Head of Talent Acquisition
$180k - $250k USD
About Distyl AI
Distyl AI develops production-grade AI systems to power core operational workflows for Fortune 500 companies. Powered by a strategic partnership with OpenAI, in-house software accelerators, and deep enterprise AI expertise, we deliver working AI systems with rapid time to value – within a quarter.
Our products have helped Fortune 500 customers across diverse industries, from insurance and CPG to non-profits. As part of our team, you will help companies identify, build, and realize value from their GenAI investments, often for the first time. We are customer-centric, working backward from the customer’s problem and holding ourselves accountable for creating both financial impact and improving the lives of end-users.
Distyl is led by proven leaders from top companies like Palantir and Apple and is backed by Lightspeed, Khosla, Coatue, Dell Technologies Capital, Nat Friedman (Former CEO of GitHub), Brad Gerstner (Founder and CEO of Altimeter), and board members of over a dozen Fortune 500 companies.
What We Are Looking For
As Head of Talent Acquisition, you will own and scale our end-to-end hiring strategy, from executive leadership roles to deeply technical positions. You will be responsible for building a world-class recruiting function that enables the company to grow rapidly while maintaining an exceptionally high bar for talent.
In close partnership with the Head of People, founders and leadership team your mission is to translate business priorities into hiring outcomes, earn trust as a strategic advisor, and ensure we consistently attract and close top-tier talent. You will personally lead critical executive searches while also designing the systems, processes, and team needed to scale hiring sustainably.
This role requires a builder mindset, strong executive presence, deep technical recruiting fluency and comfort operating in ambiguity. You will be accountable for hiring outcomes and long-term talent foundation of the company.
Key Responsibilities
Executive Search & Leadership Hiring: Own executive and senior leadership hiring, personally leading critical searches while managing and leveraging external search firms. Partner with founders and hiring managers on role definition, assessment, and closing and set the standard for executive hiring across the company.
Hiring Strategy & Bar Setting: Own end-to-end hiring outcomes and set a consistently high bar across all roles, partnering closely with leaders to ensure rigorous assessment and strong hiring decisions.
Leadership & Team Building: Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing Talent Acquisition team. Create clarity around roles, expectations, and performance while fostering a culture of ownership and excellence.
Hiring Process & Infrastructure: Design scalable recruiting processes. Use data to diagnose funnel health, improve decision-making and continuously iterate on hiring effectiveness.
Candidate Experience & Employer Brand: Ensure a high-touch, thoughtful candidate experience. Shape and communicate a compelling employer story in partnership with leadership and brand partners.
Stakeholder Partnership: Build deep, trusted relationships with founders and hiring managers, serving as a trusted advisor throughout the hiring process.
Who You Are
Executive Search Experience: 10+ years of experience in Talent Acquisition and/or Executive Search, with proven experience leading executive search end-to-end either from a top search firm or in-house and a track record of closing senior leaders in competitive markets.
People Leadership Experience: Proven experience leading and scaling Talent Acquisition teams, including hiring, developing, and managing recruiters, and operating as a player-coach in a high-growth environment.
Technical Recruiting Expertise: Hands-on experience hiring technical talent, with the ability to partner credibly with technical leaders.
Startup & High-Growth Experience: Experience building or scaling recruiting functions in a startup or high-growth environment, where ambiguity and speed are the norm.
Strategic & Operational Strength: Ability to zoom out to define long-term hiring strategy while staying hands-on with critical searches and day-to-day execution.
Exceptional Communication & Judgment: Strong executive presence, stakeholder management skills, and sound judgment in high-stakes hiring decisions.
Thrive in Ambiguity: Comfort operating with incomplete information, prioritizing ruthlessly, and creating structure where none exists.
What We Offer
The base salary range for this role is $180K – $250K, depending on experience, location, and level. In addition to base compensation, this role is eligible for meaningful equity, along with a comprehensive benefits package.
100% covered medical, dental, and vision for employees and dependents.
401(k) with additional perks (e.g., commuter benefits, in‑office lunch).
Access to state‑of‑the‑art models, generous usage of modern AI tools, and real‑world business problems.
Ownership of high‑impact projects across top enterprises.
A mission‑driven, fast‑moving culture that prizes curiosity, pragmatism, and excellence.
Distyl has offices in San Francisco and New York. This role follows a hybrid collaboration model with 3+ days per week (Tuesday–Thursday) in‑office.