidio - with free transit to/from downtown San Francisco!
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Most importantly, input on the office snack order
COMPENSATION
Salary: $160,00 - $170,000 - negotiable depending on experience
Note: In accordance with federal, state, and local safety guidelines, this role is expected to be performed in-person, in San Francisco.
Fast Forward is a social justice organization founded on the idea that those with proximity to the problem should have proximity to the power to fix them. Our true north is empowering tech nonprofit leaders with the tools, community, and capital they need to scale solutions for underserved groups, and we know that a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion is inextricable from that pursuit. Read our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Guidelines to learn how we approach DEI across our investments, community, and workplace.
Fast Forward is an equal opportunity employer.