Everyone is welcome at Handshake. We know diverse teams build better products and we are committed to creating an inclusive culture built on a foundation of respect for all individuals. We strongly encourage candidates from non-traditional backgrounds, historically marginalized or underrepresented groups to apply.

Your Impact:

We’re looking for a senior People leader who brings a strong mix of business acumen, leadership coaching, and operational rigor. In this role, you’ll partner closely with executives to shape how teams scale, how performance is driven, and how culture shows up in day-to-day decisions. You’ll lead our HRBP function while also taking on high-impact, cross-functional initiatives that accelerate how we attract, grow, and retain top talent. You will be a significant member of the People Leadership team, reporting directly to the VP of People to set strategy and goals to support our Handshakers and the business. 

Your Role:

• Partner closely with senior leaders to shape organizational design, talent planning, and team performance as the business scales.
• Lead key talent initiatives, from performance management to leadership development, that raise the bar and support team growth.
• Drive cross-functional People projects that shape how we work, including evolving our company principles and optimizing our hybrid working model.
• Play a key role in change efforts, helping teams navigate shifts with clarity, transparency, and trust.
• Use data and insights to guide decisions, whether it’s spotting engagement trends, tackling attrition, or sharpening team performance.

Your Experience:

• 15+ years of progressive HR experience, including 5+ years as a senior HRBP partnering directly with execs in high-growth environments.
• Strong track record of shaping organizational strategy, leading through change, and supporting complex people decisions at the executive level.
• Known for turning big ideas into clear plans that drive real outcomes with an eye on both impact and execution.
• Brings a systems mindset and spots patterns across teams, organizational design, and talent levers.
• Experienced leader of small, high-performing teams; skilled at coaching and developing others while holding a high bar.
• Comfortable in ambiguity, energized by solving hard problems, and always guided by data and context.

*Must be willing to work a hybrid schedule from our SF office - Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday*

Compensation Range

• $228,000-$305,000 + RSUs

For cash compensation, we set standard ranges for all U.S.-based roles based on function, level, and geographic location, benchmarked against similar stage growth companies. In order to be compliant with local legislation, as well as to provide greater transparency to candidates, we share salary ranges on all job postings regardless of desired hiring location. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors, including geographic location as well as candidate experience and expertise, and may vary from the amounts listed above.

About us

Handshake is the career platform for Gen Z. With a community of over 17 million students, alumni, employers, and career educators, Handshake’s network is where career advice and discovery turn into first, second, and third jobs. Nearly 1 million companies use Handshake to build their future workforce—from Fortune 500 to federal agencies, school districts to startups, healthcare systems to small businesses. Handshake is built for where you’re going, not where you’ve been.

When it comes to our workforce strategy, we’ve thought deeply about how work-life should look at Handshake. With our hybrid-work model, employees benefit from collaboration and shared team experiences three days per week in our vibrant offices, and enjoy the flexibility of remote work two days per week (unless noted in the specific job posting). Handshake is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in New York, London, and Berlin.

What we offer

At Handshake, we'll give you the tools to feel healthy, happy and secure.

Benefits below apply to employees in full-time positions.

• 💰 Equity and ownership in a fast-growing company.
• 🍼 16 Weeks of paid parental leave for birth giving parents & 10 weeks of paid parental leave for non-birth giving parents.
• 💝 Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision policies including LGTBQ+ Coverage. We also provide resources for Mental Health Assistance, Employee Assistance Programs and counseling support.
• 💻 Handshake offers $500/£360 home office stipend for you to spend during your first 3 months to create a pr