Head of HR & Recruiting

Runwise (www.runwise.com) is a fast-paced, customer-focused climate-tech startup that controls and runs the key energy systems (heating, water, cooling, etc.) in 8,000+ buildings throughout the U.S. Runwise’s unique hardware and software service significantly reduces energy usage, substantially lowering costs and carbon output. As of today, Runwise’s technology takes the equivalent of 100,000 cars’ worth of carbon emissions off the road each year.

As the Head of HR & Recruiting, you will report directly to the COO and play a pivotal leadership role in shaping and scaling our people strategy as we continue our rapid growth. You will oversee our HR and recruiting functions - managing a team of two recruiters (including a Principal Recruiter) and one office manager/scheduler - while designing the organizational plan for future hires in the department. You will partner closely with the Principal Recruiter on overall talent strategy, ensuring alignment between leadership needs and recruiting execution.

This role requires deep expertise in benefits strategy and management, including working directly with brokers on health insurance and other employee offerings. You will also manage our current PEO relationship while evaluating and driving the decision on what long-term HRIS platform Runwise should adopt. Beyond benefits, this role owns compliance, policies, and HR operations, while driving excellence in recruiting and talent acquisition.

This is a highly visible role that requires strong analytical skills, data-driven decision-making, and the ability to design scalable processes that improve employee experience, support business needs, and align with Runwise’s values and culture.

• Leading the HR & Recruiting function at Runwise and serving as a key advisor to leadership on organizational growth.
• Managing and developing a team of 2 recruiters (including a Principal Recruiter) and 1 office manager/scheduler, while creating the organizational roadmap for future HR team growth.
• Partnering closely with the Principal Recruiter on talent strategy, workforce planning, and recruiting execution to ensure Runwise attracts and hires top-tier talent as we rapidly scale.
• Designing and implementing scalable recruiting processes, tools, and systems to strengthen our candidate pipeline and improve hiring efficiency.
• Owning the development, implementation, and evolution of Runwise’s entire benefits program, including direct collaboration with brokers to evaluate, negotiate, and administer health insurance and other offerings.
• Managing the company’s current PEO relationship, while evaluating alternatives and determining the long-term HRIS platform that will best support a scaling organization.
• Ensuring compliance with all labor laws and regulations across jurisdictions, keeping company policies current with national and local requirements.
• Managing employee records and policies, implementing adequate processes and audits for compliance with employment law updates (e.g., new hire notification requirements, labor laws, unemployment claims, records retention policies).
• Providing project management, operational, technology, and analytical support across compensation, benefits, performance management, engagement, and recruiting.
• Leading & evolving our performance management strategy.
• Using data and metrics to evaluate recruiting funnels, HR initiatives, employee engagement, and benefits usage.
• Acting as a culture carrier and ensuring that Runwise’s values are embedded in hiring, onboarding, and employee development.
  

• You have 7+ years of experience in HR, with a strong blend of benefits expertise and recruiting/talent acquisition leadership.
• You are experienced in managing and developing recruiting teams, while also collaborating with business leaders to shape workforce planning.
• You have direct experience working with brokers to negotiate and administer health insurance and other benefit programs.
• You have successfully built and scaled recruiting strategies in high-growth environments and can design processes that attract top talent across multiple functions.
• You are experienced in managing PEO relationships and evaluating/building HRIS platforms for scaling organizations.
• You are well-versed in compliance and labor laws, with proven experience designing processes and policies that meet multi-jurisdictional requirements.
• You are highly data-oriented, leveraging metrics to drive better outcomes in HR and recruiting.
• You are a strong leader and manager who can both coach existing team members and plan for future org design.
• You are an excellent communicator who builds trust across all levels of the company.
• You thrive in a fast-paced, scaling startup environment and are motivated by having a tangible impact on the growth of a mission-driven company.

Location: This is an in-office role. You will be expected to join our team in person in NoMad, New York City 4 days a week. 

What you believe: 

• No job is too small.
• Sincerity builds trust.
• Setbacks fuel progress.
• Efficiency is vital.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• HSA & FSA options
• Access to Talkspace & Health Advocate
• Flexible PTO
• Commuter Benefits
• 401K
• Paid Parental Leave
• Company-paid life insurance
• Voluntary supplemental life insurance
• Free in-office lunch on Wednesdays
• Hybrid work environment
• Summer Fridays
• Monthly L&D Series
• Employee Resource Groups (e.g., DEIB Committee, Run Club)
  

This is an excellent opportunity to join a fast-growing company and build a career-defining HR & Recruiting function that scales with Runwise’s ambitious growth. You will be surrounded by talented people and have a direct impact on shaping the company’s future while supporting our mission to reduce carbon emissions across the country.