Head of People & Talent (HR + Recruiting)

TalentPop
Lake Forest, CA
Location: Hybrid | Full-Time

Brand: Cove

Compensation: $90,000 – $110,000 base + performance-based bonus

Who We Are

Cove is a rapidly scaling direct-to-consumer apparel brand built on the mindset of living with intent — Die on Empty. We don’t just sell gear; we enable a lifestyle. Our customers are loyal, our drops sell out, and we’re building something meaningful with long-term staying power.

As we scale, talent becomes the advantage. We’re looking for a Head of People & Talent who can help us build an elite team while keeping our people operations clean, compliant, and friction-free.

The Role

This is a hunter + operator role. You’ll own recruiting end-to-end while also running core HR and people operations. Your primary mandate is to find, attract, and close high-caliber talent, while building simple systems that support a fast-moving, founder-led company.

You’ll partner closely with the founder and leadership team to ensure Cove hires well, moves fast, and maintains a strong culture as we grow.

What You’ll Own

  • Headhunt and close high-impact talent across growth, creative, operations, merchandising, and leadership roles
  • Leverage a strong personal recruiting network (this is not a post-and-pray role)
  • Own sourcing, outreach, interview pipelines, scorecards, and closing strategy
  • Act as the face of Cove to candidates and future team members
  • Run payroll, onboarding, benefits administration, and people systems
  • Own HR compliance and documentation, with a strong understanding of California labor law
  • Serve as a trusted point of contact for employees across the organization

You Are

  • A proven headhunter with real connections and closing experience
  • Comfortable recruiting for founder-led, high-growth companies
  • Organized, discreet, and execution-oriented
  • Equally capable of high-level talent strategy and hands-on HR administration
  • Aligned with our tone: honest, bold, purpose-driven — never corny or corporate

Please Don’t Apply If

  • You’ve only worked in highly bureaucratic or slow-moving organizations
  • You rely on job boards instead of proactive sourcing and relationships
  • You’re not comfortable owning both recruiting and HR operations

Bonus Points

  • Experience recruiting for DTC, consumer brands, or startups
  • Background in agency recruiting before moving in-house
  • Experience building people functions from an early or growth stage

What Success Looks Like

  • Priority roles are filled quickly with high-performing, culture-aligned hires
  • Recruiting pipelines are proactive, not reactive
  • People operations run smoothly with minimal friction or compliance issues
  • Employees feel supported while leadership stays focused on growth

Equal Opportunity Statement

Cove is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and foster an inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy or related conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

Reasonable accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs unless it causes undue hardship. In compliance with California law, the base salary range for this role is $90,000–$110,000, depending on experience, qualifications, and location. Applicants are not required to disclose salary history and are protected from retaliation for discussing or inquiring about pay.

#TalentPop
Posted 2026-01-30

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