Head of People

Company Overview Dover is building the marketplace for startup experts.

We connect high-growth startups with experienced operators across recruiting, HR, legal, and more. These are leaders who know what great looks like and deliver real business outcomes. Experts are trusted business partners who work directly with founders to build and scale companies.

As AI transforms how work gets done, the need for experienced operators who can drive execution, exercise judgment, and own outcomes has never been greater. Dover enables these experts to plug into the most ambitious startups exactly when they’re needed most.

Dover isn’t an agency, a firm. or a consultancy. Dover is a marketplace where startups and expert operators meet, collaborate, and build lasting working relationships.

Startups come to Dover to find and partner with exceptional operators through our marketplace.

Since Dover launched the marketplace in mid-2024, it has grown to support over 300 of the strongest early-stage tech companies in the world.

About the role As a Head of People, you will serve as a trusted partner to founders, helping them build, scale, and lead high-performing teams from first hire through rapid growth.

You will operate on Dover’s marketplace as a fractional People leader, working directly with founders and leadership teams to design and execute People strategies that drive business outcomes. This includes everything from hiring and onboarding to performance management, compensation, culture, and organizational design.

Heads of People on Dover focus on high-impact leadership and relationship-building, while collaborating with other experts on the platform (e.g., recruiting, legal, finance) to support the broader needs of their customers.

You have the flexibility to use your own tools, partner with preferred vendors, or work within a company’s existing systems.

Heads of People start as independent contractors on the platform and have the option to join Dover full-time.

What you'll do

• Partner with founders and leadership teams to define and execute People strategy aligned with company goals

• Design and implement core People programs across hiring, onboarding, performance management, compensation, and employee experience

• Lead organizational design, workforce planning, and scaling efforts as companies grow

• Advise on employee relations, feedback cycles, and building a strong, healthy culture

• Establish and optimize People operations, policies, and compliance frameworks

• Help startups navigate complex decisions with clear, pragmatic guidance

• Collaborate with other Dover experts (e.g., finance, recruiting, legal) to support cross-functional company building

• Build strong, trusted relationships with founders and operators

What we're seeking

• 5–10+ years of People/HR experience in startups or high-growth companies

• Experience owning or leading the People function (e.g., Head of People, first People hire, or senior People leader)

• Strong experience across hiring, performance management, compensation, employee relations, and People operations

• Experience working closely with founders and executive teams

• Strong judgment and ability to handle sensitive situations with discretion

• Clear communicator with the ability to coach and influence leaders

• Comfortable operating independently, managing multiple priorities, and driving outcomes

• Able to balance strategy with hands-on execution in fast-paced, ambiguous environments