Vice President of People

Summary

Join Second Dinner, an award-winning game development studio, as our next Vice President of People! Reporting to the COO, you will lead and evolve people strategies, shaping our remote-first culture during a period of expansion. This role involves strategic leadership and hands-on execution across People Operations, Talent Acquisition, and Learning & Development. You will partner with leaders to enhance programs, improve efficiencies, and attract, develop, and retain top talent. This is an opportunity to optimize a world-class workplace in a high-growth environment. We are looking for a leader who is passionate about fostering an environment where people can do their best work.

Requirements

• 10+ years of HR leadership experience, including
• 4+ years in or leading Talent Acquisition
• 5+ years at the Director level or above
• Proven experience scaling HR & Talent Acquisition functions in high-growth technology or gaming companies
• Deep knowledge of HR best practices, employment law, and compliance requirements, with experience guiding teams responsible for execution
• Strong ability to lead and execute People Operations, Employee Engagement, and Talent Acquisition initiatives
• Experience leveraging HR technology and data analytics to inform decision-making and drive improvements
• Must be eligible to work in the United States

Responsibilities

• Set the vision and strategy for People Operations, Talent Acquisition, and Learning & Development, ensuring alignment with business goals
• Partner with the executive team to shape and evolve company-wide people strategies and organizational design
• Ensure our compensation, benefits, and total rewards programs remain competitive and effective
• Act as a thought leader on organizational culture, engagement, and employee experience
• Champion initiatives that foster an inclusive, equitable, and diverse workplace, ensuring our culture and policies support employees of all backgrounds
• Provide strategic guidance and accountability to the People Operations team on HR policies, performance management, and employee relations
• Ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations across multiple jurisdictions, working through People team leaders who own execution
• Champion HR technology and analytics improvements, ensuring teams have the right tools and data to drive efficiency and effectiveness
• Be eager to roll up your sleeves to drive best-in-class execution, tackle challenges, and step in when needed to solve problems
• Empower and guide the Talent Acquisition team to refine and optimize recruiting strategies to attract and retain top talent
• Oversee and provide strategic direction for employer branding, onboarding, and candidate experience initiatives
• Lead the overall Learning & Development strategy, ensuring leadership development, career growth, and employee success programs are in place
• Support the succession planning process, ensuring key talent pipelines are nurtured and prepared for future leadership roles

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading remote/distributed teams
• Master’s degree in HR, Business Administration, or related field; SPHR/SHRM-SCP certification
• International HR experience

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans with Second Dinner paying 100% of premiums for employees and 75% for dependents for many plans
• 401(k) contribution with no waiting period
• 16 weeks paid parental leave with no waiting period
• Home office improvement bonus
• Paid Vacation & Sick time
• Up to 10 BetterHelp sessions covered each benefits plan year
• Remote-first with core overlap hours between 10AM and 4PM PT
• Company Winter Holiday shutdown (Dec 25-Jan 1)
• Company Summer Holiday shutdown (week of July 4)
• Company Events - In-person Summer all-hands gathering, in-person holiday party, and virtual events throughout the year
• New hire offer base salary range of $240,000 to $320,000 USD + equity + comprehensive benefits + potential for discretionary performance bonuses