Head of People & Talent

This role is located in Somerville, MA (add Location) - We are a hybrid work environment and are in the office 3+ days/per week.

Tulip, the leader in AI-native frontline operations, is helping companies around the world equip their workforce with composable, connected apps, leading to higher quality work, improved efficiency, and end-to-end traceability across operations. Tulip’s cloud-native, no-code platform, powered by embedded AI, is driving the digital transformation of industrial environments through composable, human-centric solutions that go beyond disrupting the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) category.

A spinoff out of MIT, Tulip is headquartered in Somerville, MA, with offices in Germany, Hungary, Singapore, and Israel. Tulip has been recognized as a World Economic Forum Global Innovator, a 2024 Deloitte Technology Fast award winner, one of Energage’s Top Workplaces USA, and one of Built In Boston’s “Best Places to Work” and “Best Midsize Places to Work.”  

The Head of People and Talent will be ultimately accountable for all activities related to People (Organizational Design, Talent Acquisition, Employee Engagement/Retention, Employee Relations, Development, Compensation, Benefits, and more). This role will be a primary advisor and partner to the executive team and senior leadership team on people-related strategy and issues. We are looking for a systems-thinker who views People Operations through the lens of AI-integration and automation. A core responsibility of this role will be the strategy around team design and scaling out the full People Operations org and functions globally.

About You:

• You have an entrepreneurial spirit, an affinity for the fast-paced environment of a start-up, and a "get-it-done" personality. You naturally look to leverage AI and automation to solve complex operational challenges.
• You can easily switch between thinking creatively about culture and analytically about global systems, data, and automation.
• You have deep empathy, low ego, and high self-awareness. You have a proven ability to build strong relationships across a diverse, international workforce.
• You understand that your success is measured by Tulip and your team’s success. You are an experienced leader who can grow and manage high-performing, tech-enabled teams.
• You are an experienced people leader, and can grow and manage a high-performing team.

What skills do I need?

• 8+ years of experience in People Operations, with 4+ years in a senior leadership capacity within a global, high-growth technology environment. Talent Strategy or HRBP experience is a plus. 
• Proven track record of managing teams, payroll, and complex employment compliance across multiple countries and continents.
• Deep experience implementing AI-driven talent solutions (e.g., automated sourcing, AI-assisted performance insights, or automated employee service desks).
• A strong technical background with the ability to integrate disparate tools and translate raw people data into automated business intelligence.
• Ability to act as a primary advisor to the C-suite—guiding the organization through the transition to AI-embedded workflows—while mentoring a global team of 8–10+ People and Recruiting professionals.

Key Responsibilities:

Global Leadership & Organizational Design

• Direct leadership of the People and Recruiting functions (~8-10 Tulipians globally) with a focus on scaling the organizational design to meet the needs of the business.
• Effectively mentor and grow team members of varying levels, from senior ICs to mid-career leads, in a remote-first, global environment.
• Support and develop medium to long-term organizational strategy and forecast future hiring needs by identifying critical gaps.

AI-Embedded Operations & Infrastructure

• Process Automation: Heavy emphasis on process building and automation, utilizing technology and AI systems to build a core infrastructure platform and minimize manual work across the employee lifecycle.
• Tech Stack Optimization: Build and operationalize a people-focused technology strategy where the People and Talent stack is fully integrated and aligned with core KPIs.
• Data & Analytics: Build a culture around data, investing in the infrastructure for automated reporting and actionable insights that impact the business.

Global Talent Acquisition (Recruiting)

• Drive global recruiting activities and build strong capabilities in attraction, interviewing, and candidate experience.
• Evolve the recruiting process to handle high-volume, high-quality hiring using AI-driven sourcing and decision-making influence.
• Own critical recruiting metrics and develop strategies to ensure a tight feedback loop between hiring and global performance.

Performance, Talent & Culture

• Performance Culture: Establish long-term performance and engagement strategy, including systems and infrastructure focused on the intersection of merit and compensation cycles.
• Learning Organization: Build a culture that is a "learning organization," not an organization that "does learning," utilizing tech-enabled L&D missions.
• Global DEI: Set the long-term vision and strategic DEI objectives for Tulip, focusing on deep integration and automated data reporting.

Compensation, Benefits & HR Ops

• Drive total rewards strategy and establish competitive, sustainable compensation structures using automated market data paired with internal benchmarks.
• Oversee and scale day-to-day global HR operations, including HRIS, compliance, and employee communications.
• Own the full employee lifecycle experience (onboarding to exits), emphasizing scalable infrastructure to ensure a consistent experience regardless of location.

Working At Tulip:

We know even great candidates experience imposter syndrome. Even if you don’t match every requirement, applying gives you the opportunity to be considered. 

We’re building a strong, diverse team that values hard work, families, and personal well-being. Benefits of working with us include:

• Direct impact on product and culture
• Company equity
• Competitive benefits package including Health, Dental, Vision, Short-term Disability, Long-term Disability, Life Insurance, AD&D Insurance, Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Commuter Benefits, Parental Leave, and 401(K)
• Flexible work schedule and unlimited vacation policy
• Virtual company events and happy hours
• Fitness subsidies
• An inclusive, dog-friendly office with diverse and inspiring colleagues

We are an equal opportunity employer. At Tulip, we celebrate all. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. Help us build an inclusive community that will transform frontline operations.

The compensation information displayed on each job posting reflects the range for new hire pay rates for the position across all US locations. Within the range posted, actual compensation will be determined depending on multiple factors including job-related knowledge & skills, experience, business needs, geographical location, market compensation data, and internal equity. Expected compensation ranges for this role may change over time. The salary range for this position is $190,000 - $250,000 per year.