About this opportunity
Peak21 lists this HR Director (People and Talent Operations) opportunity in northern, Kentucky. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
At Peak21, we specialize in acquiring and scaling large direct-to-consumer (D2C) and technology-enabled businesses across the United States, Europe, and Asia, while also incubating companies of our own. Our portfolio generates over $200 million in revenue, is fully bootstrapped and profitable, and is built with a long-term mindset.
We are hiring an HR Director(People & Talent Operations) to build and lead a centralized People function that supports Peak21 and its growing portfolio of companies. This role is critical to helping founders hire better, move faster, and build durable teams as they scale.
This position is full-time, based in New York City, with on-site presence required and flexibility for travel as needed (Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM EST).'
What Makes This an Exciting Opportunity?
Design and own a portfolio-wide People & Talent function from the ground up
Work directly with founders and senior leaders at pivotal moments of growth
High visibility and real impact across multiple high-growth companies
Competitive compensation, performance bonus, and long-term growth incentives
What You’ll Do
Build and own Peak21’s centralized People and Talent Operations function
Design scalable HR infrastructure, including policies, handbooks, benefits frameworks, and compliance standards across portfolio companies
Support founders in building and improving employee lifecycle processes such as onboarding, performance management, promotions, compensation reviews, and offboarding
Build and optimize recruiting systems, workflows, and interview processes to improve quality of hire and reduce bias
Develop sourcing strategies, vendor partnerships, and talent pipelines for recurring and high-priority roles
Track and report on people and recruiting metrics including time-to-fill, quality of hire, retention, and engagement
Advise portfolio leaders on inclusive hiring practices and people programs
Improve employer branding and candidate experience across Peak21-backed companies
Continuously refine people processes with a focus on speed, clarity, and scalability
Who You Are
You have 3–6 years of progressive HR or People Operations experience, ideally in startups, venture-backed companies, or multi-entity environments
You enjoy building systems from scratch and standardizing best practices
You thrive in fast-paced environments and take full ownership of outcomes
You are data-driven and comfortable using metrics to guide decisions
You balance empathy with high standards and accountability
You are confident advising founders and senior leaders
You step up when priorities demand extra effort and take pride in delivering results
What Success Looks Like
A centralized People function that portfolio companies actively rely on within the first 90–120 days
Faster hiring velocity and higher quality of hire across supported roles
Clear, repeatable recruiting and people processes adopted by founders and managers
Measurable improvements in retention and employee experience
Strong visibility into people metrics that inform leadership decisions
Peak21 recognized as a value-add partner in talent and people operations
A Day in the Life
Projects may include:
Designing standardized interview and hiring frameworks
Supporting a founder in hiring their first HR or recruiting lead
Implementing recruiting and HR tools across multiple companies
Building dashboards to track hiring funnel performance
Improving onboarding experiences to reduce ramp time
Advising leadership teams on performance reviews and compensation planning
Why Work at Peak21
Impact: Your work directly improves hiring and execution across multiple businesses
Autonomy: Own and shape a portfolio-wide function
Exposure: Work closely with founders and leadership teams at critical growth stages
Team: Ambitious, grounded operators who value results and integrity
Perks & Benefits
Competitive compensation and performance incentives
Learning and development stipend
Exposure to multiple high-growth companies and leadership teams
Collaborative, high-caliber working environment
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Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.